vmstat and it's wisdom

[-f <f_(_at_)_obiit_(_dot_)_org>]

hello list,

i would like to use vmstat as a kind of tload(linux), to get
some "visual" representation of my load.  i know, i know it's
useless, but i really like to run tload as a kind of "screensaver"
on some unused terminal to have a vague idea how much the machine
is working.

i read vmstat(8) over and over and i must agree, that

     This manual page lacks an incredible amount of detail.

so i would like to find the

     The sections starting with ``Interpreting system activity'' in Installing
     and Operating 4.3BSD.

one last silly question, i am compiling X and looking at vmstat.
why am i having so many page faults?  is that page fault THE page fault?

 procs   memory        page                    disks     traps         cpu
 r b w    avm    fre   flt  re  pi  po  fr  sr wd0 cd0  int   sys   cs us sy id
 0 3 0  64192 394948  6535   0   0   0   0   0  21   0  329 11588  616 73 11 16
 2 2 0  67776 392220  7918   0   0   0   0   0  38   0  345 13273  545 75 10 15
 1 2 0  69080 391580  2623   0   0   0   0   0  19   0  326  4549  337 83  4 13
 1 2 0  68148 392528  1896   0   0   0   0   0  10   0  303  3687  403 92  4  4
 1 2 0  68184 392428  2982   0   0   0   0   0  13   0  306  5111  433 86  5  9
 1 2 0  67552 392700  2958   0   0   0   0   0  20   0  303  5392  382 89  4  7
 1 2 0  66648 392592  4964   0   0   0   0   0  28   0  326  7891  465 80  8 12
 1 2 0  65680 393780  6621   0   0   0   0   0  19   0  343 10125  389 79  9 12
 1 2 0  68592 391920  8294   0   0   0   0   0  38   0  342 14276  672 70 12 18
 1 2 0  65772 393412  8592   0   0   0   0   0  22   0  328 13085  490 77 12 11
 2 1 0  64056 394980  9228   0   0   0   0   0  29   0  345 14427  492 67 11 22

-f
-- 
it is easier to catch flies with honey than with vinegar.