NAME

loadav − get load average

SYNOPSIS

loadav(vec)
double vec[3];

DESCRIPTION

Loadav returns the load average on the system.  The three numbers returned are the 1, 5, and 15 minute load averages.  A load average is the average length of the run queue over the indicated period of time.  It suggests what fraction of the CPU you would get for a CPU bound process.  For example, a load of 3.00 indicates you would get 1/3 of the CPU.  The higher the load, the more loaded the system.  The different numbers can be used to give some indication of whether the load is going up or down. 

SEE ALSO

gldav(2), w(1), la(1)

BUGS

Only measures the load on the CPU.  If the system is I/O bound, it won’t indicate the true load. 

7th Edition