Glances is a real-time system monitoring tool written in Python language. It monitors system resources, including CPU, Memory, Load, Disk I/O, Processes, File System space, Network interface, and more. It also offers a web-based interface that allows you to monitor system resources from the remote system over the internet.

Here at Ibmi Media, as part of our Server Management Services, we regularly help our Customers to perform related System Monitoring queries on Linux Systems.

In this context, we shall look into how to install and get started with the Glances monitoring tool on Ubuntu 20.04 LTS. 

Methods to install Glances monitoring tool on Ubuntu OS:

• Glances monitoring tool Installation via apt.
• Glances monitoring tool Installation via snap.

1. Glances monitoring tool Installation via apt

Ubuntu OS has Glances in its repositories, so you can install it easily using the apt command. Follow the below steps to install Glances on Linux Ubuntu via apt.

i. To install Glances, use the command below in the Terminal:

$ sudo apt install glances

Enter your sudo password, and if you are asked for confirmation during installation, type y and press Enter.

After the installation of Glances is completed, you can use the command below for the verification:

$ glances --version

2. Glances monitoring tool Installation via snap

Glances is also available as a snap package. Follow the below steps to install Glances on Linux Ubuntu via snap:

i. First install snapd using this command:

$ sudo apt install snapd

Enter your sudo password, and if you are asked for confirmation during installation, type y and press Enter.

ii. Now install Glances using this command:

$ sudo snap install glances

iii. After the installation of Glances is completed, you can use this command for the verification:

$ glances --version

How to Use Glances ?

In order to use Glances to monitor system resources, use the command below:

$ glances

This will display the Glances interface.

How to access Glances web interface ?

To access Glances interface from the web browser, use the glances command with -w option:

$ glances -w

The output of the above command will tell you that the web UI has started. Now open the web browser and navigate to the below address:

http://<glances-IP-address>:61208

How to Access Glances Web UI from outside ?

If you need to access the Glances web UI from another system on the network, then you will have to allow port 61208 on the firewall of the Glances server. To allow port 61208 on the firewall, use the command below:

$ sudo ufw allow 61208

Then run this command in the Terminal of Glances server:

$ glances -w

Now from the other system, open the web browser and navigate to the below address to access Glances web UI:

http ://<glances-IP-address>:61208

How to Uninstall Glances from Ubuntu Linux OS ?

In order to uninstall Glances from Ubuntu machine, execute the command below:

$ sudo apt remove glances

Enter your sudo password, and if you are asked for confirmation during uninstallation, type y and press Enter.

[Need help in Configuring Ubuntu Linux system ? We can help you. ]