Linux commands: Using Linux Survival Commands

IT reseller takeaway: This excerpt from Virtualization: From the Desktop to the Enterprise offers quick reference to some key Linux commands for value-added resellers and systems integrators who are new to the technology.

Now that the ESX Server installation out of the way, you need to look at a few Linux survival commands. If you're accustomed to Linux operating systems, this section will be a snore; however, if you're new to the world of Linux, this section should offer some much needed information. Table 5-4 is a quick reference for the commands you can use at the Service Console. A complete discussion of Linux and its wealth of commands are beyond the scope of this book.

Table 5-4. Linux Survival Commands

Command Purpose Example
man Displays extended help man reboot (the letter q quits help)
--help Displays basic help reboot --help
clear Clears console screen clear
su Switches to superuser or between users su su or su <userid>
Is Lists files in a directory
Lists long listing with hidden files
Lists scrollable long listing 		ls /
ls –al
ls –l | less
pwd Reveals present working directory pwd
cd Changes to new directory cd <directory>
mkdir Makes a directory mkdir <name>
rmdir Removes an empty directory rmdir <directory>
rm Removes a file (or directory) rm <filename>,rm –r <directory name>
mount Attaches to media, as in CD-ROM mount
Mounts CD-ROM
Mounts floppy drive 		mount <device> <destination>
mount /dev/cdrom /mnt/cdrom
mount/dev/fd0 /mnt/floppy
mount Attaches to media, as in CD-ROM mount mount <device> <destination>
eject Ejects CD-ROM eject
cp Copies a file or directory cp <source><destination>
mv Moves a file or directory mv <source><destination>
find Locates a file or directory find / –name <name>
tar Creates a compressed file
Extracts a compressed file		 tar –czvf <source><destination>
tar –xzvf <source><destination>
tar Creates a compressed file tar –czvf <source><destination>
umount Disconnects from media or partition
Unmounts floppy drive
Unmounts CD-ROM		 umount <directory or device>
umount /mnt/floppy
umount /mnt/cdrom
umount Disconnects from media or partition
Unmounts floppy drive
Unmounts CD-ROM		 umount <directory or device>
umount /mnt/floppy
umount /mnt/cdrom
fdisk -l Lists disk partitions fdisk –l
service Controls system services and stops
Starts system services
Restarts system services		 service <service> stop
service <service> start
service <service> restart
passwd Manages passwords passwd <user ID>
ps Lists system processes ps –efa | less
free Displays memory statistics free –m
ifconfig Reveals IP addressing information ifconfig –more
uname Reveals host name uname –a
ping Stands for Packet Internet Groper ping <IP address>
reboot Restarts the ESX host server reboot

TABLE OF CONTENTS

About the author   
Chris Wolf is an instructor at ECPI Technical College, as well as a leading industry consultant in enterprise storage, virtualization solutions, and network infrastructure management. He has a master's degree in information technology from Rochester Institute of Technology, and his IT certification list includes MCSE, MCT, and CCNA. Wolf authored MCSE Supporting and Maintaining NT Server 4.0 Exam Cram, Windows 2000 Enterprise Storage Solutions and Troubleshooting Microsoft Technologies, and he contributes frequently to Redmond Magazine and Windows IT Pro Magazine. Wolf also speaks at computer conferences across the nation.


This was first published in September 2006

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