# System fields for CPU load

**URL:** <https://discuss.elastic.co/t/system-fields-for-cpu-load/269485>\
**Category:** Kibana\
**Created:** [April 7, 2021, 2:28pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/system-fields-for-cpu-load/269485 "2021-04-07T14:28:33Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![hohooss](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/eada6e/32.png) [@hohooss](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/hohooss)\
**Post date:** [April 7, 2021, 2:28pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/system-fields-for-cpu-load/269485/1 "2021-04-07T14:28:34Z")

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I have the following linux server specs and get the CPU load from two different fields, as shown further below:

_# lscpu_  
_Architecture: x86\_64_  
_CPU op-mode(s): 32-bit, 64-bit_  
_Byte Order: Little Endian_  
_CPU(s): 48_

system.cpu.system.pct  
system.load.1

My concern is that I get different results from these two fields:

 ![screenshot](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/original/3X/6/4/647603559705fe592e38491a870b2fa2821f8553.jpeg)

what is the most optimum way of measuring the load of the linux server? the field 'system.load.1' looks proper when running top command.

thank you.

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**Author:** ![jportner](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/jportner/32/75692_2.png) [@jportner](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/jportner)\
**Post date:** [April 7, 2021, 5:30pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/system-fields-for-cpu-load/269485/2 "2021-04-07T17:30:05Z")

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These System fields are described in the [Metricbeat documentation](https://www.elastic.co/guide/en/beats/metricbeat/7.12/exported-fields-system.html):

* * *

**`system.cpu.system.pct`**

The percentage of CPU time spent in kernel space.

type: scaled\_float

format: percent

...

**`system.load.1`**

Load average for the last minute.

type: scaled\_float

* * *

They are really two totally different metrics. I don't think either is better or more optimal than the other one.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![hohooss](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/eada6e/32.png) [@hohooss](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/hohooss)\
**Post date:** [April 7, 2021, 7:29pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/system-fields-for-cpu-load/269485/3 "2021-04-07T19:29:50Z")

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how can the first one be measured on the fly? is there any command that shows that ? for example the 'system.load.1' can be viewed by top.

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**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/original/3X/1/a/1ac57faf039f6b580b3f104ef42a2a89e41014de.png) [@system](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/system)\
**Post date:** [May 5, 2021, 7:30pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/system-fields-for-cpu-load/269485/4 "2021-05-05T19:30:48Z")

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