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Asked: 2024-09-27T12:08:26+05:30 In:

How can I set the top command in Ubuntu to display memory usage and virtual memory size in a more understandable format?

I’ve been diving into using Ubuntu lately, and I’m stuck with something that’s driving me a bit crazy. I know the top command is super handy for monitoring system resources, but I find the default display of memory usage and virtual memory size a bit overwhelming. It’s just a ton of numbers and abbreviations flying by, and I can’t quite make heads or tails of it.

I’ve tried reading the man pages and various forums, but all the explanations seem kinda technical or confusing. I mean, I just want to get a clearer view of how my system is using memory without feeling like I need a degree in computer science to understand it!

What I’m really hoping for is some advice on how to customize the display of memory usage in the top command. I’ve heard that you can tweak some settings, but I’m not sure where to start. For instance, I’d love to see the information in more user-friendly terms, like maybe using percentages or something that doesn’t require a calculator to interpret.

Is there a way to set it up so that when I run the top command, I can easily differentiate between the physical memory, swap space, and, you know, the virtual memory without squinting at the screen? I’ve seen mentions of using options like `htop`, which seems to offer a prettier interface, but I still prefer to stick with the classic top if I can get it to show data in a more understandable format.

If anyone has tips on modifying the display or even command line flags that could help me out, I’d really appreciate it. Also, if there are any other tools or commands that can complement the top command for this purpose, I’m all ears! Just trying to make my life easier while managing my system’s resources. Thanks in advance for any help!

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    2 Answers


    1. Totally get where you’re coming from! The default output of the top command can be pretty overwhelming if you’re not used to it. Here are some tips to help you make sense of it all:

      Customizing the Display in Top

      You can actually change how top displays information. When you’re in top, you can press z to toggle color, which can help make different sections stand out a bit more. Also, try pressing 1 to see an overview of CPU usage per core, which might be helpful too!

      Switching to User-Friendly Metrics

      For a nicer format, you might want to check out using htop. I know you said you love top, but htop really gives you a user-friendly interface with color coding and easy-to-read meters. It shows memory usage in a way that’s a lot simpler to digest.

      Using Command-Line Flags

      If you want to stick with top, you can use command-line flags to customize its output a bit right from the terminal. Run top -o %MEM to sort processes by memory usage. This way, you can quickly identify which processes are consuming the most memory.

      More Handy Commands

      You can also try these commands for additional insights into your system:

      • free -h – This will give you a nice overview of your memory usage in a human-readable format (like GBs and MBs).
      • vmstat – This provides info about memory, processes, and CPU activity.
      • smem – You might not have this installed by default, but it shows memory usage per process in a pretty format, including shared memory.

      Give these suggestions a shot, and hopefully, they’ll make managing your resources a lot easier! Good luck!



    2. The default display of the `top` command can indeed be overwhelming, especially for those who are new to monitoring system resources. To customize the view and make the memory usage more comprehensible, you can start by pressing the ‘E’ key while `top` is running. This toggles between different memory display formats, including the ability to show memory usage in terms of percentages. You can also modify the display for `top` by using the command line options. For instance, launching `top` with the `-E` option allows you to select the memory units you want to view (e.g., kilobytes, megabytes). This can simplify the numbers you’re seeing and make it easier to distinguish between physical memory, swap, and virtual memory at a glance.

      If you’d like to further enhance your user experience while using `top`, consider customizing its configuration file, usually located at `~/.toprc`. You can set parameters related to sorting, display, and output formatting within the file, ensuring the information presented aligns better with your preferences. While `htop` is indeed a popular alternative with a more user-friendly interface, if you wish to stick with `top`, these tweaks should make it significantly clearer. Additionally, you can explore using commands like `free` or `vmstat` in conjunction with `top` for additional insights into your system’s memory usage—these tools provide memory statistics in a clear format that might complement your use of `top` effectively.


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