What is the Load Average in Linux? How to Check the Load Average in Linux

The Load Average which is also known as system load is a metric that indicates the average number of processes that were runnable or waiting to be run on system CPU over the last couple of minutes. This information helps you represent the overall system workload and identify potential performance. The load average is an important metric in Linux that reflects the average system load over specific time intervals.

In this post, we will discuss the Linux load average system and how to check the load average in the operating system by exploring the concept of load average indication of system health.

What is the Load Average?

The load average represents the average number of processes in two states:

1. Runnable: These processes are ready to run on the CPU but might be waiting for their turn due to other processes already utilizing it.
2. Uninterruptible: These processes are currently running on the CPU and cannot be interrupted except for critical system events.

Therefore to understand load average Linux of 1 on a single-core system indicates that there is on average one process demanding CPU resources either actively running or waiting to be executed.

Understanding Load Average Values

The uptime command typically displays the load average for three time periods:

1. 1-minute load average: Reflects the average system load over the last minute.
2. 5-minute load average: Depicts the average system load over the past five minutes.
3. 15-minute load average: This represents the average system load over the past fifteen minutes.

These values offer insights into recent system activity trends and potential workload fluctuations.

Interpreting Load Average Values

There’s no single definitive interpretation of the ideal load average as it depends on several factors:

• A higher number of cores allows handling more processes simultaneously so a higher load average might be acceptable on a multi-core system compared to a single-core system.
• The nature of running applications and user activity also impacts the load average.
• Resource-intensive tasks like video editing will naturally contribute to a higher load average compared to basic tasks like browsing the web.

Checking Load Average in Linux

There are several tools to check load average Linux. Here are some essential tools of the most common ones:

1. Uptime Command

The Linux uptime command is a simple and quick way to view the load average. Open a terminal window and type:

uptime

The output will display the uptime system running time since the last boot the number of logged-in users and the load average for the past 1, 5, and 15 minutes.

2. Top Command:

The Linux top command is primarily used to monitor load average Linux running processes and CPU usage but it also displays the load average in the top right corner of its output. Open a terminal window and type the following command:

top

3. Htop Command:

While uptime provides basic information, the htop Linux command offers a more comprehensive interface for monitoring system resources, including the load average. Run the following command in the terminal:

htop

The interface displays various system metrics including CPU usage memory utilization and the load average displayed at the top right corner.

For the record, the difference between top and htop commands is the interactive user-friendly interface with color coding for CPU and memory limit usage through a scrollable process list with mouse and keyboard support.

4. Using loadavg path:

This command directly reads the load average values from the /proc/loadavg file in the virtual file system.

cat /proc/loadavg

5. Glances utility

The glances utility is a more comprehensive system monitoring tool that provides an overview of various system resources, including CPU, memory, disk, network, and processes. It also displays the load average. You might need to install Glances first using the Linux distributions package manager.

sudo apt install glances

Once installed run the following command:

glances

Important Guidelines

The following are the important guidelines for load average in the Linux operating system:

• Load average less than the number of CPU cores: This indicates the system is handling the current workload efficiently.
• Load average consistently exceeding the number of CPU cores: This might signify potential performance issues and warrant further investigation into resource utilization.

Conclusion

Understanding and monitoring the load average is essential for maintaining a healthy and performant Linux system. By utilizing the above commands you can gain valuable insights into system activity and identify potential performance. Remember interpreting the load average effectively requires considering the specific system configuration and usage patterns.

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