The ifstat command is used to display interface traffic statistics for network interfaces. It is a simple and easy-to-use tool that provides real-time information about network traffic usage on a Linux system.
Overview
The ifstat command is used to display statistics for network interfaces. It shows the rate at which data is being transmitted and received on each interface. It also displays the total amount of data transmitted and received since the interface was brought up.
To use the ifstat command, simply type ifstat followed by the name of the interface you want to monitor. If no interface is specified, ifstat will display statistics for all interfaces.
ifstat [ interface ]
Examples
To display statistics for all interfaces:
ifstat
To display statistics for a specific interface:
ifstat eth0
Use cases
The ifstat command is useful in a variety of situations, including:
- Monitoring network traffic usage on a Linux system
- Troubleshooting network connectivity issues
- Identifying network bottlenecks
- Analyzing network traffic patterns
Options
The following table lists the available options for the ifstat command:
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
| -h | Display help message and exit |
| -V | Display version information and exit |
| -t | Display statistics in a tabular format |
| -z | Reset statistics counters |
Troubleshooting tips
If you are experiencing issues with the ifstat command, here are some troubleshooting tips:
- Ensure that the interface you are trying to monitor is up and running
- Check that the interface name is spelled correctly
- Make sure that you have permission to access the interface statistics (you may need to run
ifstatas root)
Notes
- The
ifstatcommand is included in most Linux distributions by default. - The statistics displayed by
ifstatare updated in real-time. - The
ifstatcommand can be used in conjunction with other tools, such astcpdumpandwireshark, to analyze network traffic on a Linux system.