Commands

Here are important commands that you should be aware of:

• cat - input from stdin or a file and output to stdout or a file
• cd - change directory
• date - show and set the system date and time
• df - find out how much space is free on your disks
• disown - removes a process from its parent process, allowing it to continue after the parent exits
• dig - query a name server for a server's IP address
• du - find out how much space is used on your disks
• echo - output a string to console (rather, to stdout)
  • echo mem > /sys/power/state - put the computer into standby-mode
• ethtool - is a network cable connected and which link does it have?
• fdisk - partition a hard disk
• file - find out the type of a file
• hwinfo - find out what harddisk, processor, graphics card and so on you have
• ldd - list dependencies of an executable file
• ls - list files
• lsof - list open files in the system
• mkdir - makes a directory
• netstat - show network connections
• ps - show running processes
• route - manage the network routing table
• scp - copy over the network
• shred - wipe data off your computer
• sleep - waits for a given time
• ssh - call a program over the network on another computer
• strace - list all syscalls performed by a program
  • strace -e open - list all files that a program reads/writes to/from
• tar - pack and unpack file archives
• top - show the top CPU/RAM consuming processes
• vmstat - how much I/O is your computer doing?
• which - where does a program lodge?
• xosview - gives you a nice overview about system load: CPU, disks, swap etc.
• zip - pack files so WinZip can extract them

See also

• pages that link to here