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How To Read Linux Top Command Output and Uses

Row 1 of the top command output shows server uptime, logged in users, and CPU load. Row 2 displays the number and states of running processes. Row 3 indicates CPU utilization and free CPU. Row 4 and 5 show memory and swap space usage. Row 6 lists all running processes along with sortable details like PID, user, memory usage, and process status.

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Paaventhan Dharmarajan
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138 views

How To Read Linux Top Command Output and Uses

Row 1 of the top command output shows server uptime, logged in users, and CPU load. Row 2 displays the number and states of running processes. Row 3 indicates CPU utilization and free CPU. Row 4 and 5 show memory and swap space usage. Row 6 lists all running processes along with sortable details like PID, user, memory usage, and process status.

Uploaded by

Paaventhan Dharmarajan
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as ODT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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How

to

Read Linux Top Command Output and


Uses
Linux Tutorials 6 Comments

Top Command: As a Linux system administrator, top command is a


frequently used command and our daily tasks we used multiple times this
commands to view resource utilization by processes on server. This
command helps us to find which process is utilizing what resources of
system.
Using this article, I am trying to write to how to use and read results
of top command.

How to Read Linux Top Command Output:


When we execute top command on linux, it shows a lot of results, here i am
trying to show you to how to read it row by row.
Result Row #1:
Row 1 results shows about server up time from last reboot, currently logged
in users and cpu load on server. The same output you can find using
linux uptime command.

Result Row #2:


Row 2 shows the number of process running on server and there state.
Zombie process or defunct process is a process that has completed
execution but still has an entry in the process table. This entry is still needed
to allow the parent process to read its childs exit status.
Result Row #3:
Row three shows the cpu utilization status on server, you can find here how
much cpu is freeand how much is utilizing by system.
Definition from access.redhat.com:
Steal time is the time that a virtual CPU waits for a real CPU while the
hypervisor is servicinganother virtual processor.
Result Row #4:
Row 4 shows the memory utilization on server, you can find here how much
memory is used, the same results you can find using free command.

Result Row #5:


Row 4 shows the swap memory utilization on server, you can find here how
much swap is being used, the same results you can find
using free command.

Result Row #6 ( Running Processes ):


In this steps you will see all running process on servers and there additional
details about them like below.

If you want to sort output on basis of any fields, you can use following key
combinations.

Press "SHIFT + F" and Select your choice below and press ENTER.

A ( PID = Process Id )
b ( PPID = Parent Process Pid )
d ( UID= User Id )
e ( USER = User Name )
f ( GROUP = Group Name )
g ( TTY= Controlling Tty )
h ( PR = Priority )
i ( NI = Nice value )
j ( P = Last used cpu (SMP) )
k ( %CPU = CPU usage )
l ( TIME = CPU Time )
n ( %MEM = Memory usage (RES) )
o ( VIRT = Virtual Image (kb) )
p ( SWAP = Swapped size (kb) )
q ( RES= Resident size (kb) )
r ( CODE = Code size (kb) )
s ( DATA = Data+Stack size (kb) )
t ( SHR= Shared Mem size (kb) )
w ( S = Process Status )
x ( COMMAND= Command name/line )

Thank you.

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