TOP(1) Linux User's Manual TOP(1)NAME
top - display Linux tasks
SYNOPSIS
⟨⟩
-hv | -bcHisS -d delay -n iterations -p pid [, pid ...]
The traditional switches '-' and whitespace are optional.
DESCRIPTION
The .ie 0 . br
program provides a dynamic real-time view of a running system.
It can display system summary information as well as a list of
tasks currently being managed by the Linux kernel. The types of
system summary information shown and the types, order and size of
information displayed for tasks are all user configurable and that
configuration can be made persistent across restarts.
The program provides a limited interactive interface for process
manipulation as well as a much more extensive interface for per‐
sonal configuration -- encompassing every aspect of its opera‐
tion. And while .ie 0 . br
is referred to throughout this document, you are free to name the
program anything you wish. That new name, possibly an alias, will
then be reflected on top's display and used when reading and writ‐
ing a configuration file.
OVERVIEW
Documentation
The remaining Table of Contents
1. COMMAND-LINE Options
2. FIELDS / Columns
a. DESCRIPTIONS of Fields
b. SELECTING and ORDERING Columns
3. INTERACTIVE Commands
a. GLOBAL Commands
b. SUMMARY Area Commands
c. TASK Area Commands
d. COLOR Mapping
4. ALTERNATE-DISPLAY Mode
a. WINDOWS Overview
b. COMMANDS for Windows
5. FILES
a. SYSTEM Configuration File
b. PERSONAL Configuration File
6. STUPID TRICKS Sampler
a. Kernel Magic
b. Bouncing Windows
c. The Big Bird Window
7. BUGS, 8. HISTORY Former top, 9. AUTHOR, 10. SEE ALSO
Operation
When operating top, the two most important keys are help ('h' or
'?') and quit ('q') key. Alternatively, you could simply use the
traditional interrupt key ('^C') when you're done.
When you start top for the first time, you'll be presented with
the traditional screen elements: 1) Summary Area; 2) Mes‐
sage/Prompt Line; 3) Columns Header; 4) Task Area. There will,
however, be some differences when compared to the former top.
Highlighting
Summary_Area: There is no highlighting for load/uptime and only
values are highlighted for other elements.
Task_Area: Tasks running (or ready to run) will be highlighted,
and bold is only one way of emphasizing such processes.
Content/Labels
Summary_Area: The program name is shown, perhaps a symlink or
alias. The Cpu(s) state label hints at other possibilities.
The memory stats use a lower case 'k'.
Columns_Header: Will show a new field and some changed labels.
More new fields will be found as you customize your top.
Note: the width of top's display will be limited to 512 positions.
Displaying all fields requires a minimum of 160 characters. The
remaining width could be used for the 'Command' column.
Startup Defaults
The following startup defaults assume no configuration file, thus
no user customizations. Even so, items shown with an asterisk
('*') could be overridden through the command-line.
Global_defaults
'A' - Alt display Off (full-screen)
* 'd' - Delay time 3.0 seconds
'I' - Irix mode On (no, 'solaris' smp)
* 'p' - PID monitoring Off
* 's' - Secure mode Off (unsecured)
'B' - Bold disable Off
Summary_Area_defaults
'l' - Load Avg/Uptime On (thus program name)
't' - Task/Cpu states On (1+1 lines, see '1')
'm' - Mem/Swap usage On (2 lines worth)
'1' - Single Cpu On (thus 1 line if smp)
Task_Area_defaults
'b' - Bold hilite On (not 'reverse')
* 'c' - Command line Off (name, not cmdline)
* 'H' - Threads Off (show all threads)
* 'i' - Idle tasks On (show all tasks)
'R' - Reverse sort On (pids high-to-low)
* 'S' - Cumulative time Off (no, dead children)
'x' - Column hilite Off (no, sort field)
'y' - Row hilite On (yes, running tasks)
'z' - color/mono Off (no, colors)
1. COMMAND-LINE Options
The command-line syntax for top consists of:
-hv | -bcHisS -d delay -n iterations -p pid [,pid...]
The typically mandatory switches ('-') and even whitespace are
completely optional.
-b : Batch mode operation
Starts top in 'Batch mode', which could be useful for sending
output from top to other programs or to a file. In this
mode, top will not accept input and runs until the iterations
limit you've set with the '-n' command-line option or until
killed.
-c : Command line/Program name toggle
Starts top with the last remembered 'c' state reversed.
Thus, if top was displaying command lines, now that field
will show program names, and visa versa. See the 'c' inter‐
active command for additional information.
-d : Delay time interval as: -d ss.tt (seconds.tenths)
Specifies the delay between screen updates, and overrides the
corresponding value in one's personal configuration file or
the startup default. Later this can be changed with the 'd'
or 's' interactive commands.
Fractional seconds are honored, but a negative number is not
allowed. In all cases, however, such changes are prohibited
if top is running in 'Secure mode', except for root (unless
the 's' command-line option was used). For additional infor‐
mation on 'Secure mode' see topic 5a. SYSTEM Configuration
File.
-h : Help
Show library version and the usage prompt, then quit.
-H : Threads toggle
Starts top with the last remembered 'H' state reversed. When
this toggle is On, all individual threads will be displayed.
Otherwise, top displays a summation of all threads in a
process.
-i : Idle Processes toggle
Starts top with the last remembered 'i' state reversed. When
this toggle is Off, tasks that are idled or zombied will not
be displayed.
-n : Number of iterations limit as: -n number
Specifies the maximum number of iterations, or frames, top
should produce before ending.
-u : Monitor by user as: -u somebody
Monitor only processes with an effective UID or user name
matching that given.
-U : Monitor by user as: -U somebody
Monitor only processes with a UID or user name matching that
given. This matches real, effective, saved, and filesystem
UIDs.
-p : Monitor PIDs as: -pN1 -pN2 ... or -pN1, N2 [,...]
Monitor only processes with specified process IDs. This
option can be given up to 20 times, or you can provide a
comma delimited list with up to 20 pids. Co-mingling both
approaches is permitted.
This is a command-line option only. And should you wish to
return to normal operation, it is not necessary to quit and
and restart top -- just issue the '=' interactive command.
-s : Secure mode operation
Starts top with secure mode forced, even for root. This mode
is far better controlled through the system configuration
file (see topic 5. FILES).
-S : Cumulative time mode toggle
Starts top with the last remembered 'S' state reversed. When
'Cumulative mode' is On, each process is listed with the cpu
time that it and its dead children have used. See the 'S'
interactive command for additional information regarding this
mode.
-v : Version
Show library version and the usage prompt, then quit.
2. FIELDS / Columns
2a. DESCRIPTIONS of Fields
Listed below are top's available fields. They are always associ‐
ated with the letter shown, regardless of the position you may
have established for them with the 'o' (Order fields) interactive
command.
Any field is selectable as the sort field, and you control whether
they are sorted high-to-low or low-to-high. For additional infor‐
mation on sort provisions see topic 3c. TASK Area Commands.
a: PID -- Process Id
The task's unique process ID, which periodically wraps, though
never restarting at zero.
b: PPID -- Parent Process Pid
The process ID of a task's parent.
c: RUSER -- Real User Name
The real user name of the task's owner.
d: UID -- User Id
The effective user ID of the task's owner.
e: USER -- User Name
The effective user name of the task's owner.
f: GROUP -- Group Name
The effective group name of the task's owner.
g: TTY -- Controlling Tty
The name of the controlling terminal. This is usually the
device (serial port, pty, etc.) from which the process was
started, and which it uses for input or output. However, a
task need not be associated with a terminal, in which case
you'll see '?' displayed.
h: PR -- Priority
The priority of the task.
i: NI -- Nice value
The nice value of the task. A negative nice value means higher
priority, whereas a positive nice value means lower priority.
Zero in this field simply means priority will not be adjusted
in determining a task's dispatchability.
j: P -- Last used CPU (SMP)
A number representing the last used processor. In a true SMP
environment this will likely change frequently since the kernel
intentionally uses weak affinity. Also, the very act of run‐
ning top may break this weak affinity and cause more processes
to change CPUs more often (because of the extra demand for cpu
time).
k: %CPU -- CPU usage
The task's share of the elapsed CPU time since the last screen
update, expressed as a percentage of total CPU time. In a true
SMP environment, if 'Irix mode' is Off, top will operate in
'Solaris mode' where a task's cpu usage will be divided by the
total number of CPUs. You toggle 'Irix/Solaris' modes with the
'I' interactive command.
l: TIME -- CPU Time
Total CPU time the task has used since it started. When 'Cumu‐
lative mode' is On, each process is listed with the cpu time
that it and its dead children has used. You toggle 'Cumulative
mode' with 'S', which is a command-line option and an interac‐
tive command. See the 'S' interactive command for additional
information regarding this mode.
m: TIME+ -- CPU Time, hundredths
The same as 'TIME', but reflecting more granularity through
hundredths of a second.
n: %MEM -- Memory usage (RES)
A task's currently used share of available physical memory.
o: VIRT -- Virtual Image (kb)
The total amount of virtual memory used by the task. It
includes all code, data and shared libraries plus pages that
have been swapped out.
VIRT = SWAP + RES.
p: SWAP -- Swapped size (kb)
The swapped out portion of a task's total virtual memory image.
q: RES -- Resident size (kb)
The non-swapped physical memory a task has used.
RES = CODE + DATA.
r: CODE -- Code size (kb)
The amount of physical memory devoted to executable code, also
known as the 'text resident set' size or TRS.
s: DATA -- Data+Stack size (kb)
The amount of physical memory devoted to other than executable
code, also known as the 'data resident set' size or DRS.
t: SHR -- Shared Mem size (kb)
The amount of shared memory used by a task. It simply reflects
memory that could be potentially shared with other processes.
u: nFLT -- Page Fault count
The number of major page faults that have occurred for a task.
A page fault occurs when a process attempts to read from or
write to a virtual page that is not currently present in its
address space. A major page fault is when disk access is
involved in making that page available.
v: nDRT -- Dirty Pages count
The number of pages that have been modified since they were
last written to disk. Dirty pages must be written to disk
before the corresponding physical memory location can be used
for some other virtual page.
w: S -- Process Status
The status of the task which can be one of:
'D' = uninterruptible sleep
'R' = running
'S' = sleeping
'T' = traced or stopped
'Z' = zombie
Tasks shown as running should be more properly thought of as
'ready to run' -- their task_struct is simply represented on
the Linux run-queue. Even without a true SMP machine, you may
see numerous tasks in this state depending on top's delay
interval and nice value.
x: Command -- Command line or Program name
Display the command line used to start a task or the name of
the associated program. You toggle between command line and
name with 'c', which is both a command-line option and an
interactive command.
When you've chosen to display command lines, processes without
a command line (like kernel threads) will be shown with only
the program name in parentheses, as in this example:
( mdrecoveryd )
Either form of display is subject to potential truncation if
it's too long to fit in this field's current width. That width
depends upon other fields selected, their order and the current
screen width.
Note: The 'Command' field/column is unique, in that it is not
fixed-width. When displayed, this column will be allocated all
remaining screen width (up to the maximum 512 characters) to
provide for the potential growth of program names into command
lines.
y: WCHAN -- Sleeping in Function
Depending on the availability of the kernel link map ('Sys‐
tem.map'), this field will show the name or the address of the
kernel function in which the task is currently sleeping. Run‐
ning tasks will display a dash ('-') in this column.
Note: By displaying this field, top's own working set will be
increased by over 700Kb. Your only means of reducing that
overhead will be to stop and restart top.
z: Flags -- Task Flags
This column represents the task's current scheduling flags
which are expressed in hexadecimal notation and with zeros sup‐
pressed. These flags are officially documented in
<linux/sched.h>. Less formal documentation can also be found
on the 'Fields select' and 'Order fields' screens.
2b. SELECTING and ORDERING Columns
After pressing the interactive commands 'f' (Fields select) or ´o'
(Order fields) you will be shown a screen containing the current
fields string followed by names and descriptions for all fields.
Here is a sample fields string from one of top's four win‐
dows/field groups and an explanation of the conventions used:
- Sample fields string:
ANOPQRSTUVXbcdefgjlmyzWHIK
- The order of displayed fields corresponds to the order of the
letters in that string.
- If the letter is upper case the corresponding field itself will
then be shown as part of the task display (screen width permit‐
ting). This will also be indicated by a leading asterisk
('*'), as in this excerpt:
...
* K: %CPU = CPU usage
l: TIME = CPU Time
m: TIME+ = CPU Time, hundredths
* N: %MEM = Memory usage (RES)
* O: VIRT = Virtual Image (kb)
...
Fields select screen -- the 'f' interactive command
You toggle the display of a field by simply pressing the corre‐
sponding letter.
Order fields screen -- the 'o' interactive command
You move a field to the left by pressing the corresponding
upper case letter and to the right with the lower case letter.
3. INTERACTIVE Commands
Listed below is a brief index of commands within categories. Some
commands appear more than once -- their meaning or scope may
vary depending on the context in which they are issued.
3a. GLOBAL_Commands
<Ret/Sp> ?, =, A, B, d, G, h, I, k, q, r, s, W, Z
3b. SUMMARY_Area_Commands
l, m, t, 1
3c. TASK_Area_Commands
Appearance: b, x, y, z
Content: c, f, H, o, S, u
Size: #, i, n
Sorting: <, >, F, O, R
3d. COLOR_Mapping
<Ret>, a, B, b, H, M, q, S, T, w, z, 0 - 7
4b. COMMANDS_for_Windows
-, _, =, +, A, a, G, g, w
3a. GLOBAL Commands
The global interactive commands are always available in both
full-screen mode and alternate-display mode. However, some of
these interactive commands are not available when running in
'Secure mode'.
If you wish to know in advance whether or not your top has been
secured, simply ask for help and view the system summary on the
second line.
<Enter> or <Space> :Refresh_Display
These commands do nothing, they are simply ignored. How‐
ever, they will awaken top and following receipt of any
input the entire display will be repainted.
Use either of these keys if you have a large delay interval
and wish to see current status,
´?´ or ´h´ :Help
There are two help levels available. The first will pro‐
vide a reminder of all the basic interactive commands. If
top is secured, that screen will be abbreviated.
Typing 'h' or '?' on that help screen will take you to help
for those interactive commands applicable to alternate-dis‐
play mode.
´=´ :Exit_Task_Limits
Removes restrictions on which tasks are shown. This com‐
mand will reverse any 'i' (idle tasks) and 'n' (max tasks)
commands that might be active. It also provides for an
'exit' from PID monitoring. See the '-p' command-line
option for a discussion of PID monitoring.
When operating in alternate-display mode this command has a
slightly broader meaning.
´A´ :Alternate_Display_Mode_toggle
This command will switch between full-screen mode and
alternate-display mode. See topic 4. ALTERNATE-DISPLAY
Mode and the 'G' interactive command for insight into ´cur‐
rent' windows and field groups.
´B´ :Bold_Disable/Enable_toggle
This command will influence use of the 'bold' terminfo
capability and alters both the summary area and task area
for the ´current' window. While it is intended primarily
for use with dumb terminals, it can be applied anytime.
Note: When this toggle is On and top is operating in mono‐
chrome mode, the entire display will appear as normal text.
Thus, unless the 'x' and/or 'y' toggles are using reverse
for emphasis, there will be no visual confirmation that
they are even on.
* ´d´ or ´s´ :Change_Delay_Time_interval
You will be prompted to enter the delay time, in seconds,
between display updates.
Fractional seconds are honored, but a negative number is
not allowed. Entering 0 causes (nearly) continuous
updates, with an unsatisfactory display as the system and
tty driver try to keep up with top's demands. The delay
value is inversely proportional to system loading, so set
it with care.
If at any time you wish to know the current delay time,
simply ask for help and view the system summary on the sec‐
ond line.
´G´ :Choose_Another_Window/Field_Group
You will be prompted to enter a number between 1 and 4 des‐
ignating the window/field group which should be made the
´current' window. You will soon grow comfortable with
these 4 windows, especially after experimenting with alter‐
nate-display mode.
´I´ :Irix/Solaris_Mode_toggle
When operating in 'Solaris mode' ('I' toggled Off), a
task's cpu usage will be divided by the total number of
CPUs. After issuing this command, you'll be informed of
the new state of this toggle.
´u´ :select a user
You will be prompted for a UID or username. Only processes
belonging to the selected user will be displayed. This
option matches on the effective UID.
´U´ :select a user
You will be prompted for a UID or username. Only processes
belonging to the selected user will be displayed. This
option matches on the real, effective, saved, and filesys‐
tem UID.
* ´k´ :Kill_a_task
You will be prompted for a PID and then the signal to send.
The default signal, as reflected in the prompt, is SIGTERM.
However, you can send any signal, via number or name.
If you wish to abort the kill process, do one of the fol‐
lowing depending on your progress:
1) at the pid prompt, just press <Enter>
2) at the signal prompt, type 0
´q´ :Quit
* ´r´ :Renice_a_Task
You will be prompted for a PID and then the value to nice
it to. Entering a positive value will cause a process to
lose priority. Conversely, a negative value will cause a
process to be viewed more favorably by the kernel.
´W´ :Write_the_Configuration_File
This will save all of your options and toggles plus the
current display mode and delay time. By issuing this com‐
mand just before quitting top, you will be able restart
later in exactly that same state.
´Z´ :Change_Color_Mapping
This key will take you to a separate screen where you can
change the colors for the ´current' window, or for all win‐
dows. For details regarding this interactive command see
topic 3d. COLOR Mapping.
* The commands shown with an asterisk ('*') are not available in
'Secure mode', nor will they be shown on the level-1 help
screen.
3b. SUMMARY Area Commands
The summary area interactive commands are always available in both
full-screen mode and alternate-display mode. They affect the
beginning lines of your display and will determine the position of
messages and prompts.
These commands always impact just the ´current' window/field
group. See topic 4. ALTERNATE-DISPLAY Mode and the 'G' interac‐
tive command for insight into ´current' windows and field groups.
´l´ :Toggle_Load_Average/Uptime -- On/Off
This is also the line containing the program name (possibly
an alias) when operating in full-screen mode or the ´cur‐
rent' window name when operating in alternate-display mode.
´m´ :Toggle_Memory/Swap_Usage -- On/Off
This command affects two summary area lines.
´t´ :Toggle_Task/Cpu_States -- On/Off
This command affects from 2 to many summary area lines,
depending on the state of the '1' toggle and whether or not
top is running under true SMP.
´1´ :Toggle_Single/Separate_Cpu_States -- On/Off
This command affects how the 't' command's Cpu States por‐
tion is shown. Although this toggle exists primarily to
serve massively-parallel SMP machines, it is not restricted
to solely SMP environments.
When you see 'Cpu(s):' in the summary area, the '1' toggle
is On and all cpu information is gathered in a single line.
Otherwise, each cpu is displayed separately as: 'Cpu0,
Cpu1, ...'
Note: If the entire summary area has been toggled Off for any win‐
dow, you would be left with just the message line. In that way,
you will have maximized available task rows but (temporarily) sac‐
rificed the program name in full-screen mode or the ´current' win‐
dow name when in alternate-display mode.
3c. TASK Area Commands
The task area interactive commands are always available in
full-screen mode.
The task area interactive commands are never available in alter‐
nate-display mode if the ´current' window's task display has been
toggled Off (see topic 4. ALTERNATE-DISPLAY Mode).
APPEARANCE of task window
The following commands will also be influenced by the state of
the global 'B' (bold disable) toggle.
´b´ :Bold/Reverse_toggle
This command will impact how the 'x' and 'y' toggles are
displayed. Further, it will only be available when at
least one of those toggles is On.
´x´ :Column_Highlight_toggle
Changes highlighting for the current sort field. You prob‐
ably don't need a constant visual reminder of the sort
field and top hopes that you always run with 'column high‐
light' Off, due to the cost in path-length.
If you forget which field is being sorted this command can
serve as a quick visual reminder.
´y´ :Row_Highlight_toggle
Changes highlighting for "running" tasks. For additional
insight into this task state, see topic 2a. DESCRIPTIONS of
Fields, Process Status.
Use of this provision provides important insight into your
system's health. The only costs will be a few additional
tty escape sequences.
´z´ :Color/Monochrome_toggle
Switches the ´current' window between your last used color
scheme and the older form of black-on-white or white-on-
black. This command will alter both the summary area and
task area but does not affect the state of the 'x', 'y' or
'b' toggles.
CONTENT of task window
´c´ :Command_Line/Program_Name_toggle
This command will be honored whether or not the 'Command'
column is currently visible. Later, should that field come
into view, the change you applied will be seen.
´f´ and ´o´ :Fields_select or Order_fields
These keys display separate screens where you can change
which fields are displayed and their order. For additional
information on these interactive commands see topic 2b.
SELECTING and ORDERING Columns.
´H´ :Threads_toggle
When this toggle is On, all individual threads will be dis‐
played. Otherwise, top displays a summation of all threads
in a process.
´S´ :Cumulative_Time_Mode_toggle
When 'Cumulative mode' is On, each process is listed with
the cpu time that it and its dead children have used.
When Off, programs that fork into many separate tasks will
appear less demanding. For programs like 'init' or a shell
this is appropriate but for others, like compilers, perhaps
not. Experiment with two task windows sharing the same
sort field but with different 'S' states and see which rep‐
resentation you prefer.
After issuing this command, you'll be informed of the new
state of this toggle. If you wish to know in advance
whether or not 'Cumulative mode' is in effect, simply ask
for help and view the window summary on the second line.
´u´ :Show_Specific_User_Only
You will be prompted to enter the name of the user to dis‐
play. Thereafter, in that task window only matching User
ID's will be shown, or possibly no tasks will be shown.
Later, if you wish to monitor all tasks again, re-issue
this command but just press <Enter> at the prompt, without
providing a name.
SIZE of task window
´i´ :Idle_Processes_toggle
Displays all tasks or just active tasks. When this toggle
is Off, idled or zombied processes will not be displayed.
If this command is applied to the last task display when in
alternate-display mode, then it will not affect the win‐
dow's size, as all prior task displays will have already
been painted.
´n´ or ´#´ :Set_Maximum_Tasks
You will be prompted to enter the number of tasks to dis‐
play. The lessor of your number and available screen rows
will be used.
When used in alternate-display mode, this is the command
that gives you precise control over the size of each cur‐
rently visible task display, except for the very last. It
will not affect the last window's size, as all prior task
displays will have already been painted.
Note: If you wish to increase the size of the last visible
task display when in alternate-display mode, simply
decrease the size of the task display(s) above it.
SORTING of task window
For compatibility, this top supports most of the former top sort
keys. Since this is primarily a service to former top users,
these commands do not appear on any help screen.
command sorted field supported
A start time (non-display) No
M %MEM Yes
N PID Yes
P %CPU Yes
T TIME+ Yes
Before using any of the following sort provisions, top suggests
that you temporarily turn on column highlighting using the 'x'
interactive command. That will help ensure that the actual sort
environment matches your intent.
The following interactive commands will only be honored when the
current sort field is visible. The sort field might not be vis‐
ible because:
1) there is insufficient Screen Width
2) the 'f' interactive command turned it Off
´<´ :Move_Sort_Field_Left
Moves the sort column to the left unless the current sort
field is the first field being displayed.
´>´ :Move_Sort_Field_Right
Moves the sort column to the right unless the current sort
field is the last field being displayed.
The following interactive commands will always be honored
whether or not the current sort field is visible.
´F´ or ´O´ :Select_Sort_Field
These keys display a separate screen where you can change
which field is used as the sort column.
If a field is selected which was not previously being dis‐
played, it will be forced On when you return to the top
display. However, depending upon your screen width and the
order of your fields, this sort field may not be dis‐
playable.
This interactive command can be a convenient way to simply
verify the current sort field, when running top with column
highlighting turned Off.
´R´ :Reverse/Normal_Sort_Field_toggle
Using this interactive command you can alternate between
high-to-low and low-to-high sorts.
Note: Field sorting uses internal values, not those in column
display. Thus, the TTY and WCHAN fields will violate strict
ASCII collating sequence.
3d. COLOR Mapping
When you issue the 'Z' interactive command, you will be presented
with a separate screen. That screen can be used to change the
colors in just the ´current' window or in all four windows before
returning to the top display.
Available interactive commands
4 upper case letters to select a target
8 numbers to select a color
normal toggles available
'B' :bold disable/enable
'b' :running tasks "bold"/reverse
'z' :color/mono
other commands available
'a'/'w' :apply, then go to next/prior
<Enter> :apply and exit
'q' :abandon current changes and exit
If your use 'a' or 'w' to cycle the targeted window, you will have
applied the color scheme that was displayed when you left that
window. You can, of course, easily return to any window and reap‐
ply different colors or turn colors Off completely with the 'z'
toggle.
The Color Mapping screen can also be used to change the ´current'
window/field group in either full-screen mode or alternate-display
mode. Whatever was targeted when 'q' or <Enter> was pressed will
be made current as you return to the top display.
4. ALTERNATE-DISPLAY Mode
4a. WINDOWS Overview
Field Groups/Windows:
In full-screen mode there is a single window represented by
the entire screen. That single window can still be changed
to display 1 of 4 different field groups (see the 'G'
interactive command, repeated below). Each of the 4 field
groups has a unique separately configurable summary area
and its own configurable task area.
In alternate-display mode, those 4 underlying field groups
can now be made visible simultaneously, or can be turned
Off individually at your command.
The summary area will always exist, even if it's only the
message line. At any given time only one summary area can
be displayed. However, depending on your commands, there
could be from zero to four separate task displays currently
showing on the screen.
Current Window:
The ´current' window is the window associated with the sum‐
mary area and the window to which task related commands are
always directed. Since in alternate-display mode you can
toggle the task display Off, some commands might be
restricted for the ´current' window.
A further complication arises when you have toggled the
first summary area line Off. With the loss of the window
name (the 'l' toggled line), you'll not easily know what
window is the ´current' window.
4b. COMMANDS for Windows
´-´ and ´_´ :Show/Hide_Window(s)_toggles
The '-' key turns the ´current' window's task display On
and Off. When On, that task area will show a minimum of
the columns header you've established with the 'f' and 'o'
commands. It will also reflect any other task area
options/toggles you've applied yielding zero or more tasks.
The '_' key does the same for all task displays. In other
words, it switches between the currently visible task dis‐
play(s) and any task display(s) you had toggled Off. If
all 4 task displays are currently visible, this interactive
command will leave the summary area as the only display
element.
* ´=´ and ´+´ :Equalize_(re-balance)_Window(s)
The '=' key forces the ´current' window's task display to
be visible. It also reverses any 'i' (idle tasks) and 'n'
(max tasks) commands that might be active.
The '+' key does the same for all windows. The four task
displays will reappear, evenly balanced. They will also
have retained any customizations you had previously
applied, except for the 'i' (idle tasks) and 'n' (max
tasks) commands.
* ´A´ :Alternate_Display_Mode_toggle
This command will switch between full-screen mode and
alternate-display mode.
The first time you issue this command, all four task dis‐
plays will be shown. Thereafter when you switch modes, you
will see only the task display(s) you've chosen to make
visible.
* ´a´ and ´w´ :Next_Window_Forward/Backward
This will change the ´current' window, which in turn
changes the window to which commands are directed. These
keys act in a circular fashion so you can reach any desired
´current' window using either key.
Assuming the window name is visible (you have not toggled
'l' Off), whenever the ´current' window name loses its
emphasis/color, that's a reminder the task display is Off
and many commands will be restricted.
* ´G´ :Choose_Another_Window/Field_Group
You will be prompted to enter a number between 1 and 4 des‐
ignating the window/field group which should be made the
´current' window.
In full-screen mode, this command is necessary to alter the
´current' window. In alternate-display mode, it is simply
a less convenient alternative to the 'a' and 'w' commands.
´g´ :Change_Window/Field_Group_Name
You will be prompted for a new name to be applied to the
´current' window. It does not require that the window name
be visible (the 'l' toggle to be On).
* The interactive commands shown with an asterisk ('*') have use
beyond alternate-display mode.
´=', 'A', 'G' are always available
´a', 'w' act the same when color mapping
5. FILES
5a. SYSTEM Configuration File
The presence of this file will influence which version of the
'help' screen is shown to an ordinary user. More importantly, it
will limit what ordinary users are allowed to do when top is run‐
ning. They will not be able to issue the following commands.
k Kill a task
r Renice a task
d or s Change delay/sleep interval
The system configuration file is not created by top. Rather, you
create this file manually and place it in the /etc directory. Its
name must be 'toprc' and must have no leading '.' (period). It
must have only two lines.
Here is an example of the contents of /etc/toprc:
s # line 1: 'secure' mode switch
5.0 # line 2: 'delay' interval in seconds
5b. PERSONAL Configuration File
This file is written as '$HOME/.your-name-4-top' + 'rc'. Use the
'W' interactive command to create it or update it.
Here is the general layout:
global # line 1: the program name/alias notation
" # line 2: id,altscr,irixps,delay,curwin
per ea # line a: winname,fieldscur
window # line b: winflags,sortindx,maxtasks
" # line c: summclr,msgsclr,headclr,taskclr
If the $HOME variable is not present, top will try to write the
personal configuration file to the current directory, subject to
permissions.
6. STUPID TRICKS Sampler
Many of these 'tricks' work best when you give top a scheduling
boost. So plan on starting him with a nice value of -10, assuming
you've got the authority.
6a. Kernel Magic
For these stupid tricks, top needs full-screen mode.
-*- The user interface, through prompts and help, intentionally
implies that the delay interval is limited to tenths of a
second. However, you're free to set any desired delay. If
you want to see Linux at his scheduling best, try a delay of
.09 seconds or less.
For this experiment, under x-windows open an xterm and maxi‐
mize it. Then do the following:
. provide a scheduling boost and tiny delay via:
nice -n -10 top -d.09
. keep sorted column highlighting Off to minimize
path length
. turn On reverse row highlighting for emphasis
. try various sort columns (TIME/MEM work well),
and normal or reverse sorts to bring the most
active processes into view
What you'll see is a very busy Linux doing what he's always
done for you, but there was no program available to illus‐
trate this.
-*- Under an xterm using 'white-on-black' colors, try setting
top's task color to black and be sure that task highlighting
is set to bold, not reverse. Then set the delay interval to
around .3 seconds.
After bringing the most active processes into view, what
you'll see are the ghostly images of just the currently run‐
ning tasks.
-*- Delete the existing rcfile, or create a new symlink. Start
this new version then type 'T' (a secret key, see topic 3c.
TASK Area Commands, Sorting) followed by 'W' and 'q'.
Finally, restart the program with -d0 (zero delay).
Your display will be refreshed at three times the rate of the
former top, a 300% speed advantage. As top climbs the TIME
ladder, be as patient as you can while speculating on whether
or not top will ever reach the top.
6b. Bouncing Windows
For these stupid tricks, top needs alternate-display mode.
-*- With 3 or 4 task displays visible, pick any window other than
the last and turn idle processes Off. Depending on where you
applied 'i', sometimes several task displays are bouncing and
sometimes it's like an accordion, as top tries his best to
allocate space.
-*- Set each window's summary lines differently: one with no mem‐
ory; another with no states; maybe one with nothing at all,
just the message line. Then hold down 'a' or 'w' and watch a
variation on bouncing windows -- hopping windows.
-*- Display all 4 windows and for each, in turn, set idle pro‐
cesses to Off. You've just entered the "extreme bounce"
zone.
6c. The Big Bird Window
This stupid trick also requires alternate-display mode.
-*- Display all 4 windows and make sure that 1:Def is the ´cur‐
rent' window. Then, keep increasing window size until the
all the other task displays are "pushed out of the nest".
When they've all been displaced, toggle between all visi‐
ble/invisible windows. Then ponder this:
is top fibbing or telling honestly your imposed truth?
7. BUGS
Send bug reports to:
Albert D. Cahalan, <albert@users.sf.net>
8. HISTORY Former top
The original top was written by Roger Binns, based on Branko
Lankester's <lankeste@fwi.uva.nl> ps program.
Robert Nation <nation@rocket.sanders.lockheed.com> adapted it for
the proc file system.
Helmut Geyer <Helmut.Geyer@iwr.uni-heidelberg.de> added support
for configurable fields.
Plus many other individuals contributed over the years.
9. AUTHOR
This entirely new and enhanced replacement was written by:
Jim / James C. Warner, <warnerjc@worldnet.att.net>
With invaluable help from:
Albert D. Cahalan, <albert@users.sf.net>
Craig Small, <csmall@small.dropbear.id.au>
10. SEE ALSOfree(1), ps(1), uptime(1), atop(1), slabtop(1), vmstat(8), w(1).
Linux September 2002 TOP(1)
