Biggest memory consuming processes
[root@host ~]# ps -eo pmem,pcpu,pid,args | tail -n +2 | sort -rnk 1 | head
5.7 0.0 3608 /usr/bin/gnome-shell
2.6 0.0 3810 /usr/libexec/evolution-calendar-factory
1.3 0.0 3701 nautilus --no-default-window --force-desktop
1.2 0.0 3588 /usr/libexec/gnome-settings-daemon
1.2 0.0 2968 /usr/bin/Xorg :0 -background none -noreset -audit 4 -verbose -auth /run/gdm/auth-for-gdm-LW8igt/database -seat seat0 -nolisten tcp vt1
1.2 0.0 1045 /usr/bin/python -Es /usr/sbin/firewalld --nofork --nopid
1.1 0.1 3709 /usr/bin/vmtoolsd -n vmusr
1.1 0.0 3867 /usr/libexec/gnome-terminal-server
0.9 0.0 3662 /usr/libexec/goa-daemon
0.9 0.0 1730 /usr/sbin/libvirtd
[root@host ~]# ps -eo pmem,pcpu,pid,args | tail -n +2 | sort -rnk 1 | head -1
5.7 0.0 3608 /usr/bin/gnome-shell
[root@host ~]# ps -eo pmem,pcpu,pid,args | tail -n +2 | sort -rnk 1 | head -2
5.7 0.0 3608 /usr/bin/gnome-shell
2.6 0.0 3810 /usr/libexec/evolution-calendar-factory
[root@host ~]# ps -eo pmem,pcpu,pid,args | tail -n +2 | sort -rnk 1 | head -3
5.7 0.0 3608 /usr/bin/gnome-shell
2.6 0.0 3810 /usr/libexec/evolution-calendar-factory
1.3 0.0 3701 nautilus --no-default-window --force-desktop
Biggest cpu consuming processes
[root@host ~]# ps -eo pmem,pcpu,pid,args | tail -n +2 | sort -rnk 2 | head
1.1 0.1 3709 /usr/bin/vmtoolsd -n vmusr
0.0 0.1 5596 [kworker/3:2]
5.7 0.0 3608 /usr/bin/gnome-shell
2.6 0.0 3810 /usr/libexec/evolution-calendar-factory
1.3 0.0 3701 nautilus --no-default-window --force-desktop
1.2 0.0 3588 /usr/libexec/gnome-settings-daemon
1.2 0.0 2968 /usr/bin/Xorg :0 -background none -noreset -audit 4 -verbose -auth /run/gdm/auth-for-gdm-LW8igt/database -seat seat0 -nolisten tcp vt1
1.2 0.0 1045 /usr/bin/python -Es /usr/sbin/firewalld --nofork --nopid
1.1 0.0 3867 /usr/libexec/gnome-terminal-server
0.9 0.0 3662 /usr/libexec/goa-daemon
[root@host ~]# ps -eo pmem,pcpu,pid,args | tail -n +2 | sort -rnk 2 | head -1
0.0 0.6 21838 [kworker/u256:0]
[root@host ~]# ps -eo pmem,pcpu,pid,args | tail -n +2 | sort -rnk 2 | head -2
0.0 0.6 21838 [kworker/u256:0]
1.1 0.1 3709 /usr/bin/vmtoolsd -n vmusr
[root@host ~]# ps -eo pmem,pcpu,pid,args | tail -n +2 | sort -rnk 2 | head -3
0.0 0.6 21838 [kworker/u256:0]
1.1 0.1 3709 /usr/bin/vmtoolsd -n vmusr
0.0 0.1 5596 [kworker/3:2]
Explanations
ps Report a snapshot of the current processes
-e Select all processes
o Specify user-defined format
pmem,pcpu,pid,args user-defined format: memory,cpu, pid number and command
| tail -n +2 Output lines starting to the second line (to avoid column names such %MEM, etc ...)
| sort -rnk 1 reverse (r), numeric sort (n) by column 1 (memory)
| sort -rnk 2 reverse (r), numeric sort (n) by column 2 (cpu)
| head output the 10 first lines
