High CPU Utilization on SUSE
This document (7002713) is provided subject to the disclaimer at the end of this document.
Environment
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 10
Situation
The vmstat command shows the following:
#==[ Command ]======================================#
# /usr/bin/vmstat 1 4 vvvvvvvvvvvvvv
procs -----------memory---------- ---swap-- -----io---- -system-- -----cpu------
r b swpd free buff cache si so bi bo in cs us sy id wa st
2 0 0 380820 49880 301160 0 0 3 3 341 43 0 40 60 0 0
2 0 0 380820 49880 301160 0 0 0 184 262 69 81 19 0 0 0
2 0 0 380820 49880 301160 0 0 0 0 251 59 80 20 0 0 0
2 0 0 380820 49880 301160 0 0 0 0 260 59 78 22 0 0 0
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
The vmstat command shows CPU utilization as percent idle in the "id" column under "cpu", so just subtract the values in the id column from 100 to get the current CPU utilization.
Resolution
However, if you are experiencing low memory and high CPU utilization, you may have an overburdened server. You can find which applications are consuming the most CPU cycles by looking in the supportconfig basic-health-check.txt file under the Top 10 CPU Processes section or using the ps command. Supportconfig uses the following command to capture the Top 10 CPU Processes:
# ps axwwo %cpu,pid,user,cmd | sort -k 1 -r -n | head -11 | sed -e '/^%/d'
#==[ Top 10 CPU Processes ]=========================#
%CPU PID USER CMD
74.4 11340 root /bin/bash /usr/local/sbin/vbatch
45.3 11379 root /bin/bash /usr/local/sbin/emconfig
1.6 11480 root /bin/bash /sbin/supportconfig -m
0.2 11382 root -bash
0.1 11381 root login -- root
0.0 11620 root ps axwwo %cpu,pid,user,cmd
0.0 11217 postfix pickup -l -t fifo -u
0.0 3586 root -bash
0.0 3387 root /sbin/mingetty tty6
0.0 3369 root /sbin/mingetty tty5
In this case the third party vbatch and emconfig commands are taking up most of the CPU cycles. You might consider moving one of those processes to another server. There may be problems with these applications as well that may require further debugging or troubleshooting.
Disclaimer
This Support Knowledgebase provides a valuable tool for SUSE customers and parties interested in our products and solutions to acquire information, ideas and learn from one another. Materials are provided for informational, personal or non-commercial use within your organization and are presented "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND.
- Document ID:7002713
- Creation Date: 20-Feb-2009
- Modified Date:27-Aug-2021
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- SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop
- SUSE Linux Enterprise Server
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