How to Check CPU RAM Usage in Linux

When setting up a new dedicated server or cloud server, it's essential to verify that you're getting the correct amount of resources. One crucial aspect to check is the RAM size. In this post, we'll explore the top 5 commands to find out how much RAM your Linux operating system has.

The free command is one of the most popular and straightforward ways to check memory usage on Linux and Unix-based systems. By running `free` in your terminal, you can quickly get an overview of your system's resources. Here's a breakdown of what the output typically looks like:

Total: 'amount' B

Used: 'amount' B

Free: 'amount' B

Shared: 'amount' B

Buff/cache: 'amount' B

Available: 'amount' B

However, there are more commands you can use to find the RAM size in Linux. Here are four additional commands that provide similar information:

1. `cat /proc/meminfo`: This command displays detailed information about your system's memory usage.

2. `vmstat -s`: This command provides a summary of your system's virtual memory statistics, including the amount of RAM available.

3. `top` or `htop`: These commands display real-time system resource usage, including CPU and RAM usage.

4. `sysctl -n vm.totalram`: This command displays the total amount of RAM installed on your system.

By using these five commands, you can easily find out how much RAM is available in your Linux operating system. Whether you're troubleshooting performance issues or simply want to verify that you're getting the resources you paid for, knowing your RAM size is a vital part of server management.

Check cpu ram usage linux