When a server is experiencing heavy CPU and memory load, the initial step is to identify the processes consuming the most resources. The command "ps -ef" provides a detailed view of all running processes, including their IDs, CPU, and memory usage, which helps in pinpointing the resource-intensive processes1234. Reference:: This approach is supported by various resources on server management and troubleshooting, which recommend using the "ps -ef" command as a starting point for investigating high resource usage on servers