How to Use the Task Manager on Ubuntu

Ben
Ben
@benjislab

Managing system resources and monitoring running processes are crucial tasks for maintaining the performance and stability of your Ubuntu system. Ubuntu offers several tools for this purpose, commonly referred to as Task Manager equivalents. This guide will walk you through the steps to access and use the Task Manager on Ubuntu.

What is the Task Manager in Ubuntu?

Unlike Windows, which has a built-in Task Manager, Ubuntu uses a tool called "System Monitor" to perform similar tasks. The System Monitor provides a graphical interface to view and manage running processes, monitor system performance, and analyze resource usage.

Accessing the System Monitor

There are several ways to open the System Monitor on Ubuntu:

Method 1: Using the Applications Menu

  1. Open the Applications Menu:

    • Click on the "Show Applications" button at the bottom-left corner of the screen or press the Super key (usually the Windows key) to open the Activities overview.

  3. Search for System Monitor:

  • Type "System Monitor" in the search bar and click on the System Monitor icon when it appears.

Method 2: Using the Terminal

  1. Open the Terminal:
  • Press Ctrl+Alt+T to open the Terminal.
  1. Launch System Monitor:
  • Type the following command and press Enter:
gnome-system-monitor

Using the System Monitor

Once the System Monitor is open, you can perform various tasks to monitor and manage your system.

Viewing System Resources

  1. Navigate to the Resources Tab:
  • Click on the "Resources" tab to view real-time graphs of CPU, memory, and network usage.
  1. Analyze Performance:
  • Monitor the graphs to analyze the performance of your system and identify any resource bottlenecks.

Managing Processes

  1. Navigate to the Processes Tab:
  • Click on the "Processes" tab to view a list of all running processes on your system.
  1. Sort Processes:
  • You can sort processes by CPU, memory usage, and other parameters by clicking on the column headers.
  1. Search for a Process:
  • Use the search bar at the top-right corner to find specific processes by name.
  1. End a Process:
  • To terminate a process, select it from the list and click on the "End Process" button at the bottom-right corner, or right-click on the process and select "Kill".

Viewing File Systems

  1. Navigate to the File Systems Tab:
  • Click on the "File Systems" tab to view information about your mounted file systems.
  1. Check Disk Usage:
  • Monitor the disk usage and available space for each file system to ensure your system is not running out of storage.

Advanced Task Management with htop

For users who prefer using the terminal or need more detailed information, htop is a powerful alternative to the System Monitor.

Installing htop

  1. Open the Terminal:
  • Press Ctrl+Alt+T to open the Terminal.
  1. Install htop:
  • Run the following command to install htop:
sudo apt install htop

Using htop

  1. Launch htop:
  • Type htop in the terminal and press Enter.
  1. Navigate the Interface:
  • Use the arrow keys to navigate through the list of processes.
  • Press F6 to sort processes by different criteria such as CPU usage, memory usage, and more.
  1. Manage Processes:
  • To kill a process, use the arrow keys to select it and press F9, then choose the signal to send (usually SIGTERM or SIGKILL).
  1. View System Information:
  • htop provides a detailed overview of system resources, including CPU, memory, and swap usage, displayed at the top of the interface.

Conclusion

Using the Task Manager on Ubuntu, known as System Monitor, allows you to efficiently monitor and manage system resources and processes. Whether you prefer a graphical interface or a command-line tool like htop, Ubuntu provides powerful options to keep your system running smoothly. Follow these steps to get the most out of your Ubuntu system and maintain optimal performance.