How to Install and Use Htop on Linux?

Htop is a powerful and interactive system-monitoring tool for Linux, offering a real-time, user-friendly interface to track system performance. It provides detailed information on system processes, CPU usage, memory usage, and more. This guide will walk you through the steps to install and use Htop on your Linux system, helping you to efficiently monitor and manage system resources.

Installation

First, update your system sources:

$ sudo apt install htop

Updating system source

Now, install htop using the below command:

$ sudo apt-get install -y htop

Installing htop

Compiling from source

We’ll need ncurses, as well as development tools/build necessary, to compile htop from the source. The steps for downloading htop from the source are as follows.

Install development tools using the below command:

$ sudo apt-get install build-essential

Installing development tools

Installing ncurses:

$ sudo apt-get install libncurses5-dev libncursesw5-dev

Installing ncurses

Now download htop from the source using wget:

$ wget http://hisham.hm/htop/releases/2.2.0/htop-2.2.0.tar.gz

Downloading htop

Extract tar:

$ tar xvfvz htop-2.2.0.tar.gz

Extract tar

Change directory to htop:

$ cd htop-2.2.0/

Change directory to htop

Now run the configure:

$ ./configure

Running the configure file

Now make a script:

$ make

Making script

Now we can install htop:

$ make install

Installing htop

Now you can open htop by simply typing:

$ htop

htop

Conclusion

Installing and using Htop on Linux is a simple yet effective way to enhance your system monitoring capabilities. With its intuitive interface and comprehensive features, Htop is an essential tool for any Linux user looking to keep an eye on system performance. Follow this guide to get started with Htop and take control of your system’s resource management.

How to Install and Use Htop on Linux – FAQs

What is Htop in Linux?

Htop is an interactive system-monitoring tool for Linux that provides real-time information on system performance, including CPU and memory usage, process management, and more.

How do I install Htop on Linux?

You can install Htop using your package manager. For example, on Debian-based systems, use sudo apt install htop, and on Red Hat-based systems, use sudo yum install htop.

How do I use Htop to monitor my system?

Once installed, launch Htop by typing htop in your terminal. This will open the Htop interface where you can view and manage system processes and resources.

What are the main features of Htop?

Htop offers features such as real-time CPU and memory usage monitoring, detailed process management, customizable display, and support for mouse interactions.

Is Htop suitable for beginners?

Yes, Htop is designed to be user-friendly and is suitable for both beginners and advanced users who need an efficient system monitoring tool.

Can I customize the Htop interface?

Yes, Htop allows you to customize the display layout, colors, and columns to suit your preferences.

How do I update Htop on Linux?

You can update Htop using your package manager. For example, on Debian-based systems, use sudo apt update followed by sudo apt upgrade htop.

Does Htop support all Linux distributions?

Htop is compatible with most Linux distributions. Check the official documentation for specific installation instructions for your distribution.

Can I use Htop to manage system processes?

Yes, Htop provides an interactive interface to view and manage system processes, including the ability to kill processes and change their priorities.

How do I uninstall Htop from Linux?

You can uninstall Htop using your package manager. For example, on Debian-based systems, use `sudo apt remove htop`.

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