Linux System Monitoring: How-to Install ‘Glances’ in Linux

Are you looking to install the glances command on your Linux system but aren’t sure where to start? Many Linux users, particularly beginners, might find the task intimidating. Yet, glances is a powerful tool for monitoring system performance; it’s a utility worth mastering. Glances is also readily available on most package management systems, making it a straightforward tool once you know-how.

In this tutorial, we will guide you on how to install the glances command on your Linux system. We will show you methods for both APT and YUM-based distributions, delve into compiling glances from source, installing a specific version, and finally, how to use the glances command and ensure it’s installed correctly.

So, let’s dive in and begin installing glances on your Linux system!

TL;DR: How Do I Install and Use the ‘glances’ Command in Linux?

To install 'glances' in Debian based distributions like Ubuntu, you can run the command sudo apt-get install glances. For distributions like CentOS that use the RPM package manager, you would run the command sudo yum install glances.

# For Debian based distributions like Ubuntu
sudo apt-get install glances

# For RPM based distributions like CentOS
sudo yum install glances

# Output:
# 'glances' is now installed on your system.

This is just a basic way to install the ‘glances’ command in Linux, but there’s much more to learn about installing and using ‘glances’. Continue reading for more detailed information and advanced usage scenarios.

Understanding and Installing the ‘glances’ Command

The ‘glances’ command is a cross-platform system monitoring tool written in Python. It allows you to monitor your system’s performance at a glance, hence the name. With ‘glances’, you can monitor CPU, Load Average, Memory, Network Interfaces, Disk I/O, Processes and File System spaces utilization.

It’s a versatile tool that provides a comprehensive view of your system’s performance, making it an essential command for Linux users, particularly system administrators. Now, let’s dive into how you can install the ‘glances’ command on your Linux system.

Installing ‘glances’ with APT

If you’re running a Debian-based distribution like Ubuntu, you can install ‘glances’ using the APT package manager. Here’s how:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install glances

# Output:
# 'glances' is now installed on your system.

This command first updates your package lists and then installs ‘glances’.

Installing ‘glances’ with YUM

For distributions like CentOS that use the YUM package manager, you can install ‘glances’ with the following command:

sudo yum check-update
sudo yum install glances

# Output:
# 'glances' is now installed on your system.

This command first checks for package updates and then installs ‘glances’.

Installing ‘glances’ from Source Code

For those who prefer to install ‘glances’ directly from the source, follow these steps:

1. Clone the ‘glances’ repository from GitHub:

git clone https://github.com/nicolargo/glances.git

# Output:
# Cloning into 'glances'...

2. Navigate into the cloned repository:

cd glances

# Output:
# You are now in the 'glances' directory.

3. Install ‘glances’ using the setup.py script:

sudo python setup.py install

# Output:
# 'glances' is now installed on your system.

Installing Specific Versions of ‘glances’

From Source

To install a specific version of ‘glances’ from source, you would checkout to the specific version tag before running the setup script. Here’s how:

git checkout v3.1.5
sudo python setup.py install

# Output:
# 'glances' version 3.1.5 is now installed on your system.

Using Package Managers

APT

For APT, you can specify the version of ‘glances’ to install like this:

sudo apt-get install glances=3.1.5

# Output:
# 'glances' version 3.1.5 is now installed on your system.

YUM

For YUM, you would do:

sudo yum install glances-3.1.5

# Output:
# 'glances' version 3.1.5 is now installed on your system.

Version Comparison

Different versions of ‘glances’ come with different features, improvements, and bug fixes. For example, version 3.1.5 improved the Docker and Quicklook plugins, while version 3.1.4 fixed a bug with the GPU plugin. Here’s a quick comparison:

Basic Usage and Verification

How to Use ‘glances’

To start using ‘glances’, simply type glances in your terminal:

glances

# Output:
# Displays a comprehensive overview of your system's performance.

Verifying the Installation

You can verify that ‘glances’ is correctly installed by checking its version:

glances -V

# Output:
# Glances version 3.1.5

This command should display the version of ‘glances’ that you have installed on your system.

Exploring Alternative System Monitoring Tools

While ‘glances’ is a powerful tool for system monitoring, there are other commands available in Linux that can provide similar functionality. Two such commands are ‘top’ and ‘htop’.

The ‘top’ Command

The ‘top’ command provides a real-time, dynamic view of the processes running in a system. It’s a handy tool for system administrators looking to monitor the performance of a Linux system. Here’s how you can use it:

top

# Output:
# Displays a real-time view of your system's performance.

The ‘top’ command provides a lot of information, including the PID (Process ID), USER (the user running the process), CPU usage, and memory usage.

The ‘htop’ Command

While ‘top’ is a great tool, ‘htop’ takes it a step further. It provides a full list of processes running, instead of the top resource-consuming processes. It also provides a real-time view of a running system. Here’s how you can use ‘htop’:

htop

# Output:
# Displays a comprehensive, real-time view of your system's performance.

To install ‘htop’, you can use the following commands:

# For Debian based distributions like Ubuntu
sudo apt-get install htop

# For RPM based distributions like CentOS
sudo yum install htop

# Output:
# 'htop' is now installed on your system.

Comparing ‘glances’, ‘top’, and ‘htop’

While all three commands provide system monitoring functionality, they each have their strengths and weaknesses. For example, ‘glances’ provides a more comprehensive overview of system performance, while ‘top’ and ‘htop’ offer real-time performance tracking. Here’s a comparison:

In conclusion, while ‘glances’ is an excellent tool for monitoring system performance in Linux, ‘top’ and ‘htop’ are viable alternatives that offer slightly different functionality. Depending on your specific needs, you might find one more useful than the others.

Troubleshooting Common ‘glances’ Issues

While ‘glances’ is a robust and reliable tool, you may encounter some issues when using it. Below are some common problems and their solutions.

‘glances’ Command Not Found

If you find that ‘glances’ is not recognized as a command, it may not be installed correctly or the system may not have updated its list of available commands. You can update the list of available commands with the following:

hash -r

# Output:
# The shell's memory is now refreshed.

After running this command, try running ‘glances’ again.

‘glances’ Not Displaying Correctly

If ‘glances’ is not displaying correctly, it could be due to the size of your terminal window. ‘glances’ requires a certain amount of space to display all its information. Try increasing the size of your terminal window and running ‘glances’ again.

‘glances’ Not Showing All Information

‘glances’ has many optional features that can be enabled or disabled. If you’re not seeing the information you expect, you may need to enable a specific feature. For example, to enable the disk I/O stats, you can use the ‘-d’ option:

glances -d

# Output:
# 'glances' now shows disk I/O stats.

‘glances’ Running Slowly

If ‘glances’ is running slowly, it could be due to the number of processes it’s monitoring. You can limit the number of processes ‘glances’ monitors with the ‘-p’ option:

glances -p 50

# Output:
# 'glances' now only monitors the top 50 processes.

In conclusion, while ‘glances’ is generally a reliable tool, you may encounter some issues when using it. However, with a bit of troubleshooting and understanding of its options, you can overcome these challenges and make the most of this powerful tool.

System Monitoring in Linux: Why It Matters

System monitoring is a crucial aspect of Linux system administration. It involves observing and checking the status of system components, such as the CPU, memory, disk usage, and network traffic. This is where the ‘glances’ command comes in handy.

The Role of System Monitoring

System monitoring helps administrators identify any potential issues or bottlenecks that might be affecting the system’s performance. By regularly monitoring the system, you can spot trends and patterns that could indicate a larger issue. For example, if you notice that your CPU usage is consistently high, it could be a sign that a process or application is using more resources than it should.

# Example of monitoring CPU usage with 'glances'
glances -1

# Output:
# Displays the CPU usage in a simplified view.

This command displays a simplified view of CPU usage, making it easier to identify any processes that are consuming too much CPU.

Understanding the ‘glances’ Command

The ‘glances’ command offers a comprehensive system monitoring solution for Linux. It provides a real-time overview of your system’s performance, including CPU usage, memory usage, disk I/O, network traffic, and more.

# Example of using 'glances' to monitor system performance
glances

# Output:
# Displays a comprehensive overview of your system's performance.

This command provides a real-time snapshot of your system’s performance, allowing you to monitor all the key metrics in one place.

In conclusion, system monitoring is a vital part of maintaining a healthy Linux system. Tools like ‘glances’ make it easy to keep an eye on your system’s performance and identify any potential issues before they become major problems.

The Relevance of System Monitoring in System Administration and Security

System monitoring plays a significant role in both system administration and security. By keeping a close eye on your Linux system’s performance, you can detect anomalies that might indicate a security breach or system malfunction. For instance, an unexpected spike in network traffic could be a sign of a DoS attack, while high CPU usage could indicate a runaway process.

# Example of using 'glances' to monitor network traffic

glances -n

# Output:
# Displays network traffic in real-time.

This command allows you to monitor your network traffic in real-time, making it easier to spot any unexpected spikes that could indicate a problem.

Exploring Related Concepts: Process Management and Resource Allocation

Understanding how to manage processes and allocate resources is crucial for effective system administration. Tools like ‘glances’ can provide valuable insights into which processes are running, how much CPU they’re using, and how much memory they’re consuming.

# Example of using 'glances' to monitor process usage

glances -p

# Output:
# Displays the current processes and their resource usage.

This command gives you a snapshot of the current processes and their resource usage, helping you manage your system’s resources more effectively.

Further Resources for System Monitoring Mastery

1. The Linux System Administrator’s Guide – An invaluable resource for any Linux system administrator. This guide covers a wide range of topics, including system monitoring, process management, and resource allocation.

2. The ‘glances’ GitHub Page – The official ‘glances’ GitHub page. Here you can find the latest updates, documentation, and user guide for ‘glances’.

3. Linux Performance – A comprehensive resource on Linux performance tools. This site provides in-depth information on various system monitoring tools, including ‘glances’.

Wrapping Up: Mastering ‘glances’ for Linux System Monitoring

In this comprehensive guide, we’ve journeyed through the process of installing and using the ‘glances’ command in Linux, a powerful tool for monitoring system performance.

We began with the basics, learning how to install ‘glances’ using the APT and YUM package managers. We then ventured into more advanced territory, exploring how to install ‘glances’ from source and how to install specific versions of ‘glances’. Along the way, we tackled common issues you might face when using ‘glances’, providing you with solutions and workarounds for each issue.

We also looked at alternative approaches to system monitoring in Linux, comparing ‘glances’ with other commands like ‘top’ and ‘htop’. Here’s a quick comparison of these commands:

Whether you’re a beginner just starting out with Linux system monitoring or an experienced system administrator looking to level up your skills, we hope this guide has given you a deeper understanding of the ‘glances’ command and its capabilities.

With its balance of comprehensive monitoring capabilities and ease of use, ‘glances’ is a powerful tool for any Linux user. Happy monitoring!