In this article, we will explore the importance of performance monitoring on Linux systems and discuss various tools and techniques available to achieve this. Performance monitoring is crucial for ensuring the optimal functioning of a Linux system, as it allows administrators to identify and resolve performance bottlenecks, improve resource utilization, and enhance overall system efficiency.

Examples:

1. Monitoring CPU Usage:

   • The 'top' command: This command provides a real-time view of system processes and their CPU usage. It can be executed from the terminal and offers options to sort processes based on various parameters.
   • The 'sar' command: This command collects, reports, and saves system activity information, including CPU usage, at specified intervals. It can be scheduled to run automatically and generate reports for historical analysis.

2. Monitoring Memory Usage:

   • The 'free' command: This command displays the amount of free and used memory in the system. It provides detailed information about physical and swap memory, including buffers and cache utilization.
   • The 'vmstat' command: This command reports virtual memory statistics, including memory usage, paging, and swapping activity. It can be used to monitor memory-related performance issues.

3. Monitoring Disk I/O:

   • The 'iostat' command: This command provides statistics about input/output (I/O) operations on Linux systems. It can be used to monitor disk utilization, I/O wait times, and identify potential disk performance bottlenecks.
   • The 'iotop' command: This command displays real-time I/O usage by individual processes. It helps identify processes that are causing high disk I/O and can assist in troubleshooting disk-related performance issues.

4. Monitoring Network Traffic:

   • The 'iftop' command: This command displays a real-time view of network traffic on specific network interfaces. It provides information about the source and destination IP addresses, port numbers, and the amount of data transferred.
   • The 'nethogs' command: This command shows real-time network traffic per process. It helps identify processes that are consuming excessive network bandwidth and can aid in troubleshooting network-related performance issues.