System Monitoring and Initial Performance Diagnosis

This chapter describes tools and techniques for monitoring performance-related system activity and diagnosing performance problems. The major sections are:

• The Case for Continuous Performance Monitoring
• Using the vmstat, iostat, netstat, and sar Commands
• Using the topas Monitor
• Using the Performance Diagnostic Tool
• Using the Performance Toolbox
• Determining the Kind of Performance Problem Reported
• Identifying the Performance-Limiting Resource
• Managing Workload