Linux in a Nutshell, Third Edition

Name

top

Synopsis

top [options]

Description

Provide information (frequently refreshed) about the most CPU-intensive processes currently running. See ps for explanations of the field descriptors.

Options

-b

Run in batch mode; don’t accept command-line input. Useful for sending output to another command or to a file.

-c

Show command line in display instead of just command name.

-d delay

Specify delay between refreshes.

-i

Suppress display of idle and zombie processes.

-n num

Update display num times, then exit.

-p pid

Monitor only processes with the specified process ID.

-q

Refresh without any delay. If user is privileged, run with highest priority.

-s

Secure mode. Disable some (dangerous) interactive commands.

-S

Cumulative mode. Print total CPU time of each process, including dead child processes.

Interactive commands

space

Update display immediately.

c

Toggle display of command name or full command line.

f, F

Add fields to display or remove fields from the display.

h, ?

Display help about commands and the status of secure and cumulative modes.

k

Prompt for process ID to kill and signal to send (default is 15) to kill it.

i

Toggle suppression of idle and zombie processes.

l

Toggle display of load average and uptime information.

m

Toggle display of memory information.

n, #

Prompt for number of processes to show. If 0 is entered, show as many as will fit on the screen (default).

o, O

Change order of displayed fields.

q

Exit.

r

Apply renice to a process. Prompt for PID and renice value. ...