Step-by-Step Guide to Installing and Running vtop on Linux

Monitoring system performance is a crucial task for Linux users, especially those managing servers or running resource-intensive applications. While tools like top and htop provide essential information, vtop offers a visually appealing and interactive way to monitor system activity.

This guide will walk you through installing and using vtop on Linux, complete with keyboard shortcuts for better usability. If you run into any issues, Cyfuture Cloud is here to help you out with seamless cloud services and expert support.

What is vtop?

vtop is a graphical terminal-based activity monitor for Linux, built with Node.js, offering an intuitive interface with scrolling graphs. It provides real-time CPU and memory usage details, making it a great alternative to traditional CLI monitoring tools.

Why Use vtop?

Graphical UI: Unlike top, vtop provides an easy-to-read interface.
Scrolling Graphs: Helps visualize CPU and memory usage over time.
Keyboard Shortcuts: Allows fast and easy navigation.
Cross-Platform: Works on Linux, macOS, and even Windows (with WSL).

Step 1: Installing Node.js and npm

Since vtop is built with Node.js, you must first install Node.js and npm (Node Package Manager).

For Debian/Ubuntu

bash

sudo apt update && sudo apt install nodejs npm -y

For RHEL/CentOS

bash

sudo dnf install nodejs npm -y

For Arch Linux

bash

sudo pacman -S nodejs npm

For OpenSUSE

bash

sudo zypper install nodejs npm

To verify Node.js installation, run:

bash

node -v

npm -v

If both commands return version numbers, Node.js and npm are successfully installed.

Step 2: Installing vtop

Once Node.js is installed, you can install vtop globally using npm:

bash

sudo npm install -g vtop

After installation, verify by running:

bash

vtop --version

Step 3: Running vtop

Simply type the following command to start vtop:

bash

vtop

You'll now see a visually appealing system activity monitor with CPU and memory usage graphs.

Step 4: Understanding vtop Interface

Key Sections in vtop:

Step 5: vtop Keyboard Shortcuts

To improve your workflow, here are essential keyboard shortcuts in vtop:

Step 6: Uninstalling vtop (If Needed)

If you ever need to remove vtop, simply run:

bash

sudo npm uninstall -g vtop

Conclusion

With vtop, you get a modern, visually rich terminal activity monitor that enhances the way you track system performance. Whether you're a developer, system admin, or casual Linux user, vtop simplifies resource monitoring with its intuitive UI and powerful shortcuts.

Having trouble setting up or optimizing your Linux server? Don't worry! Cyfuture Cloud provides reliable, high-performance cloud solutions with expert support to help you manage your workloads efficiently. Reach out to us today and let us handle the heavy lifting!