Mastering Ubuntu Linux: Unique and Essential Commands Guide

Ubuntu Linux is an incredibly flexible and powerful operating system, offering tools that can simplify daily tasks for both beginners and experts. In this guide, we provide an exclusive collection of unique commands, tips, and tricks to help you make the most out of your Ubuntu experience. Let’s dive into these must-know commands.

1. Innovative File and Directory Commands

Hidden Gems in Directory Navigation

• tree: Display directories in a tree-like format (requires installation via sudo apt install tree).
• realpath <file>: Get the absolute path of a file or directory.
• basename <file>: Extract the filename from a path.
• dirname <file>: Extract the directory path from a full file path.
• rename 's/<old>/<new>/g' <files>: Batch rename files by replacing strings in their names.

2. Advanced File Viewing and Editing

• column -t -s',' <file>: Format CSV files into a readable table.
• xxd <file>: View the hexadecimal representation of a file.
• tac <file>: Display the content of a file in reverse order.
• sed -n '5,10p' <file>: Extract specific lines (e.g., lines 5 to 10) from a file.
• awk '{print $2}' <file>: Print the second column from a text file or CSV.

3. Enhanced User Management

• lastlog: View the last login details of all users.
• w: Show who is logged in and what they are doing.
• groups <username>: List the groups a user belongs to.
• getent passwd <username>: Retrieve detailed user account information.
• su - <user>: Switch users while preserving their environment.

4. System Monitoring Made Easy

• iotop: Monitor disk I/O usage by processes (requires installation via sudo apt install iotop).
• ncdu: Analyse disk usage interactively (requires installation via sudo apt install ncdu).
• watch -n 5 <command>: Repeat a command every 5 seconds and display the output.
• uptime -p: Show uptime in a human-readable format (e.g., "up 2 hours, 5 minutes").
• vmstat: Display real-time system performance metrics.

5. Networking Like a Pro

• traceroute <host>: Trace the path packets take to a destination (requires installation).
• dig <domain>: Fetch detailed DNS records for a domain.
• ss -tulwn: Show detailed information about active network connections (replaces netstat).
• arp -a: Display the ARP table for local network devices.
• nc -zv <host> <port>: Check if a port is open on a remote server.

6. Streamlined Package Management

• apt list --installed | grep <package>: Check if a specific package is installed.
• apt-cache policy <package>: Display detailed version and repository information for a package.
• dpkg -S <file>: Find out which package owns a specific file.
• snap list: List installed snap packages and versions.
• flatpak list: Manage applications installed via Flatpak.

7. Secure File Permissions

• umask: Display or set the default file permissions for new files.
• getfacl <file>: Show Access Control Lists (ACLs) for files and directories.
• setfacl -m u:<user>:rwx <file>: Grant specific permissions to a user.
• stat <file>: Display detailed information about a file, including permissions.
• chmod +x <script>: Make a script executable.

8. Modern Archiving and Compression Tools

• tar --exclude=<pattern> -cvf <archive.tar> <directory>: Create an archive while excluding certain files.
• zstd <file>: Compress a file using Zstandard (requires installation via sudo apt install zstd).
• lzma <file>: Compress files using LZMA.
• 7z a <archive.7z> <file>: Create a 7z archive (requires p7zip-full).
• p7zip -d <archive.7z>: Extract 7z archives.

9. Device and Disk Management Tricks

• lsusb: List all connected USB devices.
• lsof | grep <mount_point>: Identify processes using a mounted device.
• parted -l: Display detailed partition information.
• wipefs <device>: Erase filesystem signatures from a device.
• udisksctl mount -b <device>: Mount a device using UDisks.

10. Optimized Troubleshooting

• strace <command>: Debug system calls made by a command.
• lsof -i:<port>: Identify processes using a specific port.
• systemd-analyze blame: Find out which services delay boot time.
• sysctl -a | grep <parameter>: View kernel parameters.
• modprobe -r <module>: Unload a kernel module.

Conclusion

These unique Ubuntu Linux commands will not only enhance your productivity but also elevate your problem-solving skills. By mastering these lesser-known yet powerful tools, you’ll be well-equipped to tackle any Linux-related challenge with ease.