bash script to monitor cpu and memory usage

Monitoring CPU and Memory Usage with Bash Scripts

As a system administrator, it's essential to monitor the performance of your server or computer to ensure optimal usage of resources. In this article, we'll discuss how to use bash scripts to monitor CPU and memory usage.

One common command used for monitoring is `vmstat`. This command updates its output in real-time, similar to the top command. On multi-CPU systems, it averages the number of CPUs into the output. The data collected by `vmstat` is from the last reboot to the current time. When you run this command, it displays statistics about system processes, memory, swap, I/O, and CPU performance.

You can customize your `vmstat` report using various options. For example, `-x` displays extended statistics, while `-t` specifies the number of times each report should be displayed for CPU utilization. You can also use the `-c`, `-d`, and `-h` switches to break down CPU utilization into user processes, system processes, I/O wait, and idle time.

Another useful command is `iostat`, which displays CPU utilization, device utilization, and network file system utilization. This utility provides a real-time view of performance-related data for all running processes in your system. You can use options such as `-U` to view processes owned by a specific user, `-S` to sort by process duration, or `-I` to remove idle processes from the display.

Finally, you can use the `top` command to view statistical data related to your system's performance. By default, `top` updates its data every 5 seconds. To customize the output of `top`, simply type `top` in your terminal and press `U`, `S`, or `I` for specific options.

In conclusion, using bash scripts like `vmstat`, `iostat`, and `top` is an effective way to monitor CPU and memory usage on your server or computer. With these commands, you can gain valuable insights into system performance and make informed decisions about resource allocation.

Bash script to monitor cpu and memory usage