controlling cpu usage part 2: CPU Usage Limit in the Shell

The shell ulimit command can be used to check or set the CPU limit for any subsequently created children, and their descendants. The -t option to ulimit sets the amount of CPU time a process may use before it is sent a SIGXCPU signal by the kernel. The default  is unlimited (maximum CPU time).

 # su - useruser $ ulimit -t
 unlimited
 user $ sh
 user $ ulimit -t
 unlimited
 user $ ulimit -t 10
 user $ date; while : ; do : ; done; date
 Friday, 5 September 2008  3:34:56 PM EST
 Cpu Limit Exceeded  (core dumped)
 user $