TechTips Vol IV Linux – htop
Via http://htop.sourceforge.net
“This is htop, an interactive process viewer for Linux. It is a text-mode application (for console or X terminals) and requires ncurses. Tested with Linux 2.4 and 2.6.”
It is a useful GUI for analyzing Processor and Memory usage. It enhances the functionality of “top” and gives a more friendly view.
Comparison between htop and top
- In ‘htop’ you can scroll the list vertically and horizontally to see all processes and complete command lines.
- In ‘top’ you are subject to a delay for each unassigned key you press (especially annoying when multi-key escape sequences are triggered by accident).
- ‘htop’ starts faster (‘top’ seems to collect data for a while before displaying anything).
- In ‘htop’ you don’t need to type the process number to kill a process, in ‘top’ you do.
- In ‘htop’ you don’t need to type the process number or the priority value to renice a process, in ‘top’ you do.
- ‘htop’ supports mouse operation, ‘top’ doesn’t
- ‘top’ is older, hence, more used and tested.
Installing htop
- CentOS
- We first need to install Dag repository, download it from here get the one that fits your CentOS version
- Now run: rpm -Uvh rpmforge-release-[your_release].rpm
- to have it installed, and then:
- yum install htop
- Fedora
- For Fedora you should also install Dag Wieers Repository
- and then run yum install htop
- Debian and Ubuntu
- For these two just run:
- apt-get install htop