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.
*Ubuntu is a product of Canonical Ltd
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>
