how to get current CPU load in redhat?

[Tarantulus]

Hi all,

I feel like an idiot for asking this but I just can't seem to get it. I'm trying to extract the current CPU load (not average) from a redhat box and put it into a variable in a shellscript.

I've tried various combinations of "top -b" and the like, but it's not working, I mean, I get the figures, but they are always the same (and therefore not accurate).

any thoughts?

[micmast]

You should be able to find the information in /proc/stat
However you might have to do some research on what the columns mean

[Tarantulus]

thanks, it seems odd that there is no way to do this, I'd have expected it to be a fairly standard request!

[Nepomuk]

Hm, the sysstat package seems to do that - have a look there.

Greetings,
Nepomuk