What is context switching
What is context switching is typically caused by a normal system behavior worth understanding to distinguish it from real problems. Here is what to look for and what to do about it.
Likely causes
- Evidence suggests: context switches visible in vmstat cs column
- Evidence suggests: pidstat -w shows per-process voluntary/involuntary switches
Evidence to look for
context switches visible in vmstat cs column
pidstat -w shows per-process voluntary/involuntary switches
high involuntary switches suggest CPU contention
What it usually means
This is generally normal system behavior. Understanding it helps you avoid false alarms and focus on real issues when they arise.
What to do next
- 1monitor with vmstat 1 to see switches per second
- 2voluntary switches are normal (IO waits, sleeps)
- 3involuntary switches above baseline indicate scheduling pressure
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