Linux commands for system administrators

1. What Is nload?

nload is a console application that visualizes bandwidth usage on a network interface. Unlike tools like iftop which show connection-level details, nload focuses on traffic volume—ideal for observing upload/download rates and usage trends.

2. Installing nload

Available from most Linux package managers:

sudo apt install nload        # Debian / Ubuntu

sudo yum install nload        # CentOS / RHEL

sudo pacman -S nload          # Arch Linux

3. Launching nload

To run on a specific interface:

sudo nload eth0

If no interface is specified, it will prompt for one or auto-select.

4. Output Overview

• Two windows: Incoming (In) and Outgoing (Out)
• Real-time graphs showing traffic trends
• Live, average, and peak transfer rates
• Total data transferred since launch

5. Key Options

• -t: Set refresh interval (in milliseconds)

nload -t 500 eth0

• -u: Display unit (bit or byte, K/M/G)

nload -u M eth0

• -m: Monitor multiple interfaces

nload -m eth0 wlan0

6. Customized Execution

For kilobyte unit and 1-second refresh:

nload -u K -t 1000 eth0

7. Practical Use Cases

• Diagnosing slow network performance
• Visualizing upload/download surges
• Monitoring file transfer or torrent impact
• Tracking real-time server bandwidth load

8. Technical Notes

• sudo is required for interface access
• No IP, port, or protocol info—pure traffic volume
• Use alongside iftop or ss for deeper inspection

9. Conclusion

nload is a user-friendly, graph-rich tool for bandwidth visualization in Linux. It offers quick feedback during performance tests or routine monitoring, especially on headless systems or servers without GUI. Lightweight and intuitive, it's a great addition to any system admin’s toolkit.