What is iowait?
 

Can someone tell me what is iowait and what is it's purpose on a server?

As far as I know it's the time that the CPU sits idle waiting for disk I/O to complete. It's a performance statistic, but not one I know much about.

Ans:
 

Hi,

%iowait:

Percentage of time that the CPU was idle during which the system had an outstanding disk I/O request.

You can get the %iowait using the following command.

# mpstat

OR

# iostat

OR

# sar



Regards
ejd021
http://ejd021-linux.blogspot.com/