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Mastering Linux: The Top Commands

Every Server Administrator Should
Know
By Rocky ◆ March 13, 2023 ◆ Updated: March 13, 2023  No Comments  9 Mins Read

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As a Linux system administrator, you need to know how to efficiently manage and configure your
Linux servers using the command line interface. While there are many graphical user interfaces
available for Linux, many system administrators prefer to use the command line for its flexibility
and power. In this blog post, we will provide you with a comprehensive list of Linux commands
that every system administrator should know. We have categorized the commands based on
their functionalities, making it easier for you to find the command you need. By mastering these
commands, you will be able to effectively manage your Linux servers, troubleshoot problems,
and improve system performance.

Navigation Commands
These commands are used for navigating and manipulating files and directories on a Linux
system. By using these commands, you can manage your files and directories efficiently, and
navigate through your file system quickly and easily.

Command Description

cd Change directory

pwd Print current working directory

ls List contents of a directory

mkdir Create a new directory

rmdir Remove an empty directory

tree Display directory tree structure

find Search for files in a directory hierarchy

File Management Commands

These Linux commands allow you to manage files and directories on your system. You can
create, delete, move, copy, and modify files and directories using these commands.

Command Description

cp Copy files

mv Move or rename files

rm Remove files

touch Create a new file

cat Concatenate and display files

less Display files one page at a time

head Display the first few lines of a file

tail Display the last few lines of a file

diff Compare files line by line

 Command Description
diff Compare files line by line

User and Group Management Commands

These commands are used for creating, modifying, and deleting user and group accounts on a
Linux system. By using these commands, you can manage user access, permissions, and
security. You can also switch between user accounts and execute commands with elevated
privileges using su and sudo . Additionally, you can change the ownership and permissions
of files and directories using chown , chgrp , and chmod .

Command Description

useradd Create a new user account

userdel Delete a user account

usermod Modify a user account

passwd Change a user password

groupadd Create a new group

groupdel Delete a group

groupmod Modify a group

id Display user and group information

su Switch user

sudo Execute a command with elevated privileges

chown Change file or directory ownership

chgrp Change file or directory group ownership

chmod Change file or directory permissions

Network and Connectivity Commands

Linux provides a wide range of tools for configuring and troubleshooting network connections.
These tools include commands for displaying network interfaces, configuring IP addresses,
testing connectivity, and more. By using these commands, you can manage your network
connections and diagnose issues that may arise. Whether you’re a system administrator or a
home user, understanding these commands is essential for maintaining a reliable and secure
network connection.
 Command Description

ping Test connectivity to a network host

nslookup Lookup DNS information for a domain

traceroute Display the route taken by network packets

netstat Display network connections, routing tables, and interface statistics

ifconfig Configure network interfaces

iptables Firewall and packet filtering configuration

ssh Secure shell remote login

scp Secure copy files between hosts

ftp File transfer protocol client

Process Management Commands

These commands allow you to view running processes, terminate them, prioritize them, and
more. Understanding process management commands is essential for system administrators
and power users who need to optimize system performance and troubleshoot issues. By using
these commands, you can ensure that your system is running smoothly and efficiently.

Command Description

ps Display currently running processes

kill Terminate a process

top Display system processes in real-time

nice Adjust the priority of a process

renice Change the priority of a running process

systemctl Manage systemd services and daemons

System and Performance Monitoring Commands

System and performance monitoring commands in Linux are used to measure and monitor
system performance metrics such as CPU usage, memory usage, disk usage, network activity,
and more. These commands provide valuable insights into system health, allowing
administrators to optimize system performance, troubleshoot issues, and proactively identify
potential problems. By using these commands, you can monitor system resources, diagnose
performance issues, and take appropriate actions to ensure system stability and reliability.

Command Description

df Display disk space usage

free Display system memory usage

uptime Display system uptime

sar System activity reporter

vmstat Virtual memory statistics

iostat Input/output statistics

dmesg Display system message buffer

tail -f Monitor system log files in real-time

System Information Commands

These Linux commands provide you with information about your Linux system, such as hardware
and software configurations, network settings, and system processes.

Command Description

uname Display system information

hostname Display or set the system’s hostname

lsb_release Display distribution-specific information

cat /proc/cpuinfo Display CPU information

cat /proc/meminfo Display memory information

cat /proc/version Display kernel version information

Disk Management Commands

Disk management commands in Linux are used for managing and monitoring disks and file
systems. These commands allow you to partition disks, format file systems, mount and unmount
file systems, check file system integrity, and more. Understanding disk management commands
is essential for system administrators and power users who need to manage storage resources
and optimize system performance. By using these commands, you can ensure that your system
is utilizing available storage resources effectively and efficiently.
 Command Description

fdisk Manipulate disk partition table

parted Create, delete, and resize partitions

mkfs Create a new file system

mount Mount a file system

umount Unmount a file system

du Estimate file space usage

lsof List open files

fuser Identify processes using a file

Compression and Archiving Commands

These Linux commands allow you to compress and archive files and directories. You can use
these commands to create backups, transfer files, and reduce storage space usage.

Command Description

tar Create or extract tar archives

gzip Compress or decompress files

bzip2 Compress or decompress files

zip Create or extract zip archives

unzip Extract files from a zip archive

rar Create or extract rar archives

Package Management Commands

These Linux commands allow you to install, update, and remove software packages on your
system. You can use these commands to manage software dependencies, resolve conflicts, and
keep your system up to date.

Command Description

apt-get Debian and Ubuntu package manager

 Command Description

yum CentOS and Red Hat package manager

dnf Fedora package manager

pacman Arch Linux package manager

zypper OpenSUSE package manager

System Con몭guration Commands

Command Description

hostnamectl Control system hostname and related settings

timedatectl Control system time and date settings

locale Display or set system locale settings

dpkg-reconfigure Reconfigure installed packages

systemctl Manage systemd services and daemons

Text Editing Commands

These Linux commands allow you to process and manipulate text files and data. You can use
these commands to search for patterns, replace text, sort data, and perform other text-based
operations.

Command Description

nano Basic text editor

vi Advanced text editor

emacs Advanced text editor

Network Management Commands

These Linux commands allow you to manage network interfaces, routing tables, and network
connections. You can use these commands to troubleshoot network issues, configure network
settings, and monitor network activity.
 Command Description

ifconfig Configure network interfaces

ip Show or manipulate routing, devices, and policy routing

netstat Print network connections, routing tables, and statistics

route Manipulate network routing tables

User and Group Management Commands

These Linux commands allow you to create and manage user accounts and groups on your
system. You can use these commands to set permissions, manage access control, and ensure
system security.

Command Description

useradd Create a new user

userdel Delete a user

passwd Change a user’s password

groupadd Create a new group

groupdel Delete a group

usermod Modify a user’s account

Process Management Commands

These Linux commands allow you to manage system processes and resources. You can use
these commands to monitor system performance, terminate processes, and adjust process
priorities.

Command Description

ps Display information about running processes

kill Terminate a process

top Display system processes in real time

nice Run a process with a modified scheduling priority

renice Alter the scheduling priority of an already running process

System Backup and Restore Commands
These Linux commands allow you to create and restore backups of your system and data. You
can use these commands to protect against data loss, recover from system failures, and ensure
data integrity.

Command Description

tar Create or extract tar archives

rsync Efficiently copy files to or from a remote system

dd Create disk images or copy data from one disk to another

dump Create a backup of a file system

restore Restore files from a backup created with dump

System Performance Commands

These Linux commands allow you to monitor and optimize system performance. You can use
these commands to identify performance bottlenecks, optimize system resources, and improve
system responsiveness.

Command Description

free Display memory usage

vmstat Report virtual memory statistics

iostat Report I/O statistics

sar Collect, report, and save system activity information

Firewall and Security Commands

These Linux commands allow you to manage system security and configure firewall rules. You
can use these commands to secure your system, protect against attacks, and ensure data
privacy.

Command Description

iptables Configure and manage firewall rules

ufw Configure Uncomplicated Firewall

 Command Description

fail2ban Protect against brute-force attacks

ssh Securely log into a remote system

SSH and Remote Access Commands

These Linux commands allow you to remotely access and manage your Linux systems. You can
use these commands to securely log in to remote systems, transfer files, and troubleshoot
issues from a remote location.

Command Description

ssh Securely log into a remote system

scp Copy files securely between hosts

rsync Efficiently copy files to or from a remote system

telnet Connect to a remote system

nc Utility for creating any kind of network connection

FAQ

What are Linux commands?

Linux commands are textual instructions that are used to interact with the Linux operating
system. These commands are entered into a command line interface, and are executed by the
shell.

How do I use Linux commands?

To use Linux commands, you need to open up a terminal or command prompt on your Linux
system. From there, you can enter commands and their options and arguments. You can use
commands to perform a wide range of tasks, such as navigating through directories, creating
and deleting files, managing users and groups, monitoring system performance, and more.

What are some essential Linux commands?

Some essential Linux commands include ls , cd , mkdir , rm , cp , mv , grep ,

cat , ps , top , netstat , and ifconfig .
 How can I learn more Linux commands?

You can learn more Linux commands by reading online resources, such as documentation,
tutorials, and articles. You can also practice using Linux commands in a virtual machine or by
installing a Linux distribution on your computer.

Wrapping UP
In conclusion, Linux commands are an essential tool for managing and administering Linux
systems. By understanding these commands, system administrators and power users can
optimize system performance, troubleshoot issues, and ensure system stability and reliability.
We’ve covered several categories of Linux commands in this article, including Navigation, User
and Group Management, Network and Connectivity, Process Management, System and
Performance Monitoring, and Disk Management. By learning and mastering these categories of
Linux commands, you can become proficient in managing and administering Linux systems.

Are Linux commands case-sensitive?

Yes, Linux commands are case-sensitive. This means that ls and LS are two different
commands with different functionalities.

linux

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