{"id":111938,"date":"2023-02-08T09:00:48","date_gmt":"2023-02-08T03:30:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/data-flair.training\/blogs\/?p=111938"},"modified":"2023-02-08T09:57:05","modified_gmt":"2023-02-08T04:27:05","slug":"iostat-command-in-linux-with-examples","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/data-flair.training\/blogs\/iostat-command-in-linux-with-examples\/","title":{"rendered":"iostat command in Linux with examples"},"content":{"rendered":"

In this article, we will learn everything about the iostat command in Linux. We will start right from the basics, like understanding the iostat command, why it is used, how to install it, the syntax of the iostat command, and the various options used with it.<\/span><\/p>\n

We shall then look at numerous practical examples of the iostat command to understand its functioning better. Simultaneously, we will understand the output of each command by looking at what information the different fields and columns give us. So pay attention, grab a snack or coffee if you need and make it to the end of the article.<\/span><\/p>\n

What is the iostat command?<\/span><\/h3>\n

Iostat is the abbreviation for input\/output statistics. Iostat is a command-line-based inbuilt diagnosing utility in Linux-based operating systems that helps monitor input and output statistics for devices and partitions. To evaluate the performance of I\/O devices, you need to calculate their efficiency with respect to time, which is what the iostat command does.<\/span><\/p>\n

The iostat command is used to determine the CPU usage and other connected Input\/Output devices with respect to time. It also helps monitor the CPU and other I\/O devices connected to the system.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The iostat command gives out reports that can change the system configuration to raise the balance of the input\/output between the physical disks. The iostat command is a part of the sysstat command.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Syntax of the iostat command in Linux<\/span><\/h3>\n

The syntax of the iostat command may look slightly intimidating at first, but when we look at the different fields present in the syntax and understand what they are for, it will become a cakewalk. The syntax of the iostat command is:<\/span><\/p>\n

iostat <options> <delay <count>><\/pre>\n
Let us look at the fields present in the syntax of the iostat command:<\/span><\/p>\n
1. <options><\/strong><\/p>\n
This field takes in a range of options that specifies how the iostat command should work and specify the output.<\/span><\/p>\n
2. <delay><\/strong><\/p>\n
This field specifies the interval between 2 updates. If you don’t specify a delay, the default value will be taken as infinite. <\/span><\/p>\n
3. <count><\/strong><\/p>\n
This field specifies the number of updates which is printed after each interval. If you don’t specify anything in this field, the default value will be taken as infinite.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
How to install the iostat command?<\/span><\/h3>\n
The reason I did not address this at the beginning is that most of the Linux distributions already come with the iostat command preinstalled. However, if your Linux distro does not have it, or if you uninstalled it, you can always install it using the commands shown below with respect to your Linux distro:<\/span><\/p>\n
\"instaling<\/a><\/p>\n
Installing iostat on RHEL-based Linux distributions<\/h3>\n
If you want to download iostat on RHEL-based Linux distros like Clear OS, Oracle Linux, Alma Linux, Rocky Linux, Cent OS, etc., use the command shown below:<\/span><\/p>\n
apt-get install sysstat<\/pre>\n
Options used with the iostat command<\/span><\/h3>\n
Unlike most of the commands in Linux, the iostat command has only a few options associated with it. Let us take a brief look at each one of them:<\/p>\n
1. -c<\/strong><\/p>\n
This option displays the report regarding CPU utilisation.<\/p>\n
2. -d<\/strong><\/p>\n
This option displays the report regarding device utilisation.<\/p>\n
3. -h<\/strong><\/p>\n
This option displays all the device utilisation reports that are easier to read by a human. It prints all the data in a human-readable format.<\/p>\n
4. -k<\/strong><\/p>\n
This option prints the statistics in kilobytes per second.<\/p>\n
5. -m<\/strong><\/p>\n
This option prints the statistics in megabytes per second.<\/p>\n
6. -N<\/strong><\/p>\n
This option prints the registered device mapper names for any device mapper devices.<\/p>\n
7. -t<\/strong><\/p>\n
This option prints the time for each report displayed.<\/p>\n
8. -x<\/strong><\/p>\n
This option prints the extended statistics.<\/p>\n
9. -z<\/strong><\/p>\n
This option tells the iostat option to omit the output for devices with no activity during the sample period.<\/p>\n
10. -p<\/strong><\/p>\n
This option prints the statistics for block devices and all their partitions used by the system.<\/p>\n
11. -V<\/strong><\/p>\n
This option prints information regarding the version of iostat command as shown:<\/p>\n
\"version<\/a><\/p>\n
12. –help<\/strong><\/p>\n
This option prints the help menu of the iostat command, as shown below:<\/p>\n
\"help<\/a><\/p>\n
The screenshot above shows us that the iostat gives us a ton of information through various columns. Let us understand what each column is for in brief:<\/p>\n
The first section contains the following columns:<\/p>\n