iotop

Monitors real-time disk I/O usage per process on Linux systems.

6|1|Updated Feb 16, 2026
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/L3DigitalNet/Claude-Code-Plugins --skill iotop
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent▼
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: iotop
Source: https://github.com/L3DigitalNet/Claude-Code-Plugins/tree/main/plugins/linux-sysadmin/skills/iotop
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/L3DigitalNet/Claude-Code-Plugins --skill iotop

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

💡 This Skill includes references (resource) and scripts (resource) components.

What problem does it solve?

This Skill helps identify which processes are consuming the most disk I/O, allowing you to diagnose performance bottlenecks and troubleshoot disk-related issues.

Core Features & Use Cases

  • Real-time I/O Monitoring: See disk read/write activity broken down by process.
  • Troubleshooting: Quickly pinpoint runaway processes or applications causing high disk utilization.
  • Use Case: If your server is experiencing slow disk performance, use this Skill to see if a specific application or background job is responsible.

Quick Start

Run sudo iotop -o to see only processes with active I/O.

Frequently Asked Questions about iotop

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema
How do I monitor disk I/O usage per process in real-time on Linux?▼

To monitor disk I/O usage per process, you can use an interactive tool that displays real-time read and write activity broken down by individual processes to pinpoint high disk utilization.

What is the best way to troubleshoot processes causing high disk activity?▼

Troubleshooting high disk activity involves using a process monitoring tool to identify specific applications causing high disk utilization, supporting batch mode and filtering by PID or user to isolate runaway processes.

Can I filter process monitoring results by PID or user when diagnosing storage performance issues?▼

Yes, you can filter process monitoring results by PID or user when diagnosing storage performance issues, allowing you to isolate specific applications and accumulate I/O totals for targeted troubleshooting.

Does Linux disk I/O monitoring support batch mode for automated performance troubleshooting?▼

Linux disk I/O monitoring supports batch mode for automated performance troubleshooting, enabling you to log process read and write activity continuously without interactive display overhead.

Why do I need root privileges to check disk I/O usage per process?▼

You need root privileges to check disk I/O usage per process because accessing detailed kernel-level storage performance metrics and reading per-process I/O accounting data requires elevated system permissions.

When should I use a dedicated disk I/O monitoring tool instead of general process monitoring?▼

You should use a dedicated disk I/O monitoring tool instead of general process monitoring when diagnosing storage performance bottlenecks and you need to see real-time disk read and write activity specifically attributed to individual processes.