Linux server shows high load average but low CPU
Load average counts processes waiting on IO or locks, not just CPU. A slow disk can run load to 50 without CPU doing anything.
support/performance/linux-load-vs-cpusteps: 4
Try this first
- Compare uptime, top and iostat -x 1 to see IO-wait
- Identify processes in D-state with ps aux looking at stat D
- Inspect dmesg for disk or NFS errors causing hangs
- Check NFS or CIFS mounts for stalls
When to bring us in
For persistent IO-wait: investigate bcache, mdraid status or cloud-disk throttling as the cause.
See also
- My laptop is suddenly slowThree main suspects: a runaway background process, near-full disk, or a Windows update in progress.
- One specific application is slow for everyoneIf an app is slow for one person: local. For everyone at once: server side or vendor side.
- Opening files from the file server takes minutesOften the server itself is fine and the issue is network routing or stalling DNS resolution.
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