How to Use the Command 'tuned-adm' (with Examples)

The tuned-adm command is a powerful utility on Linux systems for managing and optimizing performance tuning profiles. These profiles allow system administrators and users to modify system settings to best suit specific workloads and hardware configurations. By choosing the right profile, one can effectively balance parameters like CPU usage, disk I/O, power consumption, and more to enhance performance and efficiency. Here’s how you can utilize tuned-adm across various scenarios.

Use Case 1: List Available Profiles

Code:

tuned-adm list

Motivation:

In many situations, it’s vital to understand the various tuning profiles available on your system, especially when you’re trying to optimize for a specific task or workload. Listing the available profiles helps you make informed decisions about which profile might be the most appropriate for your needs. Each profile is tailored to address different performance considerations, such as reducing latency or saving power.

Explanation:

• tuned-adm: This is the main command used to interact with the tuned daemon.
• list: This argument specifies that you want to see a list of all available tuning profiles configured on your system.

Example Output:

Available profiles:
- balanced
- desktop
- laptop-ac
- laptop-battery
- server
- throughput-performance
- virtual-guest
- virtual-host
Current active profile: balanced

Use Case 2: Show the Currently Active Profile

Code:

tuned-adm active

Motivation:

Knowing which profile is currently active on your system is crucial for performance troubleshooting and confirmation of settings. Whether you’re testing changes, verifying configurations, or just curious about the system’s tuning state, this command will provide that information.

Explanation:

• tuned-adm: The foundational command to operate the tuned daemon.
• active: This argument asks the command to display the tuning profile that is currently being applied to the system.

Example Output:

Current active profile: balanced

Use Case 3: Set a Specific Tuning Profile

Code:

tuned-adm profile profile_name

Motivation:

Switching to a specific tuning profile allows you to optimize your system for particular workloads or tasks. For example, if you’re transitioning from a workload that requires high throughput to one that needs balanced energy consumption, you can change the profile accordingly. This flexibility ensures that the performance characteristics and power usage match your dynamic requirements.

Explanation:

• tuned-adm: This command initiates the optimization action.
• profile: This argument sets a particular profile as the system’s active tuning configuration.
• profile_name: The name of the profile you wish to activate (e.g., throughput-performance).

Example Usage:

tuned-adm profile throughput-performance

Example Output:

Switching to profile 'throughput-performance'

Use Case 4: Recommend a Suitable Profile Based on the Current System

Code:

tuned-adm recommend

Motivation:

If you’re unsure which tuning profile to use, the recommend feature is very handy. Based on your system’s characteristics and current workloads, it suggests the most suitable profile. It eliminates guesswork and provides a starting point for system optimization without extensive manual analysis.

Explanation:

• tuned-adm: The command itself, which controls tuned.
• recommend: This directive tells the system to analyze current conditions and propose an optimal tuning profile.

Example Output:

desktop

Use Case 5: Disable Tuning

Code:

tuned-adm off

Motivation:

Disabling all tuning profiles can be helpful when you need to troubleshoot an issue and want to ensure that no profile-based optimizations are affecting system behavior. This state lets you return to factory or default performance settings, providing a clean slate for diagnostics or a baseline for performance measurement.

Explanation:

• tuned-adm: The command utility for handling system tuning profiles.
• off: This command turns off all active tuning profiles and settings, reverting the system to its untuned state.

Example Output:

Switching to NO TUNING profile

Conclusion:

By understanding and using the tuned-adm command, you can significantly enhance or troubleshoot your Linux system’s performance. Whether you need to conserve power, maximize throughput, or ensure consistent response times, tuned-adm provides a versatile set of tools and profiles to tailor your system precisely to your needs. Its capability to suggest optimal profiles and manage system performance makes it an indispensable utility in the Linux administrator’s toolkit.