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How to Get Familiar With Ubuntu Commands

In Ubuntu, and in most Linux distros, you will find asoftware quite similar with the Command line inWindows, which is called "Terminal". In this article, wepresent you different functions with the Terminalapplication.

First off, a little bit of information on what different commands associated with filesand directory mean.

sudo ("substitute user do"): A very common expression which indicates that the takenaction must be verified with the admin password.

cd ("change directory"): With this command you can navigate your way throughout thesystem. Simply typing "cd" or "cd ~" will take you to the home folder, which is thefolder you are located in by default when starting up a Terminal session.

cd / - Takes you to the root directory.

cd .. - Takes you up one directory level.

cd - - Takes you to the previous directory.

pwd ("print working directory"): It displays your location in the system.

ls ("list"): Lists all files in current directory. Typing "ls ~" will show you the files in yourhome folder and adding on a folder name shows a list over the files in that specificfolder. For example will "ls ~/Desktop" show you the files in your Desktop folder.

cp ("copy"): Allows you to copy a file. To do so, add the name of the file you desire tocopy along with the command as long as the file is located in the directory you havebrowsed to. Otherwise, type "cp ~/<file path>" in order to specify where the file youwant copy is located.

mv ("move"): With this command, you can rename or move a file. If you want torename the file "big" to "bang", you may want to type "mv big bang". This requires thatyou have browsed to the correct directory or that you specifies the file path. Whentyping "mv bang ~/Desktop", the file "bang" will be moved from home to Desktop, butif you want to rename the file as well, add the new file name next to the current namein the command.

rm ("remove"): Simply removes a file. Just specify the file path/file name.

rmdir ("remove directory"): Removes an 'empty' directory.

rm-r ("remove recursively"): Removes a directory along with its content. The factthat you should specify the directory path is self-explaining.

mkdir ("make directory"): Allows you to create a directory. Example: "mkdir privatefiles" will create a directory named "private files" (Located in home directory unlessyou have browsed somewhere else with the terminal or specified a path for the newdirectory)

Now over to some help commands. The man ("manual") command displays thecommand manual (which actually makes this how-to unnecessary). The command info

Steps

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displays some documentation.

man man: This manual page tells you about the manual page itself.

man intro: Gives you a brief introduction to Linux Commands.

info info: Introduces you to the info pages.

When you need information about a command, type "<command name>-h" or"<command name>--help", if the first rule did not work. You see, some command linesmay not associate -h with --help.

Now, here follows some useful commands regarding system information.

df (display filesystem): Displays how much disk space on every mounted partition thatis occupied. df -h uses MB and GB instead of blocks, which makes it moreconvenient.

du (directory usage): Displays how much space space a given directory plus all of itssubdirectories uses. du -s gives you a summary while du -h translates the informationto non - geekish.

The free command tells you how much space which is available for usage. To viewthe statistics in megabytes, type free -m.

uname -a: Prints all information about your system.

Isb_release -a: Prints information about your Linux distro.

top: This command igniates system monitoring, viewing RAM, CPU, and swap usageplus the total of running processes. Press "q" to shut down the monitor.

How to save time while typing in commands:

Use the Up and Down arrow keys to navigate your way through previously executedcommands if you for example have to reuse them.

Hit Enter as soon as you're done with typing in your command.

The Tab key takes a guess on what command you are intending to use. If uncertain, itwill view a list of possible choosable commands.

ctrl+R allows you to search for previously entered commands while the commandhistory displays your entire command history.

This list provides you some common Linux commands:

A

adduser: Add a user to the system

addgroup: Add a group to the system

alias: Create an alias •

apropos: Search Help manual pages (man -k)

apt-get: Search for and install software packages (Debian/Ubuntu)

aptitude: Search for and install software packages (Debian/Ubuntu)

aspell: Spell Checker

awk: Find and Replace text, database sort/validate/index

B

basename: Strip directory and suffix from filenames

bash: GNU Bourne-Again SHell

bc: Arbitrary precision calculator language

bg: Send to background

break: Exit from a loop •

builtin: Run a shell builtin


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bzip2: Compress or decompress named file(s)

C

cal: Display a calendar

case: Conditionally perform a command

cat: Display the contents of a file

cd: Change Directory

cfdisk: Partition table manipulator for Linux

chgrp: Change group ownership

chmod: Change access permissions

chown: Change file owner and group

chroot: Run a command with a different root directory

chkconfig: System services (runlevel)

cksum: Print CRC checksum and byte counts

clear: Clear terminal screen

cmp: Compare two files

comm: Compare two sorted files line by line

command: Run a command - ignoring shell functions •

continue: Resume the next iteration of a loop •

cp: Copy one or more files to another location

cron: Daemon to execute scheduled commands

crontab: Schedule a command to run at a later time

csplit: Split a file into context-determined pieces

cut: Divide a file into several parts

D

date: Display or change the date & time

dc: Desk Calculator

dd: Convert and copy a file, write disk headers, boot records

ddrescue: Data recovery tool

declare: Declare variables and give them attributes •

df: Display free disk space

diff: Display the differences between two files

diff3: Show differences among three files

dig: DNS lookup

dir: Briefly list directory contents

dircolors: Colour setup for `ls'

dirname: Convert a full pathname to just a path

dirs: Display list of remembered directories

dmesg: Print kernel & driver messages

du: Estimate file space usage

E

echo: Display message on screen •

egrep: Search file(s) for lines that match an extended expression

eject: Eject removable media

enable: Enable and disable builtin shell commands •

env: Environment variables


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ethtool: Ethernet card settings

eval: Evaluate several commands/arguments

exec: Execute a command

exit: Exit the shell

expect: Automate arbitrary applications accessed over a terminal

expand: Convert tabs to spaces

export: Set an environment variable

expr: Evaluate expressions

F

false: Do nothing, unsuccessfully

fdformat: Low-level format a floppy disk

fdisk: Partition table manipulator for Linux

fg: Send job to foreground

fgrep: Search file(s) for lines that match a fixed string

file: Determine file type

find: Search for files that meet a desired criteria

fmt: Reformat paragraph text

fold: Wrap text to fit a specified width.

for: Expand words, and execute commands

format: Format disks or tapes

free: Display memory usage

fsck: File system consistency check and repair

ftp: File Transfer Protocol

function: Define Function Macros

fuser: Identify/kill the process that is accessing a file

G

gawk: Find and Replace text within file(s)

getopts: Parse positional parameters

grep: Search file(s) for lines that match a given pattern

groups: Print group names a user is in

gzip: Compress or decompress named file(s)

H

hash: Remember the full pathname of a name argument

head: Output the first part of file(s)

help: Display help for a built-in command •

history: Command History

hostname: Print or set system name

I

id: Print user and group id's

if: Conditionally perform a command

ifconfig: Configure a network interface

ifdown: Stop a network interface

ifup: Start a network interface up

import: Capture an X server screen and save the image to file

install: Copy files and set attributes


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J

jobs: List active jobs •

join: Join lines on a common field

K

kill: Stop a process from running

killall: Kill processes by name

L

less: Display output one screen at a time

let: Perform arithmetic on shell variables •

ln: Make links between files

local: Create variables •

locate: Find files

logname: Print current login name

logout: Exit a login shell •

look: Display lines beginning with a given string

lpc: Line printer control program

lpr: Off line print

lprint: Print a file

lprintd: Abort a print job

lprintq: List the print queue

lprm: Remove jobs from the print queue

ls: List information about file(s)

lsof: List open files

M

make: Recompile a group of programs

man: Help manual

mkdir: Create new folder(s)

mkfifo: Make FIFOs (named pipes)

mkisofs: Create an hybrid ISO9660/JOLIET/HFS filesystem

mknod: Make block or character special files

more: Display output one screen at a time

mount: Mount a file system

mtools: Manipulate MS-DOS files

mtr: Network diagnostics (traceroute/ping)

mv: Move or rename files or directories

mmv: Mass Move and rename (files)

N

netstat: Networking information

nice: Set the priority of a command or job

nl: Number lines and write files

nohup: Run a command immune to hangups

notify-send: Send desktop notifications

nslookup: Query Internet name servers interactively

O

open: Open a file in its default application


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op: Operator access

P

passwd: Modify a user password

paste: Merge lines of files

pathchk: Check file name portability

ping: Test a network connection

pkill: Stop processes from running

popd: Restore the previous value of the current directory

pr: Prepare files for printing

printcap: Printer capability database

printenv: Print environment variables

printf: Format and print data •

ps: Process status

pushd: Save and then change the current directory

pwd: Print Working Directory

Q

quota: Display disk usage and limits

quotacheck: Scan a file system for disk usage

quotactl: Set disk quotas

R

ram: ram disk device

rcp: Copy files between two machines

read: Read a line from standard input •

readarray: Read from stdin into an array variable •

readonly: Mark variables/functions as readonly

reboot: Reboot the system

rename: Rename files

renice: Alter priority of running processes

remsync: Synchronize remote files via email

return: Exit a shell function

rev: Reverse lines of a file

rm: Remove files

rmdir: Remove folder(s)

rsync: Remote file copy (Synchronize file trees)

S

screen: Multiplex terminal, run remote shells via ssh

scp: Secure copy (remote file copy)

sdiff: Merge two files interactively

sed: Stream Editor

select: Accept keyboard input

seq: Print numeric sequences

set: Manipulate shell variables and functions

sftp: Secure File Transfer Program

shift: Shift positional parameters

shopt: Shell Options


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shutdown: Shutdown or restart linux

sleep: Delay for a specified time

slocate: Find files

sort: Sort text files

source: Run commands from a file `.'

split: Split a file into fixed-size pieces

ssh: Secure Shell client (remote login program)

strace: Trace system calls and signals

su: Substitute user identity

sudo: Execute a command as another user

sum: Print a checksum for a file

suspend: Suspend execution of this shell •

symlink: Make a new name for a file

sync: Synchronize data on disk with memory

T

tail: Output the last part of files

tar: Tape Archiver

tee: Redirect output to multiple files

test: Evaluate a conditional expression

time: Measure Program running time

times: User and system times

touch: Change file timestamps

top: List processes running on the system

traceroute: Trace Route to Host

trap: Run a command when a signal is set(bourne)

tr: Translate, squeeze, and/or delete characters

true: Do nothing, successfully

tsort: Topological sort

tty: Print filename of terminal on stdin

type: Describe a command •

U

ulimit: Limit user resources •

umask: Users file creation mask

umount: Unmount a device

unalias: Remove an alias •

uname: Print system information

unexpand: Convert spaces to tabs

uniq: Uniquify files

units: Convert units from one scale to another

unset: Remove variable or function names

unshar: Unpack shell archive scripts

until: Execute commands (until error)

useradd: Create new user account

usermod: Modify user account

users: List users currently logged in


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uuencode: Encode a binary file

uudecode: Decode a file created by uuencode

V

v: Verbosely list directory contents (`ls -l -b')

vdir: Verbosely list directory contents (`ls -l -b')

vi: Text Editor

vmstat: Report virtual memory statistics

W

watch: Execute/display a program periodically

wc: Print byte, word, and line counts

whereis: Search the user's $path, man pages and source files for a program

which: Search the user's $path for a program file

while: Execute commands

who: Print all usernames currently logged in

whoami: Print the current user id and name (`id -un')

Wget: Retrieve web pages or files via HTTP, HTTPS or FTP

write: Send a message to another user

X and onwaard

xargs: Execute utility, passing constructed argument list(s)

xdg-open: Open a file or URL in the user's preferred application.

yes: Print a string until interrupted

.: Run a command script in the current shell. ### allows you to remark orcomment without disturbing the Terminal.

Then again, you can always just skip reading this heavy guide and simply take advicewhen needed from strange members on the Ubuntu Forums and copy - paste strangecommands into the Terminal. To do so, mark the command with your cursor and press ctrl+ C. Paste it into gedit and customize it with file paths if required. Copy the command againwhen finished, open up the Terminal and press ctrl + shift + V in order to paste thecommand.

Rameshkumar by kreatio ***iftop*** This command use to see the server bandwith

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Tips

Related wikiHows

Sources and Citations


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https://help.ubuntu.com/community/UsingTheTerminal

http://oreilly.com/linux/command-directory/


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