Linux commands

Well Linux no wonder has a good GUI and desktop interface ,the real experience of Linux is in the "command mode".We will now go through some basic linux commands.

File/Directory Basics
ls -List files
cp - Copy files
mv -Rename files
rm -Delete files
ln -Link files
cd -Change directory
pwd - Print current directory name
mkdir -Create directory
rmdir -Delete directory

File Viewing
cat -View files
less -Page through files
head -View file beginning
tail -View file ending
nl -Number lines
od -View binary data
xxd -View binary data
gv -View Postscript/PDF files
xdvi -View TeX DVI files

File Creation and Editing
emacs -Text editor
vim -Text editor
umask -Set default file protections
soffice -Edit Word/Excel/PowerPoint docs
abiword -Edit Word documents
gnumeric -Edit Excel documents

File Properties
stat -Display file attributes
wc -Count bytes/words/lines
du -Measure disk usage
file -Identify file types
touch -Change file timestamps
chown -Change file owner
chgrp -Change file group
chmod -Change file protections
chattr -Change advanced file attributes

File Location

find -Locate files
slocate -Locate files via index
which -Locate commands
whereis -Locate standard files

File Text Manipulation
grep -Search text for matching lines
cut -Extract columns
paste -Append columns
tr -Translate characters
sort -Sort lines
uniq -Locate identical lines
tee -Copy stdin to a file and to stdout simultaneously

File Compression
gzip -Compress files (GNU Zip)
compress -Compress files (Unix)
bzip2 -Compress files (BZip2)
zip -Compress files (Windows Zip)

File Comparison
diff -Compare files line by line
comm -Compare sorted files
cmp -Compare files byte by byte
md5sum -Compute checksums

Disks and Filesystems
df -Show free disk space
mount -Mount a disk accessible
fsck -Check a disk for errors
sync -Flush disk caches

Backups and Remote Storage
mt -Control a tape drive
dump -Back up a disk
restore -Restore a dump
tar -Read/write tape archives
cdrecord -Burn a CD
rsync -Mirror a set of files
Printinglpr -Print files
lpq -View print queue
lprm -Remove print jobs

Spelling Operations
look -Look up spelling
aspell -Check spelling interactively
spell -Check spelling in batch

Processes
ps -List all processes
w -List users’ processes
uptime -View the system load
top -Monitor processes
xload -Monitor system load
free -Display free memory
kill -Terminate processes
nice -Set process priorities
renice -Change process priorities

Scheduling Jobs
sleep -Wait for some time
watch -Run programs at set intervals at Schedule a job
crontab -Schedule repeated jobs

Hosts
uname -Print system information
hostname -Print the system’s hostname
ifconfig -Set/display network information
host -Look up DNS
whois -Look up domain registrants
ping -Check if host is reachable
traceroute -View network path to a host

Networking
ssh -Securely log into remote hosts
telnet -Log into remote hosts
scp -Securely copy files between hosts
sftp -Securely copy files between hosts
ftp -Copy files between hosts
evolution -GUI email client
mutt –Textbased
mail -Minimal email client
mozilla -Web browser
lynx –Textonly
web –browser
wget -Retrieve web pages to disk
slrn -Read Usenet news
gaim -Instant messaging/IRC
talk -Linux/Unix chat
write -Send messages to a terminal
mesg -Prohibit talk/write

Audio and Video
grip -Play CDs and rip MP3s
xmms -Play audio files
cdparanoia -Rip audio
audacity -Edit audio
xcdroast -Burn CDs