To install Iotop Monitor Linux Disk I/O

To install Iotop Monitor Linux Disk I/O

Iotop is an open source and free utility monitoring tool to monitor server processes and usage. In this article, we will discuss how to install Iotop (Monitor Linux Disk I/O) in RHEL, CentOS and Fedora using yum command. This tool is based on Python programming. It requires Kernel accounting function to monitor and display processes.

Pre-requisites

Kernel 2.6.18
Python 2.4 with ctypes module

To install in RHEL, CentOS and Fedora

You need to update the Linux Kernel with the help of following command.

[root@linuxhelp Desktop]# yum update kernel
Loaded plugins: fastestmirror, refresh-packagekit, security
Setting up Update Process
...
...
...

Installed:
  kernel.x86_64 0:2.6.32-573.18.1.el6                                           

Dependency Updated:
  kernel-firmware.noarch 0:2.6.32-573.18.1.el6

To update Python with ctypes module for this tool package

[root@linuxhelp Desktop]# yum install python python-ctypes
Loaded plugins: fastestmirror, refresh-packagekit, security
Setting up Install Process
Loading mirror speeds from cached hostfile
 * base: centos.excellmedia.net
 * extras: centos.excellmedia.net
 * updates: centos.excellmedia.net
Package python-2.6.6-64.el6.x86_64 already installed and latest version
Package python-2.6.6-64.el6.x86_64 already installed and latest version
Nothing to do

To Install Iotop

Execute the following yum command to install.

[root@linuxhelp Desktop]# yum install iotop

To run Iotop

Execute the following command as root user.

[root@linuxhelp Desktop]# iotop

[root@linuxhelp Desktop]# iotop --only

Start using this tool with -o or &ndash only option to see all running processes or threads.

For Usage

To view all usage and options run the following command.

[root@linuxhelp Desktop]# man iotop

Iotop usage and keyboard shortcuts

Move left or right arrow key to change the sorting.
--version option is used to see version number and exit.

[root@linuxhelp Desktop]# iotop --version 

-h option is used to see information of usage.
-r option is used to reverse the sorting order.
-o option is used to check processes or thread.
-b option is used to Turn On non-interactive mode to enable logging I/O usage.
-p PID is used to list all processes/threads to monitor.

[root@linuxhelp Desktop]# iotop -p 2703

-u USER option is used to list all the users to monitor.

[root@linuxhelp Desktop]# iotop -u root

-P option is used to list only processes. Normally iotop displays all threads.
-a option is used to check accumulated I/O instead of bandwidth.