Is there such a thing as 95% threshold CPU monitoring?<p>Consider an application spikes (close to 100% on a core) for 2-3s on some web requests -- let's assume this is normal (nothing can be done about it). Now, let's consider the average user of the system is idle for 2 minutes per web request. So, users won't see performance degradation unless $(active-users) > $(cores) during a 2-3 minute window.<p>For most monitoring systems, CPU is reported as an average over a minute, and, even if it's pinned only 2-3s per 60s, that's only 5% usage. Presume a 2 CPU system with 5 users, who all happen to be in a conference call... and hitting the system at exactly the same time (but are otherwise mostly idle). The CPU graph might show 10-15% usage (no flag). Yet, those 5 users will report significant application performance issues (one of the users will have to wait 6-9s).<p>What I'd like to monitor, as a system administration, is the 95% utilization of the CPUs -- that is, over the minute, throw away the bottom 94% (mostly idle cycles) and report to me the CPU utilization of the next highest percentile. This should show me those pesky CPU spikes. Anything do that?