Glances as a Linux alternative to Process Monitor
Updated
Our verdict
Glances is not a true replacement for Process Monitor. While it tracks processes and resource usage, it lacks the granular, real-time file system, registry, and system call tracing that defines Process Monitor. It is suitable for general system health monitoring and quick process checks, but it fails for debugging specific file access issues or forensic analysis. If you need to see exactly which file a process opens or modifies in real-time, Glances will not cut it. Use it for a high-level overview, but do not expect it to handle low-level tracing tasks.
- License
- GPL-3.0
- Price
- Free
- Latest version
- 4.5.8
- Rating
- —
What works the same
- Real-time process listing and tracking
- Filtering processes by name or ID
- Low overhead monitoring via terminal or web interface
- Cross-platform availability including Linux and Windows
What is different
- No real-time file system activity or open file tracking
- No registry or configuration file access logging
- Lacks detailed system call tracing capabilities
- No exportable logs for forensic analysis of specific events
- Focuses on aggregate stats rather than individual event streams
Opening your Process Monitor files
Glances does not open or export Process Monitor (.PML) files. It generates its own logs if configured, but these are simple text or CSV dumps of system metrics, not event traces. You cannot import Windows Process Monitor logs into Glances for analysis. If you need to analyze existing .PML files, you must use the original Windows tool or a specialized parser, as Glances has no such functionality.
Switching from Process Monitor to Glances, step by step
- Install Glances via your package manager (e.g., apt, dnf, pacman)
- Run Glances in terminal mode for basic process and resource monitoring
- Use the 'F' key to filter processes by name or PID
- Enable the web interface if remote monitoring is required
- Configure log output if you need to save basic system stats over time
Key features of Glances
- Real‑time CPU, memory, disk, network stats
- Process list with filtering and sorting
- Web UI for remote monitoring
- Plugin architecture for custom metrics
- Cross‑platform (Linux, macOS, Windows)
- Python‑based, easy to extend
How to install Glances on Linux
sudo apt install glancessudo apt install glancessudo dnf install glancessudo pacman -S glancessudo zypper install python-GlancesFrequently asked questions
Can Glances show which files a process is opening?
No. Glances shows aggregate disk I/O per process but does not track individual file open, read, or write events in real-time. For that, you need tools like inotifywait or auditd.
Is Glances suitable for debugging application crashes?
Only for high-level resource exhaustion issues. It cannot trace the specific file or registry access that might be causing a crash. Use strace or ltrace for that level of detail.
Does Glances replace Process Explorer on Windows?
Partially. It provides similar high-level stats and process trees, but it lacks the detailed thread information, handle lists, and DLL views that Process Explorer offers.