$ Linux Command

System

vmstat

Report memory, process, paging, block IO, and CPU activity.

performancememorycpumonitoring

Additional Notes

vmstat reports system processes, memory, paging, block I/O, traps, and CPU activity. With a delay argument, it repeats at the specified interval, providing a live view of system performance.

The first report shows averages since boot. Subsequent reports show activity since the previous interval.

Syntax

vmstat [options] [arguments]

Parameters

  • options: Flags that change how vmstat behaves.
  • delay: Update interval in seconds.
  • count: Number of reports. Only used with delay.

Common Options

  • -a: Show active and inactive memory.
  • -f: Show number of forks since boot.
  • -s: Show event counters and memory statistics.
  • -d: Show disk statistics.
  • -p PARTITION: Show partition-specific statistics.
  • -S UNIT: Set display unit (k, K, m, M).
  • -s: Show event counters.
  • -d: Show disk statistics.

Examples

vmstat
vmstat 1
vmstat 2 5
vmstat -s

Practical Notes

vmstat 1 is a quick way to watch memory pressure, CPU wait, and system activity.