20/12/2023, 15:22 Linux Commands Cheat Sheet | Linux Training Academy

Free Linux Command Line Cheat Sheet -> Email Download Now! ✕

Linux Training Academy MENU

Linux Commands Cheat Sheet

Did you know that there are literally hundreds of Linux commands? Even on a bare-bones Linux server install
there are easily over 1,000 different commands.

The interesting thing is that most people only need to use a very small subset of those commands. Below
you’ll find a Linux “cheat sheet” that breaks down some of the most commonly used commands by
category.

To get your own PDF and printable copy, scroll to the bottom of the page.

Enjoy!

1 – SYSTEM INFORMATION
# Display Linux system information
uname -a

# Display kernel release information

uname -r

https://www.linuxtrainingacademy.com/linux-commands-cheat-sheet/ 1/19
20/12/2023, 15:22 Linux Commands Cheat Sheet | Linux Training Academy

# Show operating system information such as distribution name and version

Free Linux Command Line Cheat Sheet -> Email
cat /etc/os-release ✕
# Show how long the system has been running + load
uptime

# Show system host name

hostname

# Display all local IP addresses of the host.

hostname -I

# Show system reboot history

last reboot

# Show the current date and time

date

# Show this month's calendar

cal

# Display who is online

w

# Who you are logged in as

whoami

2 – HARDWARE INFORMATION
# Display messages in kernel ring buffer
dmesg

https://www.linuxtrainingacademy.com/linux-commands-cheat-sheet/ 2/19
20/12/2023, 15:22 Linux Commands Cheat Sheet | Linux Training Academy

Free Linux
# Display Command Line Cheat Sheet ->
CPU information Email ✕
cat /proc/cpuinfo

# Display memory information

cat /proc/meminfo

# Display free and used memory ( -h for human readable, -m for MB, -g for GB.)
free -h

# Display PCI devices

lspci -tv

# Display USB devices

lsusb -tv

# Display DMI/SMBIOS (hardware info) from the BIOS

dmidecode

# Show info about disk sda

hdparm -i /dev/sda

# Perform a read speed test on disk sda

hdparm -tT /dev/sda

# Test for unreadable blocks on disk sda

badblocks -s /dev/sda

3 – PERFORMANCE MONITORING AND STATISTICS

https://www.linuxtrainingacademy.com/linux-commands-cheat-sheet/ 3/19
20/12/2023, 15:22 Linux Commands Cheat Sheet | Linux Training Academy

Free Linux
# Display Command
and manage Line
the top Cheat Sheet ->
processes Email ✕
top

# Interactive process viewer (top alternative)

htop

# Display processor related statistics

mpstat 1

# Display virtual memory statistics

vmstat 1

# Display I/O statistics

iostat 1

# Display the last 100 syslog messages (Use /var/log/syslog for Debian based systems.)
tail -100 /var/log/messages

# Capture and display all packets on interface eth0

tcpdump -i eth0

# Monitor all traffic on port 80 ( HTTP )

tcpdump -i eth0 'port 80'

# List all open files on the system

lsof

# List files opened by user

lsof -u user

# Display free and used memory ( -h for human readable, -m for MB, -g for GB.)
free -h
https://www.linuxtrainingacademy.com/linux-commands-cheat-sheet/ 4/19
20/12/2023, 15:22 Linux Commands Cheat Sheet | Linux Training Academy

Free Linux
# Execute Command
"df -h", showing Line Cheatupdates
periodic Sheet -> Email ✕
watch df -h

4 – USER INFORMATION AND MANAGEMENT

# Display the user and group ids of your current user.
id

# Display the last users who have logged onto the system.
last

# Show who is logged into the system.

who

# Show who is logged in and what they are doing.

w

# Create a group named "test".

groupadd test

# Create an account named john, with a comment of "John Smith" and create the user's home
useradd -c "John Smith" -m john

# Delete the john account.

userdel john

https://www.linuxtrainingacademy.com/linux-commands-cheat-sheet/ 5/19
20/12/2023, 15:22 Linux Commands Cheat Sheet | Linux Training Academy

# Add the john account to the sales group

Free
usermod Linux
-aG Command
sales john Line Cheat Sheet -> Email ✕

5 – FILE AND DIRECTORY COMMANDS

# List all files in a long listing (detailed) format
ls -al

# Display the present working directory

pwd

# Create a directory
mkdir directory

# Remove (delete) file

rm file

# Remove the directory and its contents recursively

rm -r directory

# Force removal of file without prompting for confirmation

rm -f file

# Forcefully remove directory recursively

rm -rf directory

# Copy file1 to file2

cp file1 file2

# Copy source_directory recursively to destination. If destination exists, copy source_di

https://www.linuxtrainingacademy.com/linux-commands-cheat-sheet/ 6/19
20/12/2023, 15:22 Linux Commands Cheat Sheet | Linux Training Academy

cp -r source_directory destination
Free Linux Command Line Cheat Sheet -> Email ✕
# Rename or move file1 to file2. If file2 is an existing directory, move file1 into direc
mv file1 file2

# Create symbolic link to linkname

ln -s /path/to/file linkname

# Create an empty file or update the access and modification times of file.
touch file

# View the contents of file

cat file

# Browse through a text file

less file

# Display the first 10 lines of file

head file

# Display the last 10 lines of file

tail file

# Display the last 10 lines of file and "follow" the file as it grows.
tail -f file

6 – PROCESS MANAGEMENT
# Display your currently running processes
ps
https://www.linuxtrainingacademy.com/linux-commands-cheat-sheet/ 7/19
20/12/2023, 15:22 Linux Commands Cheat Sheet | Linux Training Academy

Free Linux Command ✕

# Display all the currentlyLine Cheatprocesses
running Sheet -> on the system.
Email
ps -ef

# Display process information for processname

ps -ef | grep processname

# Display and manage the top processes

top

# Interactive process viewer (top alternative)

htop

# Kill process with process ID of pid

kill pid

# Kill all processes named processname

killall processname

# Start program in the background

program &

# Display stopped or background jobs

bg

# Brings the most recent background job to foreground

fg

# Brings job n to the foreground

fg n

https://www.linuxtrainingacademy.com/linux-commands-cheat-sheet/ 8/19
20/12/2023, 15:22 Linux Commands Cheat Sheet | Linux Training Academy

7 – FILE PERMISSIONS
Free Linux Command Line Cheat Sheet -> Email ✕

PERMISSION EXAMPLE

U G W
rwx rwx rwx chmod 777 filename
rwx rwx r-x chmod 775 filename
rwx r-x r-x chmod 755 filename
rw- rw- r-- chmod 664 filename
rw- r-- r-- chmod 644 filename

# NOTE: Use 777 sparingly!

LEGEND
U = User
https://www.linuxtrainingacademy.com/linux-commands-cheat-sheet/ 9/19
20/12/2023, 15:22 Linux Commands Cheat Sheet | Linux Training Academy

G = Group
Free ✕
W Linux Command Line Cheat Sheet ->
= World Email

r = Read
w = write
x = execute
- = no access

8 – NETWORKING
# Display all network interfaces and IP address
ip a

# Display eth0 address and details

ip addr show dev eth0

# Query or control network driver and hardware settings

ethtool eth0

# Send ICMP echo request to host

ping host

# Display whois information for domain

whois domain

# Display DNS information for domain

dig domain

# Reverse lookup of IP_ADDRESS

dig -x IP_ADDRESS

https://www.linuxtrainingacademy.com/linux-commands-cheat-sheet/ 10/19
20/12/2023, 15:22 Linux Commands Cheat Sheet | Linux Training Academy

Free Linux ✕
# Display DNS IPCommand Line
address for Cheat Sheet ->
domain Email
host domain

# Display the network address of the host name.

hostname -i

# Display all local IP addresses of the host.

hostname -I

# Download http://domain.com/file
wget http://domain.com/file

# Display listening tcp and udp ports and corresponding programs

netstat -nutlp

9 – ARCHIVES (TAR FILES)

# Create tar named archive.tar containing directory.
tar cf archive.tar directory

# Extract the contents from archive.tar.

tar xf archive.tar

# Create a gzip compressed tar file name archive.tar.gz.

tar czf archive.tar.gz directory

# Extract a gzip compressed tar file.

tar xzf archive.tar.gz

https://www.linuxtrainingacademy.com/linux-commands-cheat-sheet/ 11/19
20/12/2023, 15:22 Linux Commands Cheat Sheet | Linux Training Academy

# Create a tar file with bzip2 compression

Free Linux Command Line Cheat Sheet -> ✕
tar cjf archive.tar.bz2 directory Email

# Extract a bzip2 compressed tar file.

tar xjf archive.tar.bz2

10 – INSTALLING PACKAGES
# Search for a package by keyword.
yum search keyword

# Install package.
yum install package

# Display description and summary information about package.

yum info package

# Install package from local file named package.rpm

rpm -i package.rpm

# Remove/uninstall package.
yum remove package

# Install software from source code.

tar zxvf sourcecode.tar.gz
cd sourcecode
./configure
make
make install

https://www.linuxtrainingacademy.com/linux-commands-cheat-sheet/ 12/19
20/12/2023, 15:22 Linux Commands Cheat Sheet | Linux Training Academy

11 – SEARCH
Free Linux Command Line Cheat Sheet -> Email ✕

# Search for pattern in file

grep pattern file

# Search recursively for pattern in directory

grep -r pattern directory

# Find files and directories by name

locate name

# Find files in /home/john that start with "prefix".

find /home/john -name 'prefix*'

# Find files larger than 100MB in /home

find /home -size +100M

12 – SSH LOGINS
# Connect to host as your local username.
ssh host

# Connect to host as user

ssh user@host

# Connect to host using port

ssh -p port user@host

https://www.linuxtrainingacademy.com/linux-commands-cheat-sheet/ 13/19
20/12/2023, 15:22 Linux Commands Cheat Sheet | Linux Training Academy

13 – Free
FILELinux
TRANSFERS
Command Line Cheat Sheet -> Email ✕

# Secure copy file.txt to the /tmp folder on server

scp file.txt server:/tmp

# Copy *.html files from server to the local /tmp folder.

scp server:/var/www/*.html /tmp

# Copy all files and directories recursively from server to the current system's /tmp fol
scp -r server:/var/www /tmp

# Synchronize /home to /backups/home

rsync -a /home /backups/

# Synchronize files/directories between the local and remote system with compression enab
rsync -avz /home server:/backups/

14 – DISK USAGE
# Show free and used space on mounted filesystems
df -h

# Show free and used inodes on mounted filesystems

df -i

# Display disks partitions sizes and types

fdisk -l

https://www.linuxtrainingacademy.com/linux-commands-cheat-sheet/ 14/19
20/12/2023, 15:22 Linux Commands Cheat Sheet | Linux Training Academy

# Display disk usage for all files and directories in human readable format
Free Linux Command Line Cheat Sheet -> Email ✕
du -ah

# Display total disk usage off the current directory

du -sh

15 – DIRECTORY NAVIGATION
# To go up one level of the directory tree. (Change into the parent directory.)
cd ..

# Go to the $HOME directory

cd

# Change to the /etc directory

cd /etc

16 – SECURITY
# Change the current user's password.
passwd

# Switch to the root account with root's environment. (Login shell.)

sudo -i

# Execute your current shell as root. (Non-login shell.)

sudo -s

https://www.linuxtrainingacademy.com/linux-commands-cheat-sheet/ 15/19
20/12/2023, 15:22 Linux Commands Cheat Sheet | Linux Training Academy

# List sudo privileges for the current user.

sudo Free
-l Linux Command Line Cheat Sheet -> Email ✕

# Edit the sudoers configuration file.

visudo

# Display the current SELinux mode.

getenforce

# Display SELinux details such as the current SELinux mode, the configured mode, and the
sestatus

# Change the current SELinux mode to Permissive. (Does not survive a reboot.)
setenforce 0

# Change the current SELinux mode to Enforcing. (Does not survive a reboot.)
setenforce 1

# Set the SELinux mode to enforcing on boot by using this setting in the /etc/selinux/con
SELINUX=enforcing

# Set the SELinux mode to permissive on boot by using this setting in the /etc/selinux/co
SELINUX=permissive

# Set the SELinux mode to disabled on boot by using this setting in the /etc/selinux/conf
SELINUX=disabled

17 – LOGGING AND AUDITING

https://www.linuxtrainingacademy.com/linux-commands-cheat-sheet/ 16/19
20/12/2023, 15:22 Linux Commands Cheat Sheet | Linux Training Academy

Free Linux
# Display Command
messages Line
in kernel Cheat
ring Sheet ->
buffer. Email ✕
dmesg

# Display logs stored in the systemd journal.

journalctl

# Display logs for a specific unit (service).

journalctl -u servicename

18 – Linux Command Line Cheat Sheet

Download My Linux Cheat Sheet!
Enter your email address below to download this Linux command line cheat sheet in an easy-to-read and ready-to-print format.

Your Best Email Address 

Send me my cheat sheet >

We respect your privacy.

Related Articles:
Linux ip Command Networking Cheat Sheet
Vim Cheat Sheet
Managing Linux Users and Groups
23 Handy Bash Shell Aliases For Unix, Linux, and Mac OS X

https://www.linuxtrainingacademy.com/linux-commands-cheat-sheet/ 17/19
20/12/2023, 15:22 Linux Commands Cheat Sheet | Linux Training Academy

AlmaLinux, CentOS, cheat sheet, Command Line, Linux, RedHat, Server, Shell Scripting, SSH, Ubuntu
Free Linux Command Line Cheat Sheet -> Email ✕
VirtualBox Troubleshooting Tips
Vim Cheat Sheet

Most Popular

Linux Commands Cheat Sheet

Linux ip Command Networking Cheat Sheet
Vim Cheat Sheet
Linux System Administrator Projects
1,500 Coding Project Ideas

Recent Linux Articles

Tmux Tutorial: Mastering the Basics

How to Install an SSL Certificate on an AlmaLinux Server with Nginx using Let’s Encrypt

Installing Passbolt, a Secure, Self-Hosted Password Manager

CentOS is dead, long live CentOS!

Linux System Administrator and DevOps Interview Questions

Topics

https://www.linuxtrainingacademy.com/linux-commands-cheat-sheet/ 18/19
20/12/2023, 15:22 Linux Commands Cheat Sheet | Linux Training Academy

AlmaLinux Arch
Free Linux Command LineCentOS
Linux Careers cheat
Cheat Sheet -> sheet
Email Cloud Command Line ✕

Debian Desktop DevOps Fedora File System FTP Installation Interviewing Jobs Linux
Linux Certifications Linux Mint MySQL Nginx OpenSuse Programming Python RedHat Rocky Linux SCP

Sed Server Shell Scripting Slackware SSH Text Editors Ubuntu Vagrant Video vim

VirtualBox Web Hosting Windows

Linux Cheat Sheet Download

Enter your email address below to download this Linux command line cheat sheet in an easy-to-read and ready-to-print format.

 Your Best Email Address

Send me my cheat sheet >

© 2023 Linux Training Academy • Built with GeneratePress

https://www.linuxtrainingacademy.com/linux-commands-cheat-sheet/ 19/19