The Linux iostat command helps you to monitor the activity of the system’s devices, partitions, and networked systems (NFS). You can also use it to compare activity between disks. This command generates reports which you can use to change system configuration for better balance the input/output load between physical disks.
The first report this command generates provides statistics concerning the time since the system was booted. Each subsequent report covers the time since the previous report.
In short, iostat is one of those GNU/Linux utilities that every sysadmin should know and understand perfectly.
Install iostat command on Linux
The iostat command is not available in any Linux distribution. It is part of sysstat package that you have to install in your Linux distribution.
Use the commands given below to install it on the respective Linux.
Debian, Ubuntu, or any derivative
sudo apt update sudo apt install sysstat
RHEL, CentOS or Fedora
sudo dnf install sysstat
Arch Linux and derivatives
sudo pacman -S sysstat
That’s it.