# Metricsets CPU what metric to use

**URL:** <https://discuss.elastic.co/t/metricsets-cpu-what-metric-to-use/270879>\
**Category:** Beats\
**Tags:** metricbeat\
**Created:** [April 21, 2021, 5:17pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/metricsets-cpu-what-metric-to-use/270879 "2021-04-21T17:17:04Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![maheshe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@maheshe](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/maheshe)\
**Post date:** [April 21, 2021, 5:17pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/metricsets-cpu-what-metric-to-use/270879/1 "2021-04-21T17:17:04Z")

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On 7.9 Metricbeat-Metricset-CPU metrics I see these two entries. which one should I use for total CPU percentage

```auto
system.cpu.total.norm.pct 0.026
system.cpu.total.pct 0.211

```

In the documentation I don't see cpu.total mentioned ([System fields | Metricbeat Reference [7.9] | Elastic](https://www.elastic.co/guide/en/beats/metricbeat/7.9/exported-fields-system.html#_cpu_10))

As per documentation: system.cpu.total.norm.pct represents the percentage of CPU time in states other than Idle and IOWait, normalised by the number of cores. Do I need to add IOWait system.cpu.iowait.pct ?

OR Alternately can I just see system.cpu.idle.pct, If IDLE is less than 20% we need to be alerted right ?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![maheshe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@maheshe](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/maheshe)\
**Post date:** [April 21, 2021, 5:44pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/metricsets-cpu-what-metric-to-use/270879/2 "2021-04-21T17:44:49Z")

</div>

```auto
system.cpu.total.norm.pct

```

It is there in the documentation I missed it: The percentage of CPU time in states other than Idle and IOWait, normalised by the number of cores.

I guess I will have to use the system.cpu.total.norm.pct

The question on the iowait is still open

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/original/3X/1/a/1ac57faf039f6b580b3f104ef42a2a89e41014de.png) [@system](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/system)\
**Post date:** [May 19, 2021, 7:45pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/metricsets-cpu-what-metric-to-use/270879/3 "2021-05-19T19:45:38Z")

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