IntermediatePhone
2 min
CPU Load Average Explained
LinuxPerformanceTroubleshooting
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Interview Question
What do the 1, 5, and 15 minute load averages indicate on Linux, and how do you interpret them relative to CPU cores?
Key Points to Cover
- Load average = runnable + uninterruptible tasks
- Compare load to number of CPU cores (e.g., load 8 on 8 cores ≈ full utilization)
- Trends (1/5/15) show short vs long-term pressure
Evaluation Rubric
Defines load average correctly34% weight
Relates load to core count33% weight
Explains 1/5/15 significance33% weight
Hints
- 💡Uninterruptible often indicates I/O wait.
Potential Follow-up Questions
- ❓How to identify I/O bottlenecks?
- ❓Which tools help (iostat, pidstat)?
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