iostat

Provide CPU and per-device disk I/O statistics for Linux environments.

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

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

💡 This Skill includes references (resource) components.

What problem does it solve?

This Skill helps identify and diagnose slow disk performance by providing detailed statistics on CPU usage, per-device disk throughput, IOPS, and latency.

Core Features & Use Cases

  • Disk Performance Monitoring: Analyze read/write operations per second, throughput (KB/s or MB/s), and average wait times (await).
  • Bottleneck Identification: Pinpoint saturated devices or high I/O queue depths that are slowing down your system.
  • Use Case: If your application is experiencing slow response times, use this Skill to check if disk I/O is the bottleneck by examining await and %util metrics for your storage devices.

Quick Start

Run iostat with extended statistics, human-readable output, and continuous updates every second to monitor disk performance.

Frequently Asked Questions about iostat

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

FAQPage Schema
How do I diagnose disk performance bottlenecks and high I/O latency on Linux?

To diagnose disk performance bottlenecks on Linux, analyze per-device disk I/O statistics including throughput, IOPS, and latency metrics. Examining metrics like await and %util helps pinpoint saturated storage devices causing slow system responsiveness.

What do await and %util metrics indicate when monitoring disk I/O?

The await metric indicates the average time spent waiting for disk I/O requests, while %util shows the percentage of CPU time during which I/O requests were issued. High values in both metrics help identify saturated devices slowing down your system.

How do I get extended disk throughput and IOPS statistics in Linux?

You can get extended disk throughput and IOPS statistics by running iostat with extended statistics and human-readable output. Configuring continuous updates every second allows you to actively monitor read/write operations and disk performance.

Do I need to install sysstat to monitor per-device disk statistics?

Yes, you need the sysstat package installed to execute iostat commands for monitoring per-device disk statistics. This package provides the required utilities to generate detailed CPU usage and disk I/O reports in Linux environments.

Why does my Linux application experience slow response times during read/write operations?

Slow application response times often occur when disk I/O becomes a bottleneck. Check if disk performance is the issue by examining await and %util metrics to identify high I/O queue depths or saturated storage devices.