How does one get System Load Indicator (or something similar) working in 17.10?

This is a bug, and it's been already reported to developers of the app:

https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/indicator-multiload/+bug/1714804

You can upvote it if you wish, to let the developers know that it does matter for you -- maybe it'll somehow speed them up in releasing the fix?

1. Report that it affects you -- this will add 4 points of "bug heat" ("hotness").
2. Subscribe to bug's notifications -- it'll add 2 points.

(It currently has 48 points.)

But in comments in the very bug I found that there is already a not bad extension for gnome with the same features:

https://github.com/paradoxxxzero/gnome-shell-system-monitor-applet

So there's probably no need at all to fix this bug, if one can simply use existing extension?

Its installation is a little bit tricky, but there are instructions there, I simply followed them and right now I've managed to successfully install it.

Try it yourself!

Installing Gnome extensions support and the system-monitor extension - https://extensions.gnome.org/extension/120/system-monitor/ - was the solution for me.

In case you also, like me, were not familiar with the gnome extensions, please follow these steps:

1. Install add-on for your web browser:

For Google Chrome, Chromium, and Vivaldi, install the add-on via chrome web store. That's what I have done, but there are also add-on for other browsers: For Firefox, install add-on from Mozilla Addons site. For Opera, install it from Opera Addons site.

2. Open terminal either via Ctrl+Alt+T, or by searching “terminal” from app launcher. When it opens, run the command to make it work in Chrome:

   sudo apt install chrome-gnome-shell

3. The system-monitor extension has some requirements - run the following command on the terminal:

   sudo apt-get install gir1.2-gtop-2.0 gir1.2-networkmanager-1.0 gir1.2-clutter-1.0

4. Finally go to extensions.gnome.org via your browser (I have used Chrome), install any Gnome Shell Extension by turning on the switch on the web. For the system-monitor extension, the link is https://extensions.gnome.org/extension/120/system-monitor/.

After upgrading to Ubuntu 17.10 I also had this problem and I was missing the indicator-multiload features. I now like this system-monitor extension even more - it looks better, has relevant information, it is easier to configure and it is easy to find and install, at least when you get into the gnome extensions.