Ubuntu Linux Shell Commands quick reference

The following is a quick reference list of some useful Ubuntu shell commands along with a short description of common usage. There are more, but this basic list was created to help familiarize the newly introduced Ubuntu user who might be migrating from a Windows operating environment.

cd - change directory

usage: cd <directory name>

clear - clear screen

cp - copy files (similar to copy in DOS)

cp <filename> < new location>

diff - compare files

diff <file1> <file2>

exit - exit or quit

find - find files

find -name <filename>

fsck - check disk integrity (similar to DOS scandisk)

ifconfig - view network settings (similar to DOS ipconfig)

less - view text files

less <filename>

lpr - print text files

lpr <filename>

man - get help

man <command>

mkdir - create a directory

mkdir <directory name>

mv - move or rename files

mv <filename> <new location>

ping - check a network connection

ping <address>

rm - delete or remove a directory or file (similar to del in DOS)

rm -rf <directoryname>

rm <filename>

tracepath - view a network route

tracepath <address>

vi - edit text files

vi <filename>

Posted March 5th, 2007 at 2:22 pm under: Using and Configuring Linux

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