# Sysadmin Performance

> Analyze and optimize performance on a Debian/Ubuntu Linux system by assessing CPU, memory, disk, network, and processes, finding the bottleneck, then applying targeted tuning with before-and-after measurement. Use when a machine is slow and you need to find why.

- **Type:** Skill
- **Install:** `agentstack add skill-hermeticormus-linux-sysadmin-skills-sysadmin-performance`
- **Verified:** Yes — security-reviewed for prompt injection and unsafe behavior
- **Seller:** [HermeticOrmus](https://agentstack.voostack.com/s/hermeticormus)
- **Installs:** 0
- **Category:** [Cloud & Infrastructure](https://agentstack.voostack.com/c/cloud-infrastructure)
- **Latest version:** 0.1.0
- **License:** MIT
- **Upstream author:** [HermeticOrmus](https://github.com/HermeticOrmus)
- **Source:** https://github.com/HermeticOrmus/linux-sysadmin-skills/tree/main/skills/sysadmin-performance

## Install

```sh
agentstack add skill-hermeticormus-linux-sysadmin-skills-sysadmin-performance
```

Requires the [AgentStack CLI](https://agentstack.voostack.com/docs/cli). Works with Claude Code, Cursor, and any MCP-compatible agent.

## About

# System performance analysis

Analyze and optimize performance on a Debian/Ubuntu Linux machine. Measure before forming an opinion; tune the bottleneck, not a guess. Confirm before any change that alters kernel parameters, kills processes, or disables services.

## Performance analysis steps

### 1. Current-state assessment

CPU:

```bash
top -bn1 | head -20
mpstat 1 5
```

Look at usage patterns, per-process CPU, and load average.

Memory:

```bash
free -h
vmstat 1 5
```

Look at RAM usage, swap usage, and memory pressure.

Disk:

```bash
df -h
iostat -x 1 5
```

Look at free space, I/O performance, and per-disk utilization.

Network:

```bash
ifstat 1 5
netstat -s
```

Look at throughput, packet statistics, and errors or drops.

Processes:

```bash
ps aux --sort=-%mem | head -10
ps aux --sort=-%cpu | head -10
```

Look for resource hogs, zombie processes, and process states.

### 2. Identify the bottleneck

Common bottlenecks: CPU saturation, memory exhaustion, disk I/O wait, network congestion, process limits. Name which one the measurements point to before tuning.

### 3. Optimization strategies

For CPU: identify CPU-intensive processes, check for runaway processes, consider `nice`/`renice`, review cron jobs, optimize application code.

For memory: check for leaks, review swap usage, adjust swappiness, kill memory hogs, add RAM if genuinely needed.

For disk: check usage, clean up old files, tune the I/O scheduler, consider an SSD, check for a failing disk with `smartctl`.

For network: check bandwidth, review firewall rules, tune network settings, check for attacks.

### 4. System tuning

Kernel parameters in `/etc/sysctl.conf`: `vm.swappiness`, `fs.file-max`, `net.core` parameters.

Service optimization: disable unused services, tune service configs, review startup items.

Resource limits in `/etc/security/limits.conf`: open-file limits, process limits, memory limits.

### 5. Monitoring setup

Set up ongoing monitoring: `htop` for a real-time view, logging for historical data, alerts for issues, and recorded performance baselines.

### 6. Before-and-after comparison

Benchmark before changes, apply optimizations, benchmark after, and document the result.

Guide me through systematic performance analysis and give specific recommendations for this system.

---

See full content at https://github.com/HermeticOrmus/linux-sysadmin-skills.

## Source & license

This open-source skill is cataloged on AgentStack and links to its original source — we do not rehost the code.

- **Author:** [HermeticOrmus](https://github.com/HermeticOrmus)
- **Source:** [HermeticOrmus/linux-sysadmin-skills](https://github.com/HermeticOrmus/linux-sysadmin-skills)
- **License:** MIT

Install and usage instructions live in the source repository linked above.

## Pricing

- **Free** — Free

## Security capabilities

Automated source analysis of v0.1.0 — what this tool can access:

- **Network access:** no
- **Filesystem access:** no
- **Shell / process execution:** no
- **Environment & secrets:** no
- **Dynamic code execution:** no

*"Yes" means the capability is present in the source — more access means more to trust, not that it is unsafe.*


## Versions

- **0.1.0** — security scan: passed — Imported from the upstream source.

## Links

- Listing page: https://agentstack.voostack.com/l/skill-hermeticormus-linux-sysadmin-skills-sysadmin-performance
- Seller: https://agentstack.voostack.com/s/hermeticormus
- Browse the marketplace: https://agentstack.voostack.com/browse

---
Listed on AgentStack — the marketplace for AI agent skills and MCP servers. Every listing is security-reviewed. Creators keep 70%.