50 Common Linux Console Commands You Should Learn By Heart

  1. clear: Clears the terminal window
  2. ls directory: List contents of a directory
  3. cat filename: Displays the contents of a file in the terminal
  4. rm filename: Removes a file
  5. cp sourcefile detstinationfilename: Copies a file
  6. passwd: Changes password
  7.  motd: Message of the Day
  8. finger username: User information lookup program
  9. startx: Starts an X Window System server
  10. less filename or more filename: Displays the contents of a file in the terminal one page at a time
  11. info: Displays information and documentation on shells, utilities and programs
  12. lpr filename: Sends file to printer
  13. grep string filename: looks through files for strings
  14. head filename: Displays first 10 lines of file
  15. tail filename: Displays last 10 lines of file
  16. mv existingfilename newfilename: Moves or renames file
  17. file filename: Displays information about file contents
  18. echo string: Copies string to terminal
  19. date: Displays current date and time
  20. cal: Displays calendar
  21. gzip filename: Compresses a file
  22. gunzip filename: Decompresses a compressed file
  23. which command: Displays path to command
  24. whereis command: Displays paths to locations of commands
  25. who: Lists currently logged on users
  26. finger username@hostname: Obtains detailed information about a user currently using the system
  27. w: Lists currently logged on users with processing usage
  28. mesg y/n: Sets options for letting other users write you messages
  29. write user: Sends message to other users
  30. talk user: Allows two way chat to other users
  31. chmod permissions filename: Changes file access permissions
  32. mkdir directoryname: Makes a directory
  33. rmdir directoryname: Removes an empty directory
  34. ln existingfile new-link: Creates link to an existing file (hard link)
  35. df: Displays all mounted filesystems
  36. top: Displays updating list of currently running processes
  37. tty: Displays the name of the terminal in which the command was issued
  38. kill PID or %job number: Aborts a process by PID (Process Identification Number) or job number
  39. jobs: Displays a list of current jobs
  40. netstat: Displays network connections
  41. traceroute host: Prints the route packets take to the host
  42. nslookup: Queries Internet domain name servers
  43. hostname: Displays system identity name
  44. rlogin host: Utility to connect to a remote system
  45. telnet host: Utility to connect to a remote system (similar to rlogin but more interactive)
  46. rcp file remotemachine: Used to copy from a remote computer
  47. ftp: Utility to transfer files between systems on a network
  48. rsh command: Utility to run a command on a remote system without logging in
  49. ping host: Utility used to test connection to a remote system
  50. lcd directorypath: Changes local machine directory while logged on to remote machine

Posted by LinuxGuruz on February 11, 2009 at 1:36 pm
Filed under: LINUX  |  Leave a comment  |  Trackback URI

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