nmon
What it is
nmon is free Linux software for systems administration, tuning, and benchmarking. It collects performance information and shows live metrics in a terminal through a curses interface, with keyboard controls for enabling or disabling data types. Displayed areas include CPU, memory, network, disks, filesystems, NFS, and top processes; the Linux version also shows resources and processors. Captured data can be saved as comma-separated files for later analysis or longer-term collection. nmonchart turns output into webpage graphs, while nmon Analyser loads output into Excel and creates graphs. The project describes njmon injectors for sending JSON to InfluxDB and Splunk, plus real-time graphing with InfluxDB and Grafana. Binaries cover Linux on POWER, x86, x86_64, mainframe, and ARM. If no matching binary exists, compile with GCC and the ncurses development library. The Linux project uses GPLv3.
For and against
For
- Live terminal metrics with keyboard controls
- Saves data as comma-separated files
- Includes webpage and Excel graphing tools
- Supports several Linux architectures
- Licensed under GPLv3
Against
- Linux deployment is the listed focus
- Missing binaries require compiling from source
- AIX version is not open source
- Terminal display uses a curses interface
The verdict
nmon offers free live monitoring, file capture, and companion analysis tools across several Linux architectures. Confirm binary availability and the distinction between Linux and AIX versions for your environment.
Who it suits
It suits advanced end users, developers, and system administrators monitoring Linux systems and analyzing captured performance data.
Plans and prices
nmon for Linux
Linux performance monitoring · on-screen or CSV output · GNU GPLv3
Read 8 Oct 2026 · sourceforge.net
On the record
- Analysis tools
- The site describes nmonchart for turning output into webpage graphs and nmon Analyser for loading output into an Excel spreadsheet and creating graphs.nmon.sourceforge.io · read 8 Oct 2026
- Build requirements
- For a Linux platform or distribution without a matching binary, the site says to compile from source using GCC and the ncurses development library.nmon.sourceforge.io · read 8 Oct 2026
- Data collection
- It can save performance data to a comma-separated file for analysis and longer-term capture.nmon.sourceforge.io · read 8 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- The project page describes njmon injectors for adding JSON data to InfluxDB and Splunk, and real-time graphing with InfluxDB and Grafana.sourceforge.net · read 8 Oct 2026
- Intended audience
- SourceForge lists advanced end users, developers, and system administrators as the intended audience.sourceforge.net · read 8 Oct 2026
- License
- SourceForge lists the Linux project under the GNU General Public License version 3.0 (GPLv3).sourceforge.net · read 8 Oct 2026
- Live display
- It displays performance data in a terminal using curses, with keyboard controls for enabling or disabling data types.nmon.sourceforge.io · read 8 Oct 2026
- Metrics
- Displayed metrics include CPU, memory, network, disks, filesystems, NFS, top processes, and—in the Linux version—resources and processors.nmon.sourceforge.io · read 8 Oct 2026
- Platform distinction
- The site says nmon for AIX is integrated into the AIX topas command and is not open source.nmon.sourceforge.io · read 8 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- nmon is a systems administration, tuning, and benchmark tool that collects performance information.nmon.sourceforge.io · read 8 Oct 2026
- Supported Linux builds
- The download page lists binaries for POWER and x86/AMD64 Linux distributions, plus separate mainframe Linux builds.nmon.sourceforge.io · read 8 Oct 2026
- Version support
- The download page says the maintainer supports versions 16p, 16q for Mainframe, and 16s.nmon.sourceforge.io · read 8 Oct 2026
