Process Utilization

Learn resource monitoring with top, load averages, iostat, and more!

0 of 8 lessons complete

Practice in terminal (Ubuntu sandbox) ↗

Syllabus

  1. 01 Tracking processes: top Learn how to use top to interpret system load, CPU, memory, and per-process activity.
  2. 02 lsof and fuser Learn how to identify processes using files, directories, mount points, and network sockets.
  3. 03 Process Threads Learn how Linux threads share process resources and how to inspect them with ps.
  4. 04 CPU Monitoring Learn how to interpret Linux load averages alongside CPU count, utilization, and task state.
  5. 05 I/O Monitoring Learn how to use iostat samples to investigate CPU and block-device activity.
  6. 06 Memory Monitoring Learn how to interpret vmstat memory, paging, process, I/O, and CPU samples.
  7. 07 Continuous Monitoring Learn how sysstat collection and sar reports support historical Linux performance analysis.
  8. 08 Cron Jobs Learn how to create, inspect, test, and safely operate recurring jobs with cron.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which monitoring areas are covered?

You will study CPU, memory, I/O, processes, threads, open files, continuous monitoring, and scheduled work so you can assess system activity as a whole.

What tools will I learn to use?

The lessons introduce tools and concepts including top, load averages, iostat, lsof, fuser, process threads, and cron.

Is this course useful for diagnosing slow systems?

Yes. It helps you distinguish CPU, memory, I/O, and process-related pressure before deciding where deeper investigation is needed.