Each tool has strengths for different scenarios. While the classic top command is available everywhere, modern alternatives offer better visualization, filtering, and interaction. The choice depends on whether you need quick diagnostics on a remote server, daily monitoring with graphs, or a centralized overview via the web.
htop¶
sudo apt install htop
htop
# F2=setup, F4=filter, F5=tree, F9=kill
htop is an enhanced top with colorful display, tree view of processes, and interactive controls. It supports both vertical and horizontal scrolling, process filtering by name, and sorting by CPU, memory, or I/O. Thanks to its small footprint and zero configuration, it is ideal for SSH diagnostics — install it and immediately see what is happening on the server.
btop¶
sudo apt install btop
btop # CPU, RAM, disk, network graphs
btop provides comprehensive system monitoring with real-time graphs for CPU, RAM, disk, and network traffic in a single terminal window. It supports themes, configurable layouts, and per-core statistics. It is ideal as a daily dashboard — run it in a tmux pane and maintain constant visibility into server health.
glances¶
pip install glances
glances -w # web UI on :61208
Glances excels at remote monitoring thanks to its built-in web server and REST API. It supports metric exports to InfluxDB, Prometheus, or Elasticsearch. It displays not only processes but also temperatures, RAID status, Docker containers, and network interfaces.
- htop — quick process view, available everywhere, minimal overhead
- btop — comprehensive monitoring with graphs, daily use
- glances — remote monitoring, web UI, integration with monitoring stacks
Choose Yours¶
htop for quick diagnostics on any server, btop as a daily dashboard for system administrators, and glances for remote or centralized monitoring.