CPU consumption in Unix/Linux operating systems is studied using 8 different metrics: User CPU time, System CPU time, Nice CPU time, Idle CPU time, Waiting CPU time, Hardware Interrupt CPU time, Software Interrupt CPU time, Stolen CPU time. In this article let us study ‘Steal (or Stolen) CPU time.’
What is ‘Steal’ CPU Time?
‘Steal time’ (also known as ‘Stolen’ time) is relevant only in cloud environments (like AWS) or VMWare environments, where multiple virtual machines will be run on one underlying physical host. In such circumstances, CPU resources will be shared amongst the multiple virtual machines. The hypervisor is a technology that will distribute the underlying physical host’s CPU resources and other resources amongst the virtual machines.