☄️ Top 70 Linux Commands Every DevOps Engineer Should Know ♾
Linux commands form the backbone of DevOps workflows. From file management to process control and network troubleshooting, mastering these commands can significantly enhance productivity and efficiency. Below is a curated list of 70 essential Linux commands for DevOps, categorized and explained for practical use:
- File and Directory Management
These commands help manage files and directories efficiently:
ls: Lists directory contents.
cd: Changes the current directory.
pwd: Prints the current directory path.
mkdir: Creates new directories.
touch: Creates empty files.
cp: Copies files or directories.
mv: Moves or renames files/directories.
rm: Removes files or directories.
ln: Creates hard or symbolic links between files.
- Searching and Viewing Files
For finding and inspecting data: 10. find: Searches for files and directories.
- grep: Searches for patterns in files.
- cat: Displays or concatenates file contents.
- less: Opens files for paginated viewing.
- head: Displays the first few lines of a file.
- tail: Displays the last few lines of a file.
- Text Editors
Essential for modifying configuration files: 16. vi/vim: Advanced text editor for experts.
- nano: User-friendly text editor.
- Compression and Archiving
Optimize storage and backup with these tools: 18. tar: Archives and extracts files.
- gzip: Compresses files.
- gunzip: Decompresses files.
- Networking
For troubleshooting and managing networks: 21. wget: Downloads files from the web.
- curl: Transfers data between systems.
- ssh: Logs into remote servers securely.
- scp: Copies files securely across servers.
- ping: Tests network connectivity.
- netstat: Displays network statistics.
- ifconfig: Configures network interfaces.
- dig: Performs DNS lookups.
- nc: Netcat utility for reading/writing over the network.
- System Administration
Handle permissions, processes, and users: 30. chmod: Changes file permissions.
- chown: Changes file ownership.
- chgrp: Changes group ownership.
- ps: Lists running processes.
- top: Monitors system performance.
- kill: Terminates processes.
- df: Displays disk usage.
- du: Estimates file/directory size.
- free: Shows memory usage.
- uname: Prints system information.
- lsof: Lists open files and processes.
- User Management
Commands for managing user accounts: 41. useradd: Creates a new user account.
- passwd: Changes a user's password.
- su: Switches to another user.
- sudo: Executes commands as another user.
- usermod: Modifies user accounts.
- groupadd: Creates a new group.
- id: Displays user and group IDs.
- Scheduling and Automation
Automate repetitive tasks: 48. crontab: Schedules recurring jobs.
- at: Schedules one-time tasks.
- history: Displays command history.
- source: Executes commands from a file in the current shell.
- File System Management
Maintain and modify file systems: 52. mkfs: Formats a new file system.
- mount: Mounts file systems.
- umount: Unmounts file systems.
- Development Utilities
Boost productivity with these tools: 55. sed: Edits text streams or files.
- awk: Processes and analyzes text data.
- diff: Compares files line by line.
- rsync: Synchronizes files between locations.
- tee: Redirects output to multiple files.
- cut: Extracts sections from text.
- wc: Counts words, lines, and characters.
- Security
Manage keys and encryption: 62. ssh-keygen: Generates SSH keys.
- iptables: Configures the firewall.
- ssh-agent: Manages SSH keys in memory.
- Miscellaneous
Additional commands to streamline your workflow: 65. alias: Creates command shortcuts.
- whois: Queries domain registration.
- uniq: Removes duplicate lines.
- sort: Arranges lines in order.
- tr: Translates or deletes characters.
- paste: Combines lines of files.
💡 Whether you're a beginner or an experienced DevOps engineer, mastering these commands is vital for efficient operations. Practice regularly, experiment with flags, and integrate them into scripts for automation.
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