Load averages are complex and also quite different between different *nix operating systems. This old post on undeadly is pretty good.<p><a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;undeadly.org&#x2F;cgi?action=article&amp;sid=20090715034920&amp;mode=expanded&amp;count=3" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;undeadly.org&#x2F;cgi?action=article&amp;sid=20090715034920&amp;mo...</a>