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VPS
Feb 22, 2024
Valentinas C. & Aris S.
21min Read

60 Essential Linux
Commands + Free Cheat
Sheet
To manage a Linux remote machine like a virtual private server (VPS),
system administrators commonly use a command-line interface (CLI).
While some Linux distributions offer a graphical user interface (GUI),
commands are more efficient and flexible with a CLI.
For example, you can replace specific entries in multiple files using a
single command, which takes time in a GUI. However, using bash shell
can be tricky since Linux has many commands for various tasks.
To help you get started, we will explore 60 essential Linux commands
for VPS management. You will also learn tips for using a CLI and
leveraging Hostinger’s VPS AI Assistant to easily generate Linux
commands.
 o The 60 Most Commonly Used Linux Commands
o Linux Commands Tips and Tricks
o Make the Most Out of Your Linux With VPS AI
Assistant
o Linux Commands FAQ

The 60 Most Commonly Used Linux

Commands
This section will explore 60 Linux commands grouped based on their
purposes, from modifying files to managing the system network settings.
Pro Tip
To run Linux commands in a remote server, connect via SSH using
PuTTY or Terminal. Alternatively, Hostinger VPS hosting users can
leverage our built-in Browser terminal to run the commands directly
from their web browsers.

Here’s a quick overview:

Command Function

ls Lists a directory’s content

pwd Shows the current working directory’s path

cd Changes the working directory

mkdir Creates a new directory

rm Deletes a file

cp Copies files and directories, including their content

mv Moves or renames files and directories

touch Creates a new empty file

file Checks a file’s type

zip and unzip Creates and extracts a ZIP archive

tar Archives files without compression in a TAR format

nano, vi, and jed Edits a file with a text editor

cat Lists, combines, and writes a file’s content as a standard output

grep Searches a string within a file

sed Finds, replaces, or deletes patterns in a file

head Displays a file’s first ten lines

tail Prints a file’s last ten lines

awk Finds and manipulates patterns in a file

sort Reorders a file’s content

cut Sections and prints lines from a file

diff Compares two files’ content and their differences

tee Prints command outputs in Terminal and a file

locate Finds files in a system’s database

find Outputs a file or folder’s location

sudo Runs a command as a superuser

su Runs programs in the current shell as another user

chmod Modifies a file’s read, write, and execute permissions

chown Changes a file, directory, or symbolic link’s ownership

useradd and userdel Creates and removes a user account

df Displays the system’s overall disk space usage

du Checks a file or directory’s storage consumption

top Displays running processes and the system’s resource usage

htop Works like top but with an interactive user interface

ps Creates a snapshot of all running processes

uname Prints information about your machine’s kernel, name, and hardware

hostname Shows your system’s hostname

time Calculates commands’ execution time

systemctl Manages system services

watch Runs another command continuously

jobs Displays a shell’s running processes with their statuses

kill Terminates a running process

shutdown Turns off or restarts the system

ping Checks the system’s network connectivity

wget Downloads files from a URL

curl Transmits data between servers using URLs

scp Securely copies files or directories to another system

rsync Synchronizes content between directories or machines

 lfconfig Displays the system’s network interfaces and their configurations

netstat Shows the system’s network information, like routing and sockets

traceroute Tracks a packet’s hops to its destination

nslookup Queries a domain’s IP address and vice versa

dig Displays DNS information, including record types

history Lists previously run commands

man Shows a command’s manual

echo Prints a message as a standard output

ln Links files or directories

alias and unalias Sets and removes an alias for a file or command

cal Displays a calendar in Terminal

apt-get Manages Debian-based distros package libraries

Linux Commands for File and Directory Management

This section will explore basic Linux commands for file and directory
management.

1. ls command
The ls command lists files and directories in your system. Here’s the
syntax:
ls [/directory/folder/path]

If you remove the path, the ls command will show the current working
directory’s content. You can modify the command using these options:

 -R – lists all the files in the subdirectories.

 -a – shows all files, including hidden ones.
  -lh – converts sizes to readable formats, such
as MB, GB, and TB.

2. pwd command
The pwd command prints your current working directory’s path,
like /home/directory/path. Here’s the command syntax:
pwd [option]
It supports two options. The -L or –-logical option prints environment
variable content, including symbolic links. Meanwhile, -P or –
physical outputs the current directory’s actual path.

3. cd command
Use the cd command to navigate the Linux files and directories. To use
it, run this syntax with sudo privileges:
cd /directory/folder/path

Depending on your current location, it requires either the full path or the
directory name. For example,
omit /username from /username/directory/folder if you are already
within it.
Omitting the arguments will take you to the home folder. Here are some
navigation shortcuts:

 cd ~[username] – goes to another user’s home

directory.
 cd .. – moves one directory up.
 cd- – switches to the previous directory.

4. mkdir command
Use the mkdir command to create one or multiple directories and set
their permissions. Ensure you are authorized to make a new folder in
the parent directory. Here’s the basic syntax:
mkdir [option] [directory_name]
To create a folder within a directory, use the path as the command
parameter. For example, mkdir music/songs will create a songs folder
inside music. Here are several common mkdir command options:

 -p – creates a directory between two existing folders.

For example, mkdir -p Music/2024/Songs creates a
new 2024 directory.
 -m – sets the folder permissions. For instance,
enter mkdir -m777 directory to create a directory
with read, write, and execute permissions for all
users.
 -v – prints a message for each created directory.

5. rmdir command
Use the rmdir command to delete an empty directory in Linux. The
user must have sudo privileges in the parent directory. Here’s the
syntax:
rmdir [option] directory_name
If the folder contains a subdirectory, the command will return an error.
To force delete a non-empty directory, use the -p option.

6. rm command
Use the rm command to permanently delete files within a directory.
Here’s the general syntax:
rm [filename1] [filename2] [filename3]
Adjust the number of files in the command according to your needs. If
you encounter an error, ensure you have the write permission in the
directory.
To modify the command, add the following options:

 -i – prompts a confirmation before deletion.

 -f – allows file removal without a confirmation.
 -r – deletes files and directories recursively.

Warning! Use the rm command with caution since deletion is

irreversible. Avoid using the -r and -f options since they may wipe all
your files. Always add the -i option to avoid accidental deletion.

7. cp command
Use the cp command to copy files or directories, including their content,
from your current location to another. It has various use cases, such as:

 Copying one file from the current directory to another

folder. Specify the file name and target path:
cp filename.txt /home/username/Documents

 Duplicating multiple files to a directory. Enter the file

names and the destination path:
cp filename1.txt filename2.txt filename3.txt /home/username/Documents

 Copying a file’s content to another within the same

directory. Enter the source and the destination file:
cp filename1.txt filename2.txt

 Duplicating an entire directory. Pass the -R flag

followed by the source and destination directory:
cp -R /home/username/Documents /home/username/Documents_backup

8. mv command
Use the mv command to move or rename files and directories. To move
items, enter the file name followed by the destination directory:
mv filename.txt /home/username/Documents
Meanwhile, use the following syntax to rename a file in Linux with
the mv command:
mv old_filename.txt new_filename.txt

9. touch command
The touch command lets you create an empty file in a specific directory
path. Here’s the syntax:
touch [option] /home/directory/path/file.txt
If you omit the path, the command will create the item in the current
folder. You can also use touch to generate and modify a timestamp in
the Linux command line.

10. file command

The file command lets you check a file type – whether it is a text, image,
or binary. Here’s the syntax:
file filename.txt
To bulk-check multiple files, list them individually or use their path if they
are in the same directory. Add the -k option to display more detailed
information and -i to show the file’s MIME type.

11. zip, unzip commands

The zip command lets you compress items into a ZIP file with the
optimal compression ratio. Here’s the syntax:
zip [options] zipfile file1 file2….
For example, this command compresses note.txt into archive.zip in the
current working directory:
zip archive.zip note.txt
Use the unzip command to extract the compressed file. Here’s the
syntax:
unzip [option] file_name.zip

12. tar command

The tar command archives multiple items into a TAR file – a format
similar to ZIP with optional compression. Here’s the syntax:
tar [options] [archive_file] [target file or directory]
For instance, enter the following to create a new newarchive.tar archive
in the /home/user/Documents directory:
tar -cvzf newarchive.tar /home/user/Documents
Linux Commands for Text Processing and Searching
The following section explores several Linux commands for processing
and searching text.

13. nano, vi, jed commands

Linux lets users edit files using a text editor like nano, vi, or jed. While
most distributions include nano and vi, users must install jed manually.
All these tools have the same command syntax:
nano filename
vi filename
jed filename
If the target file doesn’t exist, these editors will create one. We
recommend nano if you want to quickly edit text files. Meanwhile,
use vi or jed for scripting and programming.

14. cat command

Concatenate or cat is one of the most used Linux commands. It lists,
combines, and writes file content to the standard output. Here’s the
syntax:
cat filename.txt
There are various ways to use the cat command:

 cat > filen.txt – creates a new file.

 cat file1.txt file2.txt >
file3.txt – merges file1.txt with file2.txt and stores
the output in filename3.txt.
 tac file.txt – displays content in reverse order.

15. grep command

The global regular expression or grep command lets you find a word
by searching the content of a file. This Linux command prints all lines
containing the matching strings, which is useful for filtering large log
files.
For example, to display lines containing blue in the notepad.txt file,
enter:
grep blue notepad.txt

16. sed command

The sed command lets you find, replace, and delete patterns in a file
without using a text editor. Here’s the general syntax:
sed [option] 'script' input_file
The script contains the searched regular expression pattern, the
replacement string, and subcommands. Use the s subcommand to
replace matching patterns or d to delete them.
At the end, specify the file containing the pattern to modify. Here’s an
example of a command that
replaces red in colors.txt and hue.txt with blue:
sed 's/red/blue' colors.txt hue.txt

17. head command

The head command prints the first ten lines of a text file or piped data in
your command-line interface. Here’s the general syntax:
head [option] [file]
For instance, to view the first ten lines of note.txt in the current
directory, enter:
head note.txt
The head command accepts several options, such as:

 -n – changes the number of lines printed. For

example, head -n 5 shows the first five lines.
 -c – prints the file’s first customized number of bytes.
 -q – disables headers specifying the file name.
18. tail command
The tail command displays the last ten lines of a file, which is useful for
checking new data and errors. Here’s the syntax:
tail [option] [file]
For example, enter the following to show the last ten lines of
the colors.txt file:
tail -n colors.txt

19. awk command

The awk command scans regular expression patterns in a file to retrieve
or manipulate matching data. Here’s the basic syntax:
awk '/regex pattern/{action}' input_file.txt
The action can be mathematical operations, conditional statements
like if, output expressions such as print, and a delete command. It also
contains the $n notation, which refers to a field in the current line.
To add multiple actions, list them based on the execution order,
separated using semicolons. For example, this command contains
mathematical, conditional, and output statements:
awk -F':' '{ total += $2; students[$1] = $2 } END { average = total /
length(students); print "Average:", average; print "Above average:"; for
(student in students) if (students[student] > average) print student }'
score.txt
20. sort command
The sort command rearranges lines in a file in a specific order. It
doesn’t modify the actual file and only prints the result as Terminal
outputs. Here’s the syntax:
sort [option] [file]
By default, this command will sort the lines in alphabetical order, from A
to Z. To modify the sorting, use these options:

 -o – redirects the command outputs to another file.

 -r – reverses the sorting order to descending.
 -n – sorts the file numerically.
 -k – reorders data in a specific field.

21. cut command

The cut command retrieves sections from a file and prints the result as
Terminal outputs. Here’s the syntax:
cut [option] [file]
Instead of a file, you can use data from standard input. To determine
how the command sections the line, use the following options:

 -f – selects a specific field.

 -b – cuts the line by a specified byte size.
 -c – sections the line using a specified character.
 -d – separates lines based on delimiters.
You can combine these options, use a range, and specify multiple
values. For example, this command extracts the third to fifth field from a
comma-separated list:
cut -d',' -f3-5 list.txt
22. diff command
The diff command compares two files’ content and outputs the
differences. It is used to alter a program without modifying the code.
Here’s the general format:
diff [option] file1 file2
Below are some acceptable options:

 -c – displays the difference between two files in a

context form.
 -u – shows the output without redundant information.
 -i – makes the diff command case insensitive.

23. tee command

The tee command writes the user’s input to Terminal’s output and files.
Here’s the basic syntax:
command | tee [option] file1
For example, the following pings Google and prints the output in
Terminal, ping_result.txt, and the 19092024.txt file:
ping google.com | tee ping_result.txt 19092024.txt
24. locate command
The locate command lets you find a file in the database system. Add
the -i option to turn off case sensitivity and an asterisk (*) to find content
with multiple keywords. For example:
locate -i school*note
The command searches for files containing school and note, regardless
of their letter case.

25. find command

Use the find command to search for files within a specific directory.
Here’s the syntax:
find [option] [path] [expression]
For example, to find a file called file1.txt within the directory folder and
its subdirectories, use this command:
find /home -name file1.txt

If you omit the path, the command will search the current working
directory. You can also find directories using the following:
find ./ -type d -name directoryname
Linux Commands for User and Permission Management
Below are several Linux commands for managing the system’s users
and permissions.

26. sudo command

Superuser do or sudo is one of the most basic commands in Linux. It
runs your command with administrative or root permissions. Here’s the
general syntax:
sudo (command)
When you run a sudo command, Terminal will request the root
password. For example, this snippet runs useradd with the superuser
privilege:
sudo useradd username
You can also add an option, such as:
  -k – invalidates the timestamp file.
 -g – executes commands as a specified group name
or ID.
 -h – runs commands on the host.

Warning! Running a command with sudo privileges can modify all

aspects of your system. Since misusing it may break your system, run
the command with caution and only if you understand its possible
repercussions.

27. su command
The su command lets you run a program in the Linux shell as a different
user. It is useful to connect via SSH while the root user is disabled.
Here’s the syntax:
su [options] [username [argument]]
Without any option or argument, this command runs through root and
prompts you to use the sudo privileges temporarily. Some options are:

 -p – keeps the same shell environment, consisting

of HOME, SHELL, USER, and LOGNAME.
 -s – lets you specify another shell environment to
run.
 -l – runs a login script to switch users. It requires you
to enter the user’s password.
To check the current shell’s user account, run the whoami command:

28. chmod command

The chmod command modifies directory or file permissions in
Linux. Here’s the basic syntax:
chmod [option] [permission] [file_name]
In Linux, each file is associated with three user classes – owner, group
member, and others. It also has three permissions – read, write,
and execute. If an owner wants to grant all permissions to every user,
the command looks like this:
chmod -rwxrwxrwx note.txt

29. chown command

The chown command lets you change a file, directory, or symbolic link’s
ownership to the specified username. Here’s the syntax:
chown [option] owner[:group] file(s)
For example, to make linuxuser2 the owner of filename.txt, use:
chown linuxuser2 filename.txt

30. useradd, userdel commands

Use useradd to create a new Linux user account and change its
password with the passwd command. Here are the syntaxes:
useradd [option] username
passwd username
Both the useradd and passwd commands require sudo privileges. To
delete a user, use the userdel command:
userdel username
Linux Commands for System Information and Management
This section will list common Linux commands for querying system
information and management.

31. df command
Use the df command to check a Linux system’s disk space usage in
percentage and kilobyte (KB). Here’s the syntax:
df [options] [file]
If you don’t specify the item, this command will display information about
every mounted file system. These are some acceptable options:

 -m – displays information on the file system usage

in MBs.
  -k – prints file system usage in KBs.
 -T – shows the file system type in a new column.

32. du command
Use du to check a file or directory’s storage consumption. Remember to
specify the directory path when using this command, for example:
du /home/user/Documents
The du command has several options, such as:

 -s – shows the specified folder’s total size.

 -m – provides folder and file information in MB.
 -k – displays information in KB.
 -h – informs the displayed folders and files’ last
modification date.

33. top command

The top command displays running processes and the system’s real-
time condition, including resource utilization. It helps identify resource-
intensive processes, enabling you to disable them easily.
To run the command, enter top into your command-line interface.

34. htop command

The htop command is an interactive program for monitoring system
resources and server processes. Unlike top, it offers additional features
like mouse operation and visual indicators. Here’s the command syntax:
htop [options]
It supports options such as:

 -d – shows the delay between updates in tenths of

seconds.
 -C – enables monochrome mode.
 -h – displays the help message and exits.
35. ps command
The ps command creates a snapshot of all running processes in your
system. Executing it without an option or argument will list the running
processes in the shell with the following information:

 Unique process ID (PID).

 Type of the terminal (TTY).
 Running time (TIME).
 Command that launches the process (CMD).
The ps command accepts several options, including:

 -T – displays all processes associated with the

current shell session.
 -u username – lists processes associated with a
specific user.
 -A – shows all the running processes.

Suggested Reading
Learn more about using top, htop, and ps commands to check running
processes in a Linux system.

36. uname command

The uname or unix name command prints information about your
machine, including its hardware, system name, and Linux kernel. Here’s
the basic syntax:
uname [option]
While you can use it without an option, add the following to modify the
command:

 -a – prints all the system information.

 -s – outputs the kernel name.
 -n – shows the system’s node hostname.
37. hostname command
Run the hostname command to display the system’s hostname. Here’s
the syntax:
hostname [option]
You can run it without an option or use the following:

 -a – displays the hostname’s alias.

 -A – shows the machine’s Fully Qualified Domain
Name (FQDN).
 -i – outputs the machine’s IP address.

38. time command

Use time to measure commands’ execution time. Here’s the syntax:
time [commandname]
To measure a series of commands, separate them using semicolons or
double ampersands (&&). For example, we will measure cd, touch,
and chmod commands’ overall execution time:
time cd /home/directory/path; touch bashscript.sh; chmod +x bashscript.sh

39. systemctl command

The systemctl command lets you manage installed services in your
Linux system. Here’s the basic syntax:
systemctl [commandname] [service_name]
To use the command, the user must have root privilege. It has several
use cases, including starting, restarting, and terminating a service. You
can also check a service’s status and dependencies.
The systemctl command is only available in Linux distributions with
the Systemd init system. Check our article on listing and managing
Linux services to learn more about other systems’ commands.

40. watch command

The watch command lets the user continuously run another utility at a
specific interval and print the results as a standard output. Here’s the
syntax:
watch [option] command
It is useful for monitoring command output changes. To modify
its behavior, use the following options:

 -d – displays the differences between command

executions.
 -n – changes the default two-second interval.
 -t – disables the header containing the time interval,
command, timestamp, and hostname.

41. jobs command

The jobs command displays a shell’s running processes with their
statuses. It is only available in csh, bash, tcsh, and ksh shells. Here’s
the basic syntax:
jobs [options] jobID
To check the status of jobs in the current shell, enter jobs without any
arguments in Terminal. The command will return an empty output if your
system doesn’t have running jobs. You can also add the following
options:

 -l – lists process IDs and their information.

 -n – shows jobs whose statuses have changed since
the last notification.
 -p – displays process IDs only.
42. kill command
Use the kill command to terminate an unresponsive program using its
identification number (PID). To check the PID, run the following
command:
ps ux
To stop the program, enter the syntax below:
kill [signal_option] pid
There are 64 signals for terminating a program,
but SIGTERM and SIGKILL are the most common. SIGTERM is the
default signal that lets the program save its progress before stopping.
Meanwhile, SIGKILL forces programs to stop and discard unsaved
progress.

43. shutdown command

The Linux shutdown command lets you turn off or restart your system
at a specific time. Here’s the syntax:
shutdown [option] [time] "message"
You can use an absolute time in a 24-hour format or a relative one
like +5 to schedule it in five minutes. The message is a notification sent
to logged-in users about the system shutdown.
Instead of shutting down, restart the system using the -r option. To
cancel a scheduled reboot, run the command with the -c option.
Linux Commands for Network Management and Troubleshooting
Here are commonly used Linux commands for managing and
troubleshooting network connections.

44. ping command

The ping command is one of the most used commands in Linux. It lets
you check whether a network or server is reachable, which is useful for
troubleshooting connectivity issues. Here’s the syntax:
ping [option] [hostname_or_IP_address]
For example, run the following to check the connection and response
time to Google:
ping google.com
45. wget command
Use the wget command to download files from the internet
using HTTP, HTTPS, or FTP protocols. Here’s the syntax:
wget [option] [url]
For example, enter the following to download the latest version of
WordPress:
wget https://wordpress.org/latest.zip

46. curl command

The curl command transfers data between servers. Its common usage
is for retrieving a web page’s content to your system using its URL.
Here’s the syntax:
curl [option] URL
However, you can add various options to modify the curl command
behavior for other tasks. Some of the most popular ones include:

 -o or -O – downloads files from a URL.

 -X – changes the default HTTP GET method.
 -H – sends a custom header to the URL.
 -F – uploads a file to the specified destination.

47. scp command

The scp command securely copies files or directories between systems
over a network. Here’s the syntax:
scp [option] [source username@IP]:/[directory and file name] [destination
username@IP]:/[destination directory]
For a local machine, omit the hostname and IP address. Use the
following options to modify the copying behavior:

 -P – changes the port for copying. The default is 22.

 -l – limits the scp command’s bandwidth.
 -C – compresses transferred data to make it smaller.
48. rsync command
The rsync command lets you sync files or folders between two
destinations to ensure they have the same content. Here’s the syntax:
rsync [options] source destination
If your destination or source is a folder, enter the directory path
like /home/directory/path. To sync a remote server, use its hostname
and IP address, like host@185.185.185.185.
This command has various options:

 -a – enables archive mode to preserve file

permissions, dates, and other attributes.
 -v – shows visual information about the transferred
file.
 -z – compresses the transferred file data to reduce
their size.

49. ifconfig command

The ifconfig command lets you list and configure your system’s network
interface. In newer Linux distros, it is equivalent to the ip command.
Here’s the basic syntax:
ifconfig [interface] [option]
Running it without arguments displays information about all network
interfaces in your system. To check a specific interface, add its name as
an argument without an option. For a more specific task, use the
following options:

 –s – summarizes the network interfaces and their

configuration. This option goes before the interface
name.
 up and down – enables and disables a network
interface.
 inet and inet6 – assigns an IPv4 and IPv6 address to
a network interface.
  netmask – specifies the subnet mask to use with an
IPv4 address.

50. netstat command

The netstat command is used to display your system’s network
information, like sockets and routing. Here’s the command syntax:
netstat [option]
Use various options to modify the displayed information. Some common
ones are:

 -a – displays listening and closed sockets.

 -t – shows TCP connections.
 -u – lists UDP connections.
 -r – displays routing tables.
 -i – shows information about network interfaces.
 -p – lists programs’ names and process IDs.
 -c – continuously outputs network information for
real-time monitoring.

51. traceroute command

The traceroute command tracks a packet’s path when it moves to
another host over a network. It gives you information about the involved
routers and travel time. Here’s the syntax:
traceroute [option] destination
You can use a domain, hostname, or IP address as the destination. Add
the following options for more detailed packet monitoring:

 -m – sets each packet’s maximum hops.

 -n – prevents the command from resolving IP
addresses to hostnames for quicker tracing.
 -I – changes the default UDP packets to UCMP.
 -w – adds a timeout in seconds.

52. nslookup command

The nslookup command queries a DNS server to find out the domain
associated with an IP address and vice versa. Here’s the syntax:
nslookup [options] domain-or-ip [server]
If you don’t specify the DNS server to use, nslookup will use the default
resolver from your system or internet service provider. This command
supports various options, with some commonly used ones being:

 -type= – queries specific information, like the IP

address type or MX record.
 -port= – sets the DNS server’s port number for the
query.
 -retry= – repeats the query a specific number of
times upon failure.
 -debug – enables the debug mode to provide more
information about the query.
53. dig command
The dig or domain information groper command gathers DNS data
from a domain. Unlike nslookup, it is more detailed and versatile.
Here’s the syntax:
dig [option] target [query_type]
Replace target with a domain name. By default, this command only
shows A record type. Change query_type to check a specific type or
use ANY to query all of them. To run a reverse DNS lookup, add the -
x option and use the IP address as the target.
Miscellaneous Linux Commands
In this section, we will list Linux commands with various functions.

54. history command

Enter history to list previously executed commands. It lets you reuse
the commands without rewriting them. To use it, enter this syntax with
sudo privileges:
history [option]

To rerun a specific utility, enter an exclamation mark (!) followed by the

command’s list number. For example, use the following to rerun
the 255th command:
!255
This command supports many options, such as:

 -c – clears the history list.

 -d offset – deletes the history entry at
the OFFSET position.
 -a – appends history lines.

55. man command

The man command provides a user manual of any Linux Terminal
utilities, including their names, descriptions, and options. It consists of
nine sections:

 Executable programs or shell commands

 System calls
 Library calls
 Games
 Special files
 File formats and conventions
 System administration commands
 Kernel routines
 Miscellaneous
Here’s the command syntax:
man [option] [section_number] command_name
If you only use the command name as the parameter, Terminal displays
the full user manual. Here’s an example command to query section 1 of
the ls command manual:
man 1 ls
56. echo command
The echo command displays a line of text as a standard output. Here’s
the basic command syntax:
echo [option] [string]
For example, you can display Hostinger Tutorials by entering:
echo "Hostinger Tutorials"

This command supports many options, such as:

 -n – displays the output without the trailing newline.

 -e – enables the interpretation of the following
backslash escapes:
 \b – removes spaces in between a text.
 \c – produces no further output.

57. ln command
The ln command lets you create links between files or directories to
simplify system management. Here’s the syntax:
ln [option] [source] [destination]
The command will create the target file or directory and link it to the
source. By default, it creates a hard link, meaning the new item
connects to the same data block as the source.

58. alias, unalias commands

The alias command instructs the shell to replace a string with another,
allowing you to create a shortcut for a program, file name, or text. Here’s
the syntax:
alias name=string
For example, enter the following to make k the alias for
the kill command:
alias k='kill'
This command doesn’t give any output. To check the alias associated
with a command, run the following:
alias command_name
To delete an existing alias, use the unalias command with the following
syntax:
unalias [alias_name]

59. cal command

The cal command outputs a calendar in the Linux Terminal. It will show
the current date if you don’t specify the month and year. Here’s the
syntax:
cal [option] [month] [year]

The month is in the numerical representation from 1–12. To modify the

command output, add the following options:

 -1 – outputs the calendar in a single line.

  -3 – shows the previous, current, and next month.
 -A and -B – displays the specified number of months
after and before the current one.
 -m – starts the calendar with Monday instead of
Sunday.

60. apt-get command

apt-get is a command line tool for handling Advanced Package Tool
(APT) libraries in Debian-based Linux, like Ubuntu. It
requires sudo or root privileges.
This Linux command lets you manage, update, remove, and install
software, including its dependencies. Here’s the main syntax:
apt-get [options] (command)
These are the most common commands to use with apt-get:

 update – synchronizes the package files from their

sources.
 upgrade – installs the latest version of all installed
packages.
 check – updates the package cache and checks
broken dependencies.

Linux Commands Tips and Tricks

Here are some tips for using Linux commands and Terminal to improve
your system management efficiency:
  Add the –help option to list the full usage of a
command.
 Use the exit command to close Terminal.
 Enter the clear command to clean the Terminal
screen.
 Press the Tab button to autofill after entering a
command with an argument.
 Use Ctrl + C to terminate a running command.
 Press Ctrl + Z to pause a working command.
 Use Ctrl + A to move to the beginning of the line.
 Press Ctrl + E to bring you to the end of the line.
 Separate multiple commands using semicolons (;)
or double ampersands (&&).

Expert Tip
Did you know that you can edit a text file with Linux commands using
SSH? Instead of editing a file locally and uploading it via FTP, you can
edit the file instantly on your account using the vim or nano command.

Paulius M.
Web Hosting Monitoring Tech Lead

Make the Most Out of Your Linux

With VPS AI Assistant
Hostinger offers a GPT-powered VPS AI Assistant that lets you easily
generate Linux commands to manage your server. It is available in all
VPS plans and accessible from the VPS overview side menu in hPanel.
The AI Assistant generates instructions with the required commands for
your VPS management tasks. It also helps verify whether your
command is correct.

To get accurate results, ensure your AI prompts for VPS

management are clear and detailed. Here are several examples to
start:

 How do I create and run a bash script in a Ubuntu

22.04 server?
 What Linux command should I use to create a new
user and grant them read, write, and execute
permissions?
  Can you explain what the cd command is, its
functions, and acceptable options?

Download a Free Linux Commands Cheat

Sheet
Since there are many Linux commands with various syntaxes,
remembering them can be difficult. To help you easily find a utility,
download our must-have free Linux Commands Cheat Sheet PDF
here:
Whether you are a beginner or an experienced user, this cheat sheet
will help improve your web development efficiency.

Conclusion
Linux commands make system administrative tasks more efficient. They
provide users with greater flexibility and the ability to use features that a
graphical user interface may not offer.
Understanding how to use Linux commands in VPS is essential for
interaction and management. They generally consist of three parts –
a command name, a flag or option, and a parameter or argument.
This article has discussed various Linux commands for different tasks,
such as apt-get to install a package, nano to manipulate text files,
and htop to monitor current processes. To run them, use Terminal, an
SSH client, or Hostinger’s Browser terminal.
Other Useful Linux Commands to Learn
How to Configure and Manage Ubuntu Firewall with the UFW
Command
How to Install and Use the Linux Screen Command
How to List Users in Ubuntu with Linux Commands
How to Change Password in Linux
Linux Commands FAQ
In this section, we will answer several questions about Linux commands
to help you understand more about them.
How to List All Linux Commands?
Use compgen -c, help, or man -k . to list all available Linux commands
in your system. To check a command usage and its options, use –help.
For example, enter apt –help to check the available options for
the apt command.
How Do I Open Terminal in Linux?
In a GUI-based Linux, Terminal is located in the Utility menu or
accessible using the Ctrl + Alt + T shortcut. For Linux servers, Terminal
is opened by default after you log in to the system.
What Does the Syntax Command -option
Argument Mean?
It is the typical order of a command-line utility in Unix-like operating
systems like Linux. Command refers to the program you want to run,
and -option modifies its behavior. Meanwhile, an argument is the input
data the utility is operating on.
What Do […] and <…> Mean in Command
Usage?
In Linux command syntax, both […] and <…> enclose placeholders.
While […] is used for an optional parameter, <…> is for required
components. For example, options are enclosed in square brackets,
and input files are in angular ones.
Why Am I Getting a “Permission Denied”
Error?
Permission denied means the command
requires root or superuser privilege to run. To gain the privilege,
add sudo at the beginning of each command or switch to the superuser
using sudo su. If the error is related to files or directories, change their
permissions using the chmod command.
What Do I Do if a Command Is “not
found”?
If the command you enter is correct, the not found error message
means the utility isn’t installed in your Linux system. To fix it, install the
command using your system’s package manager, like apt for Debian
and dnf for RHEL.