How to Monitor Memory Usage in Linux

 Introduction

Monitoring memory usage helps ensure your Linux system runs efficiently and avoids crashes due to memory exhaustion.

Step 1: Use the free Command

free -h

➡️ Shows total, used, and available memory in human-readable format.

Step 2: Use the vmstat Command

vmstat 2 5

➡️ Displays memory, CPU, and system performance statistics.

Step 3: Check Memory Usage per Process

ps aux --sort=-%mem | head

➡️ Lists top processes consuming memory.

Conclusion

The combination of free, vmstat, and ps helps you track and troubleshoot memory usage effectively.