There are over 130 Linux distributions (versions) and they can be administered (managed) by Linux Graphical User Interface (GUI) utilities - or by using Linux commands.

Linux GUI utilities give you a “point-and-click” interface for doing Linux administration tasks, like working with the Linux file system (to make directories and copy files), and to create Linux users. However, they are slow and awkward to use - and even worse, they are different from one Linux distribution to another!

On the flip side, Linux commands are virtually identical from one Linux distribution to another. So, when you learn a Linux command in one Linux distro, that same command will work in all 130+ Linux distros.

However, new Linux users often have difficulty learning how to use Linux commands to administer the Linux OS (operating system). This is because most Linux training materials are poorly written by Linux techies that don’t know how to write in plain English for people new to Linux.

Linux Tips: When you get Linux training, don’t spend time learning Linux GUI utilities - learn how to use Linux commands, even though they are a bit harder to learn than GUI utilities.

Linux Command Names

Linux command names are often an abbreviation of what the command does. For example, the rm command stands for remove.

Linux command names and command options are “case sensitive”. Lower case letters need to be typed in lower case and vice versa. You must type in a Linux command and the options of the command, exactly as shown.

Linux Tips: Be sure to put a space between the Linux command name, its options, and what the Linux command is being run “on”, such as the name of a file.

Linux Command Name Examples

Here are some Linux command examples. The task is described and then the Linux command name is shown.

make (create) a directory - the Linux command is md

create new Linux users - the useradd command is used for this

search the Linux file system for information - the Linux command is grep

see the “type” of a Linux file - the file command displays this information

see the names of new Linux users, currently working on the system - the Linux command is users

find Linux directories and files in the Linux file system - the command for this is called find

Written by Clyde Boom.

Most Linux distributions (versions) have Graphical User Interface (GUI) utilities that you can use to do Linux administration. However, these “point-and-click” Linux utilities are slow and cumbersome and they are different from one Linux distribution to another. Therefore, to learn how to use Linux, don’t spend time learning Linux GUI utilities.

As part of your Linux training, one of the best benefits of learning Linux commands is that they are basically the same from one Linux distribution (version) to another. And since there are over 130 different versions of the Linux OS (operating system), learning how to use Linux commands is the best way to learn how to use Linux to do Linux system administration. Linux Tips: When you are new to Linux and need to get Linux training, learn how to use Linux commands, not GUI utilities.

Learning how to run a Linux command can be very difficult for new Linux users. So, here are some Linux tips that will help you to learn how to use Linux commands to administer the Linux OS (operating system).

Running a Linux Command

To run a Linux command, you type in the Linux command name at the Linux command line prompt and press the Enter key.

The ]# in these examples represents the Linux command line prompt. You don’t type in the prompt!

Below is an example of running the Linux command named ls. The ls stands for list and is used to show you a list of files and directories.

]# ls

No options were used with the Linux command above.

Linux Command Options

To use options with a Linux command, you type in the letter(s) of the option, proceeded by a - (dash).

The Linux command below uses the l (el) option. The l stands for long and gives you a more detailed listing of the files in the current directory. The l option is preceded by a - (dash, or minus sign).

]# ls -l

You may also need to type in the name of an “item” that the Linux command is being run “on”, such as the name of a
directory in the Linux file system.

Linux Tips: The Linux file system is all the directories and files on the hard disk(s) a Linux system.

Running a Linux Command “On” an Item

The command below is being run “on” the directory named letters. It gives you a long listing and shows all the files and directories in the letters directory.

]# ls -l letters

Written by Clyde Boom.