Glances monitors CPU, memory, processes, network, disk activity, sensors, and containers across platforms.
Glances
Glances monitors system activity and is available for GNU/Linux, BSD, macOS, and Windows.
About Glances
Glances is a system monitoring tool that runs on GNU/Linux, BSD, macOS, and Windows. It shows real-time information about CPU, memory, disk, and network usage, along with running processes, logged-in users, temperatures, voltages, and fan speeds. It also monitors containers managed by Docker and LXC. The information is presented in a dashboard that can be limited to the metrics a user cares about. Glances is written in Python and uses an architecture where developers can add plugins or export modules.
It can run locally in a terminal or as a server. In server mode, the stats can be viewed remotely through a terminal, a web interface, or a RESTful API. Stats can also be exported to files, external time/value databases, CSV, or standard output. By default, the server listens only on 127.0.0.1, and it is not password-protected until a password is set.
Key features
- Real-time monitoring of CPU, memory, disk, and network usage
- Monitoring of running processes and logged-in users
- Readings for temperatures, voltages, and fan speeds
- Container monitoring for Docker and LXC
- Remote monitoring through a terminal, web interface, or RESTful API
- Export of stats to CSV, time/value databases, files, or STDOUT
Best for: System administrators and technical users who want to monitor system resources, including remote machines, from a terminal or web browser.
Good for
- Covers many system metrics in one dashboard
- Supports remote monitoring through several interfaces
- Open architecture allows new plugins and export modules
Watch out for
- The server is not password-protected by default
- The server listens on 127.0.0.1 by default, so remote access requires changing the bind address
- The built-in MCP server requires Glances 4.5.1 or higher and the --enable-mcp option
Glances at a glance
- Website
- github.com/nicolargo/glances
- Category
- Software & Utilities › Hardware & Diagnostics
- Type
- Open-source project
- Pricing
- Not confirmed. Check the site
- Platforms
- Linux, macOS, Windows
- Open source
- Not stated
- Language
- English
- Last checked
- Oct 6, 2026 · Online when checked
- Listed
- Oct 5, 2026
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Glances FAQ
How do I password-protect the Glances web server?
Run glances --set-password, then paste the printed value into the password key in the [outputs] section of the glances.conf file.
How do I monitor a remote Glances server from a terminal?
Run glances -c . The client reads stats from the server's REST API. Use --password if you need to be prompted for the server password.
How can AI assistants query Glances?
Run glances -s --enable-mcp. The MCP endpoint (SSE transport) is then available at http://:61208/mcp/sse. This feature is available in Glances 4.5.1 and higher.
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