Use Glances to monitor your data center systems

Install Glances

Glances relies on Python 3. MacOS and Linux distributions include Python. Downloads and documentation are available for Linux, macOS and Windows from the Python website.

Glances is installable once Python 3 is in the system.

Add Glances with pip

Python includes the pip package manager that can install Glances. Python documentation notes that on some Debian/Ubuntu-based distributions, it might be necessary to add the python-dev package. The same package is called python-devel for Red Hat/Fedora-based distributions.

Type the following pip command for a basic Glances installation:

pip install --user 'glances'

Or type the following command to install all Glances features:

pip install --user 'glances[all]'

One major benefit of the full installation, especially in a data center environment, is access to the Glances web interface.

Update Glances by running the following:

pip install --upgrade glances
pip install --upgrade psutil
pip install --upgrade glances[all]

Add Glances using the installation script

Glances documentation claims pip is the standard installation method, but the auto-install script is the easy way. The script works on many common Linux distributions and macOS.

Use one of these commands to download and run the script:

curl -L  | /bin/bash
wget -O-  | /bin/bash

Other ways to add Glances

If you prefer to use Homebrew on your macOS box instead of the installer script, type the following:

brew install glances

The developer also offers Docker images. Running Glances in a container avoids installing the Python components directly on the local system. This is useful for secured servers or ones that are frequently rebuilt. To get the Docker image, type the following:

docker pull nicolargo/glances:latest-full

Add automation to Glances with infrastructure-as-code configuration tools like Ansible, Chef and Puppet.

Glances interface

Type the glances command to start the tool. Use the q command inside Glances to close it and return to the command prompt.

What Glances tells you

The top of the Glances interface shows a summary of CPU and memory statistics. If only a bar graph appears, zoom out of the terminal window to provide more space.

You can toggle between a consolidated CPU or per-processor view by pressing the 1 key.

The bulk of the display resembles top, with a listing of processes and related resource consumption information. The output is dynamic.

Glances displays warnings and alerts toward the bottom, which enables a preview of potential errors that impact system stability.

Finally, Glances displays a useful sidebar that summarizes system network, disk and filesystem performance. Toggle the disk and filesystem information using the d and f keys. Hide or show the network information with the n key.

Sensor data also appears, which includes data on temperature and other values that depend on the system’s configuration.

Press the h key while in Glances for a reference menu.

Select the q or ESC key to exit Glances.

Monitor data center systems with Glances

There are multiple advantages for Glances being Python-based, which include the following:

• Simple, flexible updates and automated deployments across platforms.
• Consistency of gathered information across hardware and OSes.
• Consistency of collected information to parse, interpret and archive.

Administrators only need to learn one UI. Access Glances on remote systems using SSH connections or the web UI. Glances includes a client-server mode, which enables administrators to monitor multiple systems.

Glances also monitors container performance on systems that use an API hosted on the container. More information is available in the Glances documentation.

Glances client-server mode

Start Glances on each remote server using the -s option to use the client-server mode. Launch Glances with the -c option and a target name or address from the workstation, or the client.

glances -s
glances -c @server

Configure the client with a server list for automatic browsing.

Glances web interface

Launch Glances in web mode to accept inbound browser requests for performance information. The interface shows the default port number.

glances -w

Connect to the Glances web server with a browser. The connection is http://localhost:61208.

Glances compared to other tools

The most important comparisons to make between Glances and other monitoring tools are consistency, automation and familiarity.

Glances is a real-time performance monitor, but it can also export information to various target formats and systems. For example, Glances can export to JSON, CSV, MongoDB and Prometheus.

One weakness of Glances compared to utilities like top and htop is that it is non-interactive. Glances displays performance information but does not enable the user to manage what they discover. Top enables users to renice or end processes while Glances provides information, but the user must find another tool to manage the system.

Damon Garn owns Cogspinner Coaction and provides freelance IT writing and editing services. He has written multiple CompTIA study guides, including the Linux+, Cloud Essentials+ and Server+ guides, and contributes extensively to TechTarget Editorial and CompTIA Blogs.