What are server load averages messaged in on linux servers?

Question

If you get server loads in linux they are decimal numbers ... 0.10, 0.80 etc ... what measurement is this? Is this percentage? 100 being top ?

Answer 1

System load averages is the average number of processes that are either in a runnable or uninterruptable state. A process in a runnable state is either using the CPU or waiting to use the CPU.

My system has 1 CPU so 1.00 means the CPU is busy 100% of the time. That actually isnt all that bothersome. But a 2.00 means that there is a line wating to use the CPU (I can feel some lag). And a 6.00 means that something better finish what its doing to hog the system because people will complain soon