iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
Antihost offers Linux VPS plans with full root access, unlimited traffic on a 1 Gbps port and a 14-day free trial.
Use atop when you need both a live view of a Linux VPS and evidence you can replay after a spike. It samples CPU, memory, swap, disks, network interfaces, and processes in a terminal. Start with the system summary, then sort or filter the process list to find the workload responsible. Enable raw logging as well: atop -r can replay a recorded interval after an intermittent incident has ended.
The commands below cover package installation, interactive monitoring, historical logs, process attribution, permissions, and the limits of what atop can show on a VPS.
Recommended Free Tools
What atop monitors on a Linux VPS
Atoptool describes atop as “an ASCII full-screen performance monitor for Linux that is capable of reporting the activity of all processes.” Its interface combines a host-level summary with the processes contributing to the current load, rather than showing only one metric such as CPU percentage.
| Area | What you can examine | Important qualification |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | System-wide CPU use and the processes consuming CPU time | Compare successive samples to distinguish a brief burst from sustained work. |
| Memory and swap | Host memory pressure, swap activity, and process memory fields | A single screen does not establish a leak; repeated samples or a replayed log are more useful. |
| Disks | System disk activity and, where supported, per-process disk transfers | Per-process disk transfer accounting requires root privileges and kernel storage-accounting support in the Debian documentation. |
| Network | Traffic and activity for network interfaces | Per-process network attribution needs the optional netatop module and daemon; interface-level totals work without it. |
| Processes | Commands, resource fields, and changing activity over time | Unchanged processes are suppressed by default, so switch to the documented activity/all-process view when a quiet process matters. |
Atop is principally a terminal monitor and raw-log reader. Its documentation does not provide a web dashboard, alert routing, or fleet-management layer; those functions require complementary tooling.
#1 Best Overall
- Powerful Turbo Fan:CAGIWIRU Electric Air Duster have reached speed up to 130000RPM,Can efficient remove dust and debris.With LED light and Three Adjustable Speed to meet with different cleaning tasks.
- With Attached USB C Fasting Charging cable.Charing 3 hours,Enjoy up to 240 minutes of use on the lowest setting, For third speed can use for 25mins.with four charging options to meet with your needs.
- Wide Application:Upgraded attached 5 different nozzles,making it suitable for a variety of scenes, such as car,pet, pc, keyboards, and other electronic devices. It also serves for office and home clean duster.
- Handy Design & Portable:Cordless air duster electric nozzle is Light weight and small size, design and comfortable to hold and space saving, convenient to carry around. You can put it in your room or inside the car without taking up space.
- Warranty & Support: Our Electric air duster comes with 5 years warranty and 24/7 customer service. During this period, if you have any questions,pls kindly feel free to contact us.
Install atop
Use your distribution package
Install the package supplied by your Linux distribution whenever one is available. On Debian or Ubuntu, the usual package workflow is:
sudo apt update
sudo apt install atopThe package normally installs the command, its service configuration, and a background logger. Package names, service behavior, and default paths can differ on other distributions, so inspect the installed service and configuration rather than assuming Debian’s settings apply everywhere.
Build from upstream source
If your distribution does not provide a suitable package, build the upstream source. The upstream installation instructions list zlib, ncurses, and the glib runtime among the required dependencies. After installing development headers and a compiler through your distribution, build the program and choose the installation target that matches the init system:
make
sudo make installUse the SysV-init target instead on a SysV system:
make
sudo make sysvinstallCheck the resulting command before troubleshooting a service:
atop -hThe help output is also the authoritative list of options and interactive commands for the version you installed.
Rank #2
- Screen Cleaner is Your Screen’s New Bestfriend! - EVEO is proud to present a screen cleaner that’s perfectly suited for your TV. Meet your new screen cleaner, computer screen cleaner, laptop cleaner, iPad cleaner, Macbook,tv cleaner or any other electronic device. Our screen cleaner spray and wipe along with the included plush microfiber cloth, easily removes dust, fingerprints & other smudges on the screen’s surface. Clean effectively for a streak-free screen
- Gentle on your Screens - Our screen cleaner spray and wipes is compatible to be used even for the most sensitive LCD, LED, CRT, and OLED screens in proper use. Be at ease knowing that this product is compatible with all the major brands: LG, SONY, Samsung, Sharp, iPad, iPhone, Android screens, Kindle, PC monitors - we’ve got you covered! Can be used as LCD screen cleaner, tv cleaner, smart tv screen cleaner, and more
- Premium Super Soft Plush Microfiber Cloth - Included in this efficient screen cleaning kit. This screen cleaner spray and wipe has our signature plush microfiber cloth specially designed to comply with screens and monitors and leave them streak-free. Has been shown to effectively absorbs stubborn stains, zero streaks, and no fiber shedding. Always use this together with our screen cleaner for the best results
- Easy-to-Use Screen Cleaner Kit + microfiber cleaning cloth - The EVEO Screen Cleaning Kit will easily be your new favorite tool when it comes to taking care of the things you love most, quick and easy solution for a streak-free screen. Simply screw on the sprayer gun on the screen cleaner bottle. Spray the cleaning liquid onto the microfiber cloth, then wipe the screen until desired cleanliness & shine is achieved.
- Quality Screen Care Kit Worth Purchasing - Enjoy a convenient Screen Cleaner anytime, anywhere you need it. Your satisfaction is our top priority. We stand behind the quality of our products and that’s why, you shouldn’t be worrying at all. We manufacture the Best Screen Cleaner. and can be used for laptop cleaning kit, laptop screen cleaner, tv screen cleaner for smart tv. MacBook screen cleaner, monitor cleaner or screen cleaner spray for electronic devices with microfiber cleaning cloth
Start a live monitoring session
- Launch the monitor. Run
atopfrom an SSH terminal. The documented interactive default is one sample every 10 seconds. - Change the cadence or duration when needed. Pass an interval and, optionally, a sample count. For example,
atop 5 12requests 5-second samples for 12 displays on versions that accept the standard interval/count syntax. A shorter interval catches fast bursts but produces more screen updates; a longer interval is easier to read during steady observation. - Read the host summary first. Establish whether the pressure is CPU, memory or swap, disk, or a network interface before blaming a process.
- Inspect the process section. Identify commands whose resource use changes with the host symptom. Atop normally hides processes whose counters have not changed since the previous sample.
- Expose quiet or unchanged processes when necessary. Press
hto display the interactive command summary, then select the documented activity/all-process control. This is important when a sleeping service, a process that wakes only periodically, or a process that has just exited is relevant to the investigation. - Use the resource-specific view or sort control. The Debian manual documents controls for CPU, memory, and disk sorting and describes the per-process fields. Use the help screen for the exact key labels in your build, because interactive keys can vary by version.
Leave the session running for several samples before drawing a conclusion. A process at the top of one screen may be a short-lived burst, while a process that remains high across samples is a stronger candidate for the underlying load.
Read each part of the display
CPU pressure
Start by determining whether the host is spending time on user work, kernel work, or waiting for I/O. Then sort or switch to the CPU-focused process view. Look for a command that stays active across successive samples, and inspect its command line so that similarly named workers are not confused. Record the elapsed behavior: a continuously busy process suggests sustained computation, whereas isolated peaks suggest a scheduled job, request burst, or short-lived child process.
Memory and swap pressure
Check available memory and swap activity in the host summary before examining individual processes. A process with a large resident footprint is not automatically the cause of system-wide pressure; several moderate processes can exhaust a small VPS together. Use the memory-focused process fields and compare the same commands over repeated samples. A steadily increasing footprint is more significant than one large but stable allocation.
Disk wait and saturation
When CPU time appears low but requests are slow, inspect system disk activity and wait behavior. If the required accounting support and privileges are present, sort by per-process disk transfers to find readers or writers. Without that support, use the system-level disk counters to establish that storage is the bottleneck, then correlate the interval with application logs or scheduled jobs.
Network load
Begin with the interface-level counters. They show whether the VPS is receiving or transmitting traffic and which interface is busy. Atop cannot attribute that traffic to individual processes unless the optional netatop module and daemon are installed and operating. If those components are absent, do not interpret an interface total as proof that a particular process generated it.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Rank #3
- 【Large size】：Measuring 800 x 300 mm/ 31. 5×12 inches, which is wider and taller than others. Large mouse pad can perfectly fit your keyboard and mouse of any size, and there is also ample space for peripherals such as phones, tablets, etc.
- 【LED backlight mouse pad】：Blade Hawks RGB mouse pad provides 7 static modes and 7 dynamic modes will give you the options you are looking for. Power-off memory function remembers the last lighting mode you selected. The super glow fiber Chroma will give you a colorful gaming setup that you want.
- 【Anti-slip rubber base】：Made from Natural rubber, this gaming mousepad will firmly grip your desktop, allowing you to enjoy the ultimate precision in the games you are most passionate about. It also comes with a texture that enhances this ability even further.
- 【Smooth and waterproof surface】: Micro-textured cloth surface, for extremely precise mouse control and a smooth movement. When liquid splashes on the gaming mouse pad, it forms water droplets and slides down. Will not delay your work or gameplay.
- 【Plug and play】: This mouse and keyboard pad is powered by USB, plug and play, no driver required. One button control light modes. Press one time to change the lighting mode, press twice to change the brightness, press and hold about 3 seconds turn ON/OFF.
Find which process caused a spike
Use a repeatable sequence instead of relying on the process at the top of a single screen:
- Note the time and symptom: CPU saturation, swap growth, disk wait, or an interface spike.
- Confirm the corresponding host-level counter in atop.
- Open the matching resource view or sort order from the interactive help.
- Switch to the activity/all-process display if the suspected command is not visible because it was unchanged at the last sample.
- Follow the leading commands through several samples. Compare their resource fields, command lines, and elapsed behavior.
- Correlate the interval with the service’s own logs, job scheduler, deployment record, or request metrics before stopping anything.
This process separates cause from consequence. For example, high CPU may be caused by an application worker, while a backup process may be the cause of disk wait and a database may merely be delayed by it. Atop supplies the system and process counters; service logs explain what the command was doing.
Keep historical evidence with raw logs
Write a raw logfile yourself
For a controlled capture, write atop’s raw counters to a file:
atop -w rawfileThe raw file is intended for later replay, not for casual text viewing. Keep it on storage with enough free space and choose a retention policy appropriate to the VPS.
Replay a capture
Read a raw file with:
atop -r rawfileReplay lets you move through the recorded samples after the incident. It is particularly useful for a spike that ended before anyone could connect.
Rank #4
- 【Softer and More Comfortable】Vaydeer wrist rest has unique diamond pattern, which is the combination of softness and aesthetics. The materials of wrist rest are improved into higher quality memory foam and covered with silky smooth lycra. The computer wrist rest makes you as comfortable and cushiony as like rest your wrists on clouds.
- 【Ergonomic Wrist Saver】The wrist rests for keyboard and mouse comes with a 17.32×3.15×0.83 inch keyboard wrist pad and a 5.94×3.15×0.83 inch mouse wrist support. Based on ergonomic design, the unique concave shape is the perfect fit for your wrist joints. The wrist rest pad fits most computer keyboards and laptops, improve hand and wrist posture, release your wrist and arm stress.
- 【Non-Slip Rubber Bottom】Featuring an anti-skid silicone base on the bottom, this wrist keyboard support stays firmly in place on your desk, preventing the padding from sliding around, ensuring stable and consistent wrist support during extended computer sessions.
- 【Better Experience & Pain Relief】Our keyboard arm rest is beneficial to alleviate the soreness caused by direct contact and friction between your arm and a hard desk surface, reducing the risk of wrist fatigue or carpal tunnel. The soft texture of memory foam can evenly distribute the pressure around your wrists and provide good support with just enough give.
- 【Helpful in Multiple Scenarios】Whether you're working, studying, writing, typing, gaming, this keyboard and mouse rest combo is an essential accessory to add comfort and support to your hands and wrists. It’s also a great gift for men, women, family, friend, coworker, gamer, teacher, etc.
Use the packaged daily logger
Distribution packages commonly run a background logger. Debian’s current atop documentation describes these defaults:
| Setting | Debian documented default | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
LOGINTERVAL |
600 seconds | One raw sample every 10 minutes. |
LOGGENERATIONS |
28 | Twenty-eight logfile generations are retained. |
| Filename | /var/log/atop/atop_YYYYMMDD |
Daily files named with the calendar date. |
| Format | Compressed raw system and process data | Replay with atop rather than opening the file as ordinary text. |
These are Debian package defaults, not universal atop behavior. Check /etc/default/atop and the installed service configuration on another distribution. A 10-minute logging interval can miss a short event; reduce the interval when brief incidents matter, while accounting for the added storage.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Read today’s log and narrow the time window
Debian examples use atop -r to read the current day’s logfile. To investigate a particular period, supply beginning and ending times with -b and -e; for example:
atop -r -b 14:00 -e 15:00Accepted time formats and date-selection behavior are version-specific, so confirm them with atop -h or the installed manual. When you need data for scripts or a report rather than the full-screen interface, use the parsable-output option -P together with the metric selections documented by your version.
Permissions and optional kernel support
Per-process disk accounting
The Debian manual requires root privileges for per-process disk transfer data and notes that the kernel must provide the relevant storage-accounting support. If those counters are blank or unavailable, first verify that atop is running with the required privileges and that the kernel configuration supports the accounting method. System-wide disk activity can still be useful without per-process attribution.
Best Value
- 【No Drill Mounted】Cable management tray can be assembled in as little as 3 minutes or less-simply. Side clips easily clampe the edge of desk, pass through the holes on the sides, and secure excess cables with baskets. Desk cable management supports inward or outward installation to meet your needs in different scenarios, and provides you with great convenience when collecting and organizing wires.
- 【Rubber Pad Protects Desk】Wire organizer under desk built-in soft rubber pads on the clamp protect your desk from scratches, so you will not damage your furniture or office.
- 【Sturdy and Beautiful】Cord management under desk is made of high-quality carbon steel and holds about 15 lbs. The wire basket has 2 holes on each side of the tray to enable your cables to pass freely. Cable baskets are suitable for desk thickness use from 0.4" to 2.4".
- 【Space Saving & Keep Organized】Desk cable management tray holds all your power cords, outlet strips, USB hubs and computer transformers hidden from your feet, and the data cables will not enter the vacuum cleaner to keep your desk clean and tidy. Desk wire organizer is also suitable for use in the kitchen and outdoors.
- 【Reduce Safety Risks】Cable tray under desk keeps all plugs away from your kids, no more worry about tripping. Using 2 holes wire tray saves extra space, helps you easily cabling and wire protection. The mesh design is not easy to accumulate dust, but avoids safety accidents caused by messy wires.
Per-process network accounting
Install and enable the optional netatop module and daemon when you need to map network load to processes. Without them, atop reports network-interface activity only. Treat the absence of process-level network fields as a capability limitation, not as evidence that no process is using the network.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Incident playbooks
A CPU spike
- Confirm host CPU saturation.
- Choose the CPU-focused sort or view.
- Track the leading command across multiple samples.
- Capture its full command line and correlate the start time with jobs, deployments, or requests.
Memory growth or swapping
- Check host memory and swap counters.
- Use memory fields to rank processes.
- Compare repeated samples to distinguish growth from a stable large allocation.
- Replay the daily raw log if the growth occurred before you connected.
Disk wait
- Verify system disk activity and wait behavior.
- Use per-process disk fields only when accounting and privileges are available.
- Correlate the interval with backups, compaction, database maintenance, or other scheduled work.
Network saturation
- Identify the busy interface and direction of traffic.
- Use process attribution only with netatop support.
- Without it, combine atop’s interface timeline with application or firewall logs.
An intermittent event
- Ensure the packaged logger is enabled before the next occurrence.
- Check the actual interval and retention settings rather than assuming Debian defaults.
- Replay the relevant daily file with
atop -r, constrain it with-b/-e, and use-Pwhen extracting selected metrics.
Operational cautions and limits
Do not abruptly terminate atop with kill -9. The manpage warns that this prevents atop from stopping process accounting cleanly and can allow the accounting file to grow excessively. Exit through the program’s normal quit command or stop its service through the init system.
Raw logs are valuable incident evidence, but they consume storage. Set retention deliberately, monitor the log directory, and verify that rotation is actually occurring. A logger that is enabled but writing to an unexpectedly small or full filesystem is not a reliable recovery plan.
Atop gives a compact, process-aware terminal view and replayable counters. It does not by itself provide alert delivery, a browser dashboard, centralized fleet management, or long-term time-series analysis. If those are requirements, retain atop for host-level incident investigation and add a separate monitoring system for dashboards and alerts.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
