Linux Commands - The great thing about Linux commands is that they are virtually identical from one Linux distribution (version) to another. So the way the real pros do Linux administration is to work at the Linux command line and run Linux commands.

Learning how to run a Linux command can be very difficult for someone new to Linux, so here are some Linux tips that will help you to learn how to use Linux commands when working at the Linux command line prompt. There are three main parts of a Linux command:

1. the Linux command name

2. options that can be used with the Linux command

3. the “item(s)” that the Linux command is being run “on”

When you run a Linux command, spaces are used between: the Linux command name, the command options and the “item” the command is being run “on”. The “item” could be a Linux directory, file, user or some other Linux software component.

For example, you run the Linux command named ls (for list) “on” a Linux directory to see a list of files in the directory. You run the Linux command named rm (remove) “on” a Linux directory to remove the directory from the Linux file system.

To run a Linux command, you type in the name of the command, and any other parts of the command, such as options, and press the Enter key.

You can see an example of the Linux command that is used to create a new Linux user below. The useradd command is being run “on” the bthatcher user name to create this Linux user.

Linux Tips: Linux commands are run at the Linux command line prompt and this prompt is shown as ]# at the left of the command. You don’t type in the prompt, you type the Linux command at the right of the prompt.

Linux Tips: The Linux command prompt may also appear as: ]$ or as another symbol, instead of # or $.

]# useradd -c “Becky Thatcher” bthatcher

This Linux command creates a new Linux user named bthatcher with the full name of “Becky Thatcher”. The -c (for comment) option is used with this command to add the full name as a comment to the Linux user name of bthatcher.

Written by Clyde Boom.

You can run Linux in Windows by running a free Linux virtual machine player program and opening a free Linux virtual machine!

This is fantastic for a new Linux user who needs to get Linux training and wants to learn Linux in Windows. You just download Linux in Windows as a “pre-installed” virtual machine, uncompress the virtual machine files in the Linux download file into a folder on the Windows hard disk, and then run a virtual machine player program to run Linux in Windows.

There are lots of new Linux “flavors” (versions) available as virtual machines to choose from. You can experiment with Linux commands to do Linux administration tasks - without messing up Windows on your computer system!

For example, while learning to do Linux administration tasks, you do things like: create a new Linux user, install Linux software programs, and create or delete directories in the Linux file system.

When you do these steps, you may accidentally cause the Linux system to stop working properly. If this happens, all you have to do is erase the Linux virtual machine files, uncompress the original files into their folder again, and start running Linux in Windows again!

The steps below outline how Linux is installed on a computer system, how a Linux virtual machine is created, and how to run Linux in Windows.

Installing the Linux OS on a computer system “from scratch” is a very time-consuming process. You do the following steps:

set up the system to boot from CD / DVD
boot the system with a Linux CD / DVD
run the Linux installation routine
provide several Linux system configuration settings, such as Linux networking settings and partition settings
select the Linux software programs to be installed on the system
wait while thousands of Linux software programs are copied onto the hard disk of the system

To create a Linux virtual machine, someone does the following steps for you:

all the steps above to install the Linux OS on a computer system - as a virtual machine
compresses the files that make up the virtual machine into a single file
puts the virtual machine on a Linux server as a free Linux download file

To run Linux in Windows, you just:

download and install the virtual machine player program
download a single file containing the compressed Linux virtual machine files
uncompress the virtual machine files into a folder
run the virtual machine player
open (and run) the Linux virtual machine

to run a Linux command, open a terminal emulation window on the Linux desktop to get to the Linux command line

Written by Clyde Boom.

Learning how to use Linux commands is key to understanding how to administer a Linux system. When you are new to the Linux OS (operating system) and need help with your Linux training, you can use these Linux commands to get help with using Linux (in general) and also get help on how to use a Linux command.

3 Popular Linux Commands You Can Use to Get Help with Using Linux

1. The Linux Help Command There are Linux commands that are called builtin (one word) commands, such as the cd (change directory) and echo commands. The help command is used to get help on builtin commands.

Linux Help Command Example

]# help cd

The output of the above command shows help on running the Linux cd command.

Linux Tips: The ]# in the above example is the Linux command line prompt, that appears when you are at a Linux console (also called a Linux terminal). You don’t need to type in the ]# characters, just type in the command at the right!

2. The Linux Info Command

The Linux info command is used to display help “info pages” on a Linux command or on a Linux concept.

Linux Info Command Example

]# info grep

The Linux command above shows info (help) on running the Linux grep command.

One of the best parts of using the info command is that some of the info pages show examples of using a Linux command.

Linux Tips: Examples of Linux commands provide an excellent way to learn a command. The Linux man pages (describe below) and lots of other free Linux documentation rarely shows a Linux command example.

3. The Linux Man Command

The Linux man command is used to display Linux man pages. These “pages” provide help on a Linux concept, such as booting a Linux system, or on a Linux command, such as the find command.

Linux Man Command Example

]# man find

This command shows the man page(s) for the Linux find command.

Linux Tips: The Linux man pages are quite cryptic and difficult to understand for someone new to Linux. Try using the Linux info command first and also look to see if you can find an example of how to use the Linux command.

Using the –help Option of a Linux Command to Get Help with Using Linux

Several Linux commands have a –help option that shows a description of the command and its options. To use the –help option, just type in the name of the command followed by –help, as shown below.

Linux –help Option Example

]# mkdir –help

The –help option is used to show help on the Linux mkdir command.

All of the above Linux commands and options can be difficult to understand for someone new to Linux. One way to get easy Linux training is to get a popular Linux book (or Linux ebook)

Written by Clyde Boom.