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Excerpt from Wikipedia:

In Linux, the kernel can be configured to provide functions for system debugging and crash recovery. This use is known as the “magic SysRq key”.

The SysRq key is also more commonly known and identified as the Print Screen or Prt Scr.

In short, if your OS freezes, you can still interact with the kernel. You can either reboot without running the risk of corrupting your filesystem OR call oom_kill to kill the process eating all the available memory.

Instructions: Press and hold down Alt + Print Screen and press the appropriate keys in sequence, a few seconds apart.

Key sequence to summon oom_kill: f

Key sequence to reboot safely: reisub

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