How To Install Glances on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS

In the world of Linux system administration, having a reliable and efficient monitoring tool is crucial for maintaining optimal performance and identifying potential issues before they escalate. Glances, a cross-platform system monitoring tool, has gained popularity among Ubuntu users for its versatility and user-friendly interface. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the process of installing Glances on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS, exploring various installation methods, configuration options, and best practices for leveraging this powerful tool.

What is Glances?

Glances is an open-source, cross-platform system monitoring tool that provides a wealth of information about your system’s performance in real-time. Developed as a Python application, Glances offers a top-like interface with additional features that make it stand out from traditional monitoring tools.

Key features of Glances include:

• Real-time monitoring of CPU, memory, disk, and network usage
• Process monitoring with detailed information
• Support for various output formats (console, web interface, CSV)
• Customizable alerts and thresholds
• Extensibility through plugins
• Remote monitoring capabilities

Compared to other monitoring tools like top or htop, Glances provides a more comprehensive view of system resources and offers greater flexibility in terms of configuration and output options. Its ability to run in client/server mode makes it particularly useful for monitoring remote systems, a feature that sets it apart from many alternatives.

Prerequisites

Before proceeding with the installation of Glances on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS, ensure that your system meets the following requirements:

• A system running Ubuntu 24.04 LTS (Lunar Lobster)
• Sufficient disk space (at least 100 MB free)
• An active internet connection for downloading packages
• Sudo or root access to the system

It’s also recommended to update your system before installation to ensure you have the latest packages and security updates. You can do this by running:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

Installation Methods

There are several methods available for installing Glances on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS. Each method has its advantages and potential use cases. We’ll cover three primary installation methods:

1. Installing via APT (Advanced Package Tool)
2. Installing via PIP (Python Package Installer)
3. Installing from source

Choose the method that best suits your needs and system configuration. The APT method is generally the simplest and most straightforward for most users, while the PIP method offers more control over the Python environment. Installing from source provides the latest features but requires more manual steps.

Method 1: Installing Glances via APT

The APT method is the easiest way to install Glances on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS. It ensures that you get a version of Glances that is compatible with your system and automatically handles dependencies.

Step 1: Update Package Lists

First, update your package lists to ensure you have the latest information:

sudo apt update

Step 2: Install Glances

Now, install Glances using the following command:

sudo apt install glances

This command will download and install Glances along with any necessary dependencies.

Step 3: Verify the Installation

After the installation is complete, you can verify it by checking the version of Glances:

glances --version

This should display the version number of Glances installed on your system.

Method 2: Installing Glances via PIP

Installing Glances via PIP allows you to manage it as a Python package, which can be useful if you’re working in Python environments or want more control over the installation.

Step 1: Install Python and PIP

Ubuntu 24.04 LTS comes with Python pre-installed, but you may need to install pip. You can do this with the following command:

sudo apt install python3-pip

Step 2: Install Glances using PIP

Once pip is installed, you can use it to install Glances:

pip3 install glances

If you want to install Glances system-wide, use:

sudo pip3 install glances

Step 3: Upgrading Glances with PIP

To upgrade Glances to the latest version using pip, you can use the following command:

pip3 install --upgrade glances

Remember to use sudo if you installed Glances system-wide.

Method 3: Installing Glances from Source

Installing Glances from source gives you access to the latest features and allows for customization during the build process. However, it requires more manual steps and may not be suitable for all users.

Step 1: Download the Source Code

First, clone the Glances repository from GitHub:

git clone https://github.com/nicolargo/glances.git

Step 2: Install Dependencies

Navigate to the cloned directory and install the required dependencies:

cd glances
sudo apt install python3-dev
pip3 install -r requirements.txt

Step 3: Install Glances

Now, you can install Glances using the setup script:

sudo python3 setup.py install

Pros and Cons of Source Installation

Pros:

• Access to the latest features and bug fixes
• Ability to customize the installation
• Useful for development and testing

Cons:

• More complex installation process
• May require manual management of dependencies
• Updates need to be performed manually

Configuring Glances

After installing Glances, you may want to configure it to suit your specific needs. The configuration file for Glances is typically located at /etc/glances/glances.conf for system-wide installations or ~/.config/glances/glances.conf for user-specific configurations.

Basic Configuration Options

Some basic configuration options you might want to adjust include:

• Refresh rate: Set how often Glances updates its display
• Displayed modules: Choose which system metrics to show
• Alert thresholds: Set custom thresholds for warnings and critical alerts

You can edit the configuration file using a text editor:

sudo nano /etc/glances/glances.conf

Advanced Configuration Tips

For more advanced users, Glances offers several advanced configuration options:

• Setting up export modules for data logging
• Configuring network interfaces for monitoring
• Customizing the web interface
• Setting up remote monitoring

Remember to restart Glances after making changes to the configuration file for the changes to take effect.

Using Glances

Starting Glances

To start Glances, simply open a terminal and type:

glances

This will launch Glances in the terminal interface.

Understanding the Interface

The Glances interface is divided into several sections, each displaying different system metrics:

• CPU usage
• Memory usage
• Swap usage
• Load average
• Network statistics
• Disk I/O
• File system usage
• Process list

Key Commands and Shortcuts

Some useful keyboard shortcuts in Glances include:

• q or ESC: Quit Glances
• h: Show help
• c: Sort processes by CPU usage
• m: Sort processes by memory usage
• p: Sort processes by name
• i: Sort processes by I/O rate

Interpreting System Information

Glances uses color coding to indicate the status of various metrics:

• Green: OK
• Blue: CAREFUL
• Violet: WARNING
• Red: CRITICAL

Pay attention to these color indicators to quickly identify potential issues in your system.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

While installing and using Glances on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS is generally straightforward, you may encounter some issues. Here are some common problems and their solutions:

Installation Errors

If you encounter errors during installation, try the following:

• Ensure your system is up to date
• Check your internet connection
• Verify that you have sufficient permissions
• Try a different installation method

Configuration Problems

If Glances isn’t behaving as expected after configuration changes:

• Double-check your configuration file for syntax errors
• Ensure you’re editing the correct configuration file
• Try running Glances with the default configuration to isolate the issue

Performance Issues

If Glances is running slowly or consuming too many resources:

• Adjust the refresh rate in the configuration
• Disable unused modules
• Check for conflicting processes or monitoring tools

Glances Plugins and Extensions

Glances supports a variety of plugins that extend its functionality. Some popular plugins include:

• Docker: Monitor Docker containers
• GPU: Monitor GPU usage
• RAID: Monitor RAID arrays
• Sensors: Monitor hardware sensors

To enable a plugin, you typically need to install any required dependencies and then enable it in the Glances configuration file. For example, to enable the Docker plugin:

[docker]
enable=true

You can also create custom plugins to monitor specific aspects of your system or applications.

Congratulations! You have successfully installed Glances. Thanks for using this tutorial for installing the Glances real-time monitoring tool on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS system. For additional help or useful information, we recommend you check the official Glances website.