get_actual_system_memory.sh

#!/bin/bash

OUT="/tmp/htop.out"

/bin/bash -c "sleep 1; killall htop" &
htop > $OUT

# Ref. Remove color codes (special characters) with sed
# http://www.commandlinefu.com/commands/view/3584/remove-color-codes-special-characters-with-sed
result=$(sed -r "s/\x1B\[([0-9]{1,2}(;[0-9]{1,2})?)?[m|K]//g" $OUT | sed 's/.*Mem.*[^0-9]\([0-9]\+\/[0-9]\+\)MB.*Swp.*/\1\n/')
time=$(date)

echo -e "$time\t$result MB"