Bob Masters Performance Monitoring and Tuning on AlmaLinux

From monitoring resource usage to tuning critical system parameters, Bob learned how to optimize performance for demanding workloads.

by İbrahim Korucuoğlu ( @siberoloji) | Tuesday, November 26, 2024

Categories:

Linux

4 minute read

Bob’s next task was to ensure his AlmaLinux server was running at peak efficiency. From monitoring resource usage to tuning critical system parameters, Bob learned how to optimize performance for demanding workloads.

“A fast server is a happy server—let’s make mine the best it can be!” Bob declared, ready to dive into performance tuning.

Chapter Outline: “Bob Masters Performance Monitoring and Tuning”

Introduction: Why Performance Monitoring Matters
- The importance of identifying and addressing bottlenecks.
- Tools available on AlmaLinux.
Monitoring System Performance
- Using top, htop, and vmstat.
- Monitoring disk usage with iostat and df.
Analyzing System Logs
- Using journalctl and log files for performance-related insights.
Tuning CPU and Memory Performance
- Adjusting CPU scheduling and priorities with nice and ionice.
- Managing swap space and virtual memory.
Optimizing Disk I/O
- Monitoring disk performance with iotop.
- Tuning file system parameters.
Configuring Network Performance
- Monitoring network traffic with nload and iftop.
- Tweaking TCP settings for faster connections.
Automating Performance Monitoring
- Setting up collectl and sysstat for continuous monitoring.
- Using cron to schedule performance reports.
Conclusion: Bob Reflects on Optimization

Part 1: Introduction: Why Performance Monitoring Matters

Bob learned that monitoring and tuning performance ensures systems remain responsive, even under heavy loads. Proactively addressing issues reduces downtime and improves user experience.

Key Concepts

Bottlenecks: Areas where resources (CPU, memory, disk, or network) become constrained.
Baseline Metrics: Normal system performance levels to compare against during troubleshooting.

“If I can find the bottleneck, I can fix it!” Bob said.

Part 2: Monitoring System Performance

Step 1: Monitoring CPU and Memory with `top` and `htop`

top: Displays real-time system performance.
```
top
```
Key metrics:
- CPU usage.
- Memory and swap usage.
- Running processes.
htop: A more user-friendly alternative to top.
```
sudo dnf install -y htop
htop
```

Step 2: Monitoring Disk Usage with `iostat` and `df`

iostat: Displays disk I/O statistics.

sudo dnf install -y sysstat
iostat -x 1

df: Shows disk space usage.
```
df -h
```

Step 3: Monitoring Overall System Health with `vmstat`

vmstat: Provides a snapshot of system performance.
```
vmstat 5
```

“Monitoring tools are my eyes into the server’s soul!” Bob said.

Part 3: Analyzing System Logs

Bob used logs to identify performance-related issues.

journalctl: Review systemd logs for performance insights.
```
sudo journalctl --since "1 hour ago"
```

Check specific logs for disk or memory issues:

sudo grep -i "error" /var/log/messages
sudo grep -i "oom" /var/log/messages

“Logs don’t lie—they’re my first stop for troubleshooting!” Bob noted.

Part 4: Tuning CPU and Memory Performance

Step 1: Adjusting Process Priorities

Use nice to set process priorities:
```
nice -n 10 command
```
Change the priority of a running process:
```
renice -n 5 -p <PID>
```

Step 2: Managing Swap Space

Check swap usage:
```
free -h
```

Add a swap file for additional memory:

sudo fallocate -l 2G /swapfile
sudo chmod 600 /swapfile
sudo mkswap /swapfile
sudo swapon /swapfile

Make it permanent:
```
/swapfile swap swap defaults 0 0
```

Part 5: Optimizing Disk I/O

Step 1: Monitoring Disk I/O with `iotop`

Install iotop:
```
sudo dnf install -y iotop
```
Run iotop to view I/O activity:
```
sudo iotop
```

Step 2: Tuning File System Parameters

Enable write caching for better performance:
```
sudo hdparm -W1 /dev/sda
```
Adjust file system mount options in /etc/fstab:
```
/dev/sda1 / ext4 defaults,noatime 0 1
```

Part 6: Configuring Network Performance

Step 1: Monitoring Network Traffic

Use nload for real-time bandwidth usage:
```
sudo dnf install -y nload
nload
```

Monitor active connections with iftop:

sudo dnf install -y iftop
sudo iftop -i enp0s3

Step 2: Tweaking TCP Settings

Adjust TCP parameters for better performance:
```
sudo nano /etc/sysctl.conf
```

Add the following lines:

net.core.rmem_max = 16777216
net.core.wmem_max = 16777216
net.ipv4.tcp_window_scaling = 1

Apply the changes:
```
sudo sysctl -p
```

“With these tweaks, my server flies through network traffic!” Bob said.

Part 7: Automating Performance Monitoring

Step 1: Setting Up `collectl`

Install collectl for comprehensive performance monitoring:
```
sudo dnf install -y collectl
```
Run collectl:
```
sudo collectl -scmd
```

Step 2: Scheduling Reports with `sysstat`

Use sysstat to collect periodic performance data:
```
sudo systemctl enable sysstat --now
```
Generate reports:
```
sar -u 5 10
```

Step 3: Scheduling Tasks with `cron`

Add a cron job to run a performance report daily:
```
crontab -e
```

Add the following line:

0 1 * * * sar -u > /home/bob/performance_report.txt

“Automation ensures I’m always ahead of potential issues!” Bob said.

Conclusion: Bob Reflects on Optimization

Bob now had a toolkit for monitoring and tuning every aspect of system performance. By addressing bottlenecks and optimizing resource usage, he ensured his AlmaLinux server was ready for any workload.

Next, Bob plans to explore Linux Security Auditing and Hardening on AlmaLinux.

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