It reflects that you have processes in the R state (Run state) or in the "Ready" state equaling 128% of the time for the last minute.
What that means is that currently, your machine (I'm assuming you have a single CPU, aren't using Intels Hyperthreading, etc.) is keeping a constant load on the CPU; there are few idle cycles. That's GOOD, believe it or not, since it means you're getting the CPU utilization that you want. However, too much of a good thing.... At low levels (for a single CPU, <~3.0 load) are ok, as it means the CPU always has something to do (well, as long as you ALSO have sufficient memory so that you're not page thrashing; you can check that many ways, but you can tell instantly one way or another if you have check Top)... but you don't want it to STAY that high for too long, at least when you want to have interactive stuff going on (of course, if you're only running batch jobs, it doesn't matter). Of course, the CPU can only do 100% load, so you have processes waiting to run; as long as the load doesn't steadily increase, though, it's not a huge problem. On some of the systems I work on, load can shoot as high as 1000 (well, times the CPU; on my Origin 2000, that's 32000%) for brief periods, though if it gets that high and stays there, I have problems. I've SEEN as high (on a Red Hat Linux 6.2 box) as a load of 5400% on a single CPU; needless to say, it took quite a while to get the machine back under control! Check top though to see what process is using so much CPU; if it's a SINGLE process, perhaps it's become a run away process? Bill Ward > -----Original Message----- > From: scott.list [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] > Sent: Friday, October 11, 2002 2:45 PM > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: uptime > > > Hi guys: > > can someone explain the what the load averages numbers mean for the > uptime command > > i.e. 1:42pm up 4:31, 1 user, load average: 1.28, 1.09, 1.06 > > I know what the three are, but what does 1.28 mean? 1.28% of 100% > load, 128% of max? What DOES the 1.28 reflect? > > Thanks, > Scott > > > > > > -- > redhat-list mailing list > unsubscribe mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?subject=unsubscribe > https://listman.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/redhat-list > -- redhat-list mailing list unsubscribe mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?subject=unsubscribe https://listman.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/redhat-list
