Basic Linux commands
Command Description
ls Lists all files and directories in the present
working directory
ls -R Lists files in sub-directories as well
ls -a Lists hidden files as well
ls -al Lists files and directories with detailed
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
cat file1 Joins two files (file1, file2) and stores the output
file2 > file3 in a new file (file3)
mv file "new Moves the files to the new location
file path"
mv filename Renames the file to a new filename
new_file_name
sudo Allows regular users to run programs with the
security privileges of the superuser or root
rm filename Deletes a file
man Gives help information on a command
history Gives a list of all past commands typed in the
current terminal session
clear Clears the terminal
mkdir Creates a new directory in the present working
directoryname 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
apt-get Command used to install and update packages
mail -s Command to send email
'subject'
-c
'cc-address'
-b
'bcc-address'
'to-address'
mail -s Command to send email with attachment
"Subject"
to-address <
Filename
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
Chown user For changing the ownership of a
file/directory
Chown user:group change the user as well as group for a file
filename or directory
Environment Variables command
Command Description
echo $VARIABLE To display value of a variable
env Displays all environment variables
VARIABLE_NAME= Create a new variable
variable_value
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 add a new user
sudo passwd -l 'username' To change the password of a user
sudo userdel -r 'username' To remove a newly created user
sudo usermod -a -G To add a user to a group
GROUPNAME USERNAME
sudo deluser USER To remove a user from a group
GROUPNAME
finger Shows information of all the
users logged in
finger username Gives information of a particular
user
Networking command
Command Description
SSH login into a remote Linux machine
username@ip-address using SSH
or hostname
Ping hostname="" or To ping and Analyzing network and
="" host connections
dir Display files in the current directory of
a remote computer
cd "dirname" change directory to “dirname” on a
remote computer
put file upload ‘file’ from local to remote
computer
get file Download ‘file’ from remote to local
computer
quit Logout
Process command
Command Description
bg To send a process to the background
fg To run a stopped process in the foreground
top Details on all Active Processes
ps Give the status of processes running for 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
renice Changes priority of an already running process
df Gives free hard disk space on your system
free Gives free RAM on your system
VI Editing Commands
Comma Description
nd
i Insert at cursor (goes into insert mode)
a Write after cursor (goes into insert mode)
A Write at the end of line (goes into insert 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
C Delete contents of a line after the cursor 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
R Overwrite characters from cursor onward
s Substitute one character under cursor continue to insert
S Substitute entire line and begin to insert at the beginning
of the line
~ Change case of individual character
