Linux Performance Tuning Tips

Here are some practical tips to help you tune your Linux system for better performance.

1. Use htop to Monitor System Resources

htop is a fantastic tool that provides a more user-friendly, interactive interface than the classic top command. It lets you see CPU, memory, and process utilization in real-time.

sudo apt install htop
htop

You can use it to kill resource-hogging processes and analyze your system’s performance.

2. Optimize System Boot Time

The time it takes to boot a Linux system can be optimized by disabling unnecessary services. Use systemd-analyze to check which services are taking up most of the time.

systemd-analyze blame

This will show you which services are slowing down your boot process.

3. CPU Scaling

For systems that require high-performance tasks, such as compiling code or running simulations, it’s important to make sure your CPU is running at full capacity.

To adjust your CPU scaling governor:

cat /sys/devices/system/cpu/cpu*/cpufreq/scaling_governor

To set your CPU governor to performance:

echo performance | sudo tee /sys/devices/system/cpu/cpu*/cpufreq/scaling_governor

4. File System Optimization

The performance of your system’s file system can be critical. Consider using ext4 with features like noatime and nodiratime to reduce disk I/O.

Conclusion

Follow these simple tips to ensure that your Linux system runs faster and more efficiently.