Overview
This article provides information about persistent processes and how they are managed at DreamHost.
Background
According to Wikipedia, persistence refers to the characteristic of a state that outlives the process that created it. Persistent processes are defined as any UNIX user's command running non-interactively. Basically, they run while you aren't actively interacting with them through a shell window.
Persistent processes at DreamHost
This section details how persistent processes are managed depending on the type of server.
DreamHost does not allow persistent processes to run on shared servers.
DreamHost reserves the right to kill any user process on a shared server without warning or prior notification at the discretion of support or the administrators. This is done to protect other users and maintain the integrity of a shared server.
For information on how processes are killed on shared servers at DreamHost, see this article.
VPS and Dedicated Servers
The same policies do not apply to VPS and Dedicated Servers. These types of servers can run whatever (legal) processes you like.
However, the owner must realize they accept responsibility for any negative impact that persistent processes may have on their machine.
Further information
For more information, see the Acceptable Use Policy. You can also contact DreamHost support for specific details on the types of processes that are forbidden at DreamHost. If you're not yet a customer, you can submit a ticket through the online form.