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atop

atoptool.nl

Free plan Linux
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Spec score 7.7 #12 of 26 in Process Monitoring Software

What it is

atop is a free, GPL-licensed performance monitor for Linux. It uses a full-screen ASCII interface to report system and process activity at regular intervals. System-level views cover CPU, memory, swap, disk, and network activity. Process and thread views include CPU use, memory growth, disk use, and other statistics, including consumption by processes that finish during the interval. atop can save compressed raw counters for longer-term analysis, preserving daily logs for 28 days by default. The atopsar command turns those logs into system activity reports. It also reports CPU, memory, disk I/O utilization, and pressure for cgroup v2. An optional netatop kernel module adds per-process and per-thread TCP and UDP packet counts and bandwidth statistics. Displays can use bar graphs or detailed text, with columns adjusting to terminal width. Downloads list source and x86_64 RPM packages for version 2.13.0.

Spec sheet

Purpose
Atop is an ASCII full-screen performance monitor for Linux that reports system and process activity.Read 8 Oct 2026 · atoptool.nl
Intended users
The maintainer lectures a four-day Linux Performance Analysis and Tuning training course that covers atop and related tools.Read 8 Oct 2026 · atoptool.nl
Support
The site provides a contact form for the maintainer, Gerlof Langeveld.Read 8 Oct 2026 · atoptool.nl
Cgroups
Atop reports CPU, memory, and disk I/O utilization and pressure values at cgroup v2 level.Read 8 Oct 2026 · atoptool.nl
Display options
Atop can display utilization as character-based bar graphs or detailed text, and dynamically adds or removes columns as the terminal width changes.Read 8 Oct 2026 · atoptool.nl
Download formats
The download page lists a source archive and an x86_64 RPM package for version 2.13.0, and says only a limited number of distro-specific packages are available there.Read 8 Oct 2026 · atoptool.nl
Finished processes
Atop reports resource consumption by processes that finished during the monitoring interval.Read 8 Oct 2026 · atoptool.nl
License and warranty
The download page identifies the license as GPL and says the software is offered as is, with limited guarantees and liability; it also disclaims warranty for data loss or damage and calls the software experimental.Read 8 Oct 2026 · atoptool.nl
Long-term logs
Atop can store compressed raw counters for long-term analysis, and daily log files are preserved for 28 days by default.Read 8 Oct 2026 · atoptool.nl
Optional network module
The optional netatop kernel module adds TCP and UDP packet counts and bandwidth statistics per process and thread.Read 8 Oct 2026 · atoptool.nl
Reports
The atopsar command generates system activity reports from atop log files.Read 8 Oct 2026 · atoptool.nl
Resource monitoring
At regular intervals it reports CPU, memory, swap, disk, and network activity at system level, along with CPU use, memory growth, disk use, and other statistics for processes and threads.Read 8 Oct 2026 · atoptool.nl

Plans and prices

atop Free GPL-licensed · Linux performance monitor Read 8 Oct 2026 · atoptool.nl

Every atop plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Free GPL-licensed Linux monitor
  • Tracks CPU, memory, swap, disk, and network
  • Keeps finished-process resource consumption
  • Stores compressed counters and 28-day logs
  • Supports cgroup v2 pressure reporting

Limits

  • Linux-only platform
  • netatop features require an optional kernel module
  • Daily logs are preserved 28 days by default
  • Downloads list limited distribution packages

Who it suits

Linux administrators and performance analysts who need interval-based system, process, thread, and cgroup activity records. It also suits users who want compressed logs and command-line reports for longer-term review.

Verdict

atop combines live Linux monitoring with retained counters and reports for later analysis. Its optional network module and cgroup v2 views extend coverage, while package availability varies by distribution.

Where Specifiction places it

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