ctop – Top-like Interface for Monitoring Docker Containers

ctop is a free open source, simple and cross-platform top-like command-line tool for monitoring container metrics in real-time. It allows you to get an overview of metrics concerning CPU, memory, network, I/O for multiple containers and also supports inspection of a specific container.

Docker Container Monitoring
Docker Container Monitoring

At the time of writing this article, it ships with built-in support for Docker (default container connector) and runC; connectors for other container and cluster platforms will be added in future releases.

How to Install ctop in Linux Systems

Installing the latest release of ctop is as easy as running the following commands to download the binary for your Linux distribution and install it under /usr/local/bin/ctop and make it executable to run it.

$ sudo wget https://github.com/bcicen/ctop/releases/download/v0.7.1/ctop-0.7.1-linux-amd64  -O /usr/local/bin/ctop
$ sudo chmod +x /usr/local/bin/ctop

Alternatively, install ctop via Docker using following command.

$ docker run --rm -ti --name=ctop -v /var/run/docker.sock:/var/run/docker.sock quay.io/vektorlab/ctop:latest

Once you have installed ctop, you can run it to list all your containers whether active or not.

$ ctop
Monitor Docker Containers
Monitor Docker Containers

You can use the Up and Down arrow keys to highlight a container and click Enter to select it. You will see a menu as shown in the following screenshot. Choose “single view” and click on it to inspect the selected container.

Monitor Single Docker Container
Monitor Single Docker Container

The following screenshot shows the single view mode for a specific container.

Inspect a Single Container
Inspect a Single Container

To display active containers only, use the -a flag.

$ ctop -a 
Check Active Docker Container
Check Active Docker Container

To display CPU as % of system total, use the -scale-cpu option.

$ ctop -scale-cpu

You can also filter containers using the -f flag, for example.

$ ctop -f app

Additionally, you can select initial container sort field using the -s flag, and see the ctop help message as shown.

 
$ ctop -h

Note that connectors for other container and cluster systems are yet to be added to ctop. You can find more information from the Ctop Github repository.

ctop is a simple top-like tool for visualizing and monitoring container metrics in real-time. In this article, we’ve expalined how to install and use ctop in Linux. You can share your thoughts or ask any questions via the comment form below.

Aaron Kili
Aaron Kili is a Linux and F.O.S.S enthusiast, an upcoming Linux SysAdmin, web developer, and currently a content creator for TecMint who loves working with computers and strongly believes in sharing knowledge.

Each tutorial at TecMint is created by a team of experienced Linux system administrators so that it meets our high-quality standards.

Join the TecMint Weekly Newsletter (More Than 156,129 Linux Enthusiasts Have Subscribed)
Was this article helpful? Please add a comment or buy me a coffee to show your appreciation.

Got something to say? Join the discussion.

Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts with us. We appreciate your decision to leave a comment and value your contribution to the discussion. It's important to note that we moderate all comments in accordance with our comment policy to ensure a respectful and constructive conversation.

Rest assured that your email address will remain private and will not be published or shared with anyone. We prioritize the privacy and security of our users.