UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers

Ok, so I am using the Top command on my linux VPS to try and see the processes using the most CPU %.

I hit the P to sort by CPU % but it wants to sort them from lowest to highest (ascending). My Telnet-SSH screen is only about 60 rows high so the processes with the highest CPU % usage are at the bottom and I can't see them!

How can I get the CPU % to sort from highest to lowest (descending)?

Thank you!

Versions differ greatly, but isn't CPU% (highest to lowest) the default sort order? If so, are you sure you aren't reversing the sort (making it lowest to highest) when you hit "P"?

No it's not the default sort order on my system and it does not toggle ascending or decending when hitting "P" again (like one would expect).

Any ideas on how I can see the processes using the largest CPU % with the TOP command? It is crucial that I monitor this right now because my VPS is having issues, I just need to know how to see it! All help is appreciated :-)

Ok, so here is my TOP output (processes list)...



I really must see the processes that matter, not the ones showing only 0.0% CPU usage! There are over a 100 processes, so how can I get a look at all of them, or my original question, sort them decending?

If you are interested for a particular's user process alone
With top,
just give u <> username

On my Mac, this does the trick:

Code:

top -o cpu

(i know this is a stale thread)
FYI: With top v3.2.5, you can reverse the current sort-order with R. O (capital o) shows a menu from which you can select the sort order you want.