How To Install Htop on Debian 12

In this tutorial, we will show you how to install Htop on Debian 12. In the realm of system monitoring, Htop stands out as a powerful and feature-rich command-line tool. With its intuitive interface and real-time data display, Htop allows users to gain valuable insights into their system’s resource utilization.

This article assumes you have at least basic knowledge of Linux, know how to use the shell, and most importantly, you host your site on your own VPS. The installation is quite simple and assumes you are running in the root account, if not you may need to add ‘sudo‘ to the commands to get root privileges. I will show you the step-by-step installation of the Htop system monitoring on a Debian 12 (Bookworm).

Prerequisites

• A server running one of the following operating systems: Debian 12 (Bookworm).
• It’s recommended that you use a fresh OS install to prevent any potential issues.
• SSH access to the server (or just open Terminal if you’re on a desktop).
• An active internet connection. You’ll need an internet connection to download the necessary packages and dependencies for Htop.
• A non-root sudo user or access to the root user. We recommend acting as a non-root sudo user, however, as you can harm your system if you’re not careful when acting as the root.

Install Htop on Debian 12 Bookworm

Step 1. Before we install any software, it’s important to make sure your system is up to date by running the following apt commands in the terminal:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install apt-transport-https lsb-release ca-certificates

This command will refresh the repository, allowing you to install the latest versions of software packages.

Step 2. Installing Htop on Debian 12.

• Method 1: Installing Htop using APT Package Manager

In this method, we will leverage the power of the APT package manager to install Htop effortlessly. Here’s a detailed walkthrough, now execute the following command to initiate the installation process:

sudo apt install htop

Confirm the installation by typing Y and pressing Enter.

Once the installation is complete, enter the following command:

htop

Htop’s user-friendly interface will greet you, providing real-time system information at a glance.

• Method 2: Building and Installing Htop from Source

If you prefer a more hands-on approach, building Htop from the source allows for greater customization and flexibility. Let’s explore this method in detail.

First, Install build tools and dependencies:

sudo apt install build-essential ncurses-dev libncursesw5-dev

Next, visit the official Htop website to obtain the latest source code:

wget https://github.com/htop-dev/htop/archive/refs/tags/3.2.2.tar.gz

Navigate to the directory where the source code was downloaded and execute the following command to extract it:

tar -xf 3.2.2.tar.gz

Now configure, compile, and install Htop using the following command:

cd {htop-version}
./configure
make
sudo make install

After the installation is complete, enter the following command:

htop

Step 3. Using Htop.

Now that Htop is successfully installed, let’s explore its interface and key features to maximize its potential:

1. Interactive Interface:

   • Htop presents an interactive interface that allows you to navigate and manage processes efficiently.
   • Use arrow keys to scroll through processes, and press Enter to access detailed information about a specific process.
2. Sorting and Filtering:
   • Press F6 or F7 to sort processes by various parameters like CPU usage, memory consumption, and more.
   • Press F4 to apply filters and narrow down the displayed processes based on specific criteria.

3. Resource Monitoring:

   • Htop provides real-time information on CPU usage, memory usage, load averages, and other essential system metrics.
   • Keep an eye on these metrics to identify potential bottlenecks and optimize system performance.

Congratulations! You have successfully installed Htop. Thanks for using this tutorial for installing the latest version of Htop system monitoring on Debian 12 Bookworm. For additional help or useful information, we recommend you check the official Htop website.