Basic Linux commands
Command Description
Lists all files and directories in the
ls
present working directory
ls-R Lists files in sub-directories as well
ls-a Lists hidden files as well
Lists files and directories with detailed
ls-al information like permissions,size,
owner, etc.
cd or cd ~ Navigate to HOME directory
cd .. Move one level up
cd To change to a particular directory
cd / Move to the root directory
cat > filename Creates a new file
cat filename Displays the file content
Joins two files (file1, file2) and stores
cat file1 file2 > file3
the output in a new file (file3)
mv file "new file path" Moves the files to the new location
mv filename new_file_name Renames the file to a new filename
Allows regular users to run programs
sudo with the security privileges of the
superuser or root
rm filename Deletes a file
man Gives help information on a command
Gives a list of all past commands typed
history
in the current terminal session
clear Clears the terminal
Command Description
Creates a new directory in the present
mkdir directoryname working directory or a at the specified
path
rmdir Deletes a directory
mv Renames a directory
pr -x Divides the file into x columns
pr -h Assigns a header to the file
pr -n Denotes the file with Line Numbers
lp -nc , lpr c Prints "c" copies of the File
lp-d lp-P Specifies name of the printer
Command used to install and update
apt-get
packages
mail -s 'subject' -c 'cc-address' Command to send email
-b 'bcc-address' 'to-address'
mail -s "Subject" to-address < Command to send email with
Filename attachment
File Permission commands
Command Description
ls-l to show file type and access permission
r read permission
w write permission
x execute permission
-= no permission
For changing the ownership of a
Chown user
file/directory
change the user as well as group for a
Chown user:group filename
file or directory
Environment Variables command
Command Description
echo $VARIABLE To display value of a variable
env Displays all environment variables
VARIABLE_NAME= variable_value Create a new variable
Unset Remove a variable
export Variable=value To set value of an environment variable
User management commands of linux
Command Description
sudo adduser username To display value of a variable
sudo passwd -l 'username' Displays all environment variables
sudo userdel -r 'username' Create a new variable
sudo usermod -a -G GROUPNAME
Remove a variable
USERNAME
sudo deluser USER GROUPNAME To set value of an environment variable
finger Gives information on all logged in user
finger username Gives information of a particular user
Networking command
Command Description
login into a remote Linux machine using
SSH username@ip-address or hostname
SSH
To ping and Analyzing network and host
Ping hostname="" or =""
connections
Display files in the current directory of a
dir
remote computer
Command Description
change directory to "dirname" on a
cd "dirname"
remote computer
upload 'file' from local to remote
put file
computer
Download 'file' from remote to local
get file
computer
quit Logout
Process command
Command Description
bg To send a process to the background
To run a stopped process in the
fg
foreground
top Details on all Active Processes
Give the status of processes running for
ps
a user
ps PID Gives the status of a particular process
pidof Gives the Process ID (PID) of a process
kill PID Kills a process
nice Starts a process with a given priority
Changes priority of an already running
renice
process
Gives free hard disk space on your
df
system
free Gives free RAM on your system
VI Editing Commands
Command Description
Command Description
i Insert at cursor (goes into insert mode)
Write after cursor (goes into insert
a
mode)
Write at the end of line (goes into insert
A
mode)
ESC Terminate insert mode
u Undo last change
U Undo all changes to the entire line
o Open a new line (goes into insert mode)
dd Delete line
3dd Delete 3 lines
D Delete contents of line after the cursor
Delete contents of a line after the cursor
C and insert new text. Press ESC key to
end insertion.
dw Delete word
4dw Delete 4 words
cw Change word
x Delete character at the cursor
r Replace character
Overwrite characters from cursor
R
onward
Substitute one character under cursor
s
continue to insert
Substitute entire line and begin to insert
S
at the beginning of the line
~ Change case of individual character
