3. Performance Tools

This chapter explains how to use the wealth of performance tools available for Linux. We also explain what the information from each tool means. Even if you are already using top or sar, you can probably learn some things from this chapter.

You should make a habit of using these tools if you are not already doing so. You need to know how to troubleshoot a performance problem, of course, but you should also regularly look for changes in the key metrics that can indicate a problem. You can use these tools to measure the performance impact of a new application. Just like looking at the temperature gauge in a car, you need to keep an eye on the performance metrics of your Linux systems. The tools we cover are:

top

sar

• ...

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