irqtop(1)

Usage

irqtop [options]

Overview

Display interrupt-counter information from the kernel in the style of top(1).

The default output is subject to change. So whenever possible, you should avoid using default outputs in your scripts. Always explicitly define expected columns by using --output.

Options

-o, --output list: Specify which output columns to print. Use --help to get a list of all supported columns. The default list of columns may be extended if list is specified in the format +list.

-b, --batch: Send the produced tables to stdout instead of to a static screen. This can be used for sending the output to other programs or to a file.

-c, --cpu-stat when: Whether to show the per-CPU statistics. Possible arguments are: auto, never, always. The default is auto: the per-CPU statistics are shown when the window is wide enough for the full list of CPUs.

-C, --cpu-list list: Specify cpus in list format to show.

-d, --delay seconds: Update the tables every this number of seconds.

-J, --json: Use JSON output format. Implies --batch.

-n, --iter number: Specifies the maximum iterations before quitting.

-s, --sort column: Specify sort criteria by column name. See --help output to get column names. The sort criteria may be changes in interactive mode.

-S, --softirq: Show softirqs information.

-t, --threshold min: Only show IRQs with counters above the specified threshold. Human readable values are supported (e.g. 1.2K).

-h, --help: Display help text and exit.

-V, --version: Display version and exit.

Environment

LIBSMARTCOLS_DEBUG=all

enables libsmartcols debug output.

LIBSMARTCOLS_DEBUG_PADDING=on

use visible padding characters.

LIBSMARTCOLS_JSON=compact|lines

Controls JSON output format when using --json. Supported values are compact for JSON output with minimal whitespace, and lines for JSON Lines format (one JSON object per line). If unset or set to any other value, pretty-printed JSON is used.

Interactive mode key commands

i

sort by short irq name or number field

t

sort by total count of interrupts (the default)

d

sort by delta count of interrupts

n

sort by long descriptive name field

q Q

stop updates and exit program

Releases

5 releases since Debian 10 (Buster); the text changed 2 times.

--cpu-list since Arch Linux 2026-11-01; --cpu-stat since Arch Linux 2026-11-01; --help since Arch Linux 2026-11-01; --iter since Arch Linux 2026-11-01; --json since Arch Linux 2026-11-01; --output since Arch Linux 2026-11-01; --sort since Arch Linux 2026-11-01; --threshold since Arch Linux 2026-11-01; --version since Arch Linux 2026-11-01; -J since Arch Linux 2026-11-01; -S since Arch Linux 2026-11-01; -V since Arch Linux 2026-11-01; -c since Arch Linux 2026-11-01; -h since Arch Linux 2026-11-01; -n since Arch Linux 2026-11-01; -o since Arch Linux 2026-11-01.

--eth until Debian 13 (Trixie); --irq until Debian 13 (Trixie); --nocolor until Debian 13 (Trixie); --reverse until Debian 13 (Trixie); --rps until Debian 13 (Trixie); --table until Debian 13 (Trixie); --top until Debian 13 (Trixie); -R until Debian 13 (Trixie); -e until Debian 13 (Trixie); -i until Debian 13 (Trixie); -r until Debian 13 (Trixie); -x until Debian 13 (Trixie).