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Victor Kituku
Victor Kituku

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Getting Started with Linux Server Management

#linux

Today I learned some of the fundamental skills needed to manage a Linux server. These are core concepts that anyone working with servers, DevOps, or backend systems should understand. Below is a summary of what I learned, with explanations and examples.

1. SSH into a Linux Server as Root

SSH (Secure Shell) allows you to securely connect to a remote Linux server.

ssh root@server_ip_address
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  • root is the superuser with full system access
  • server_ip_address is the public or private IP of the server
  • You may be prompted for a password or use an SSH key

⚠️ Note: Logging in as root is powerful but risky. Best practice is to create a regular user and use sudo instead.

2. Creating a New User

To create a new user:

adduser username
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This command:

  • Creates a home directory
  • Sets up default permissions
  • Prompts you to set a password

Example:

adduser victor
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3. Switching Between Users

To switch from root to another user:

su - username
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Example:

su - victor
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The - ensures the user’s environment variables are loaded properly.

4. Navigating the File System

Linux uses a hierarchical file system. Some essential navigation commands:

Check current directory 

pwd
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List files and folders 

ls
ls -la
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Change directory 

cd /path/to/directory
cd ..
cd ~
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5. Copying Files and Directories

Copy a file 

cp source_file destination
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Copy a directory 

cp -r source_directory destination
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Example:

cp config.txt /etc/myapp/
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6. Moving and Renaming Files

The mv command is used for both moving and renaming.

Move a file 

mv file.txt /new/location/
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Rename a file 

mv oldname.txt newname.txt
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7. Editing Files with Nano

Nano is a beginner-friendly terminal text editor.

nano filename
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Useful Nano shortcuts:

  • CTRL + O → Save file
  • CTRL + X → Exit
  • CTRL + K → Cut line
  • CTRL + U → Paste line

Nano is great for quick edits to config files.

8. Granting Sudo Privileges

To allow a user to run administrative commands, add them to the sudo group.

usermod -aG sudo username
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Example:

usermod -aG sudo victor
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To apply changes immediately, log out and log back in.

Test sudo access: 

sudo apt update
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9. Deleting a User

Delete a user (keep home directory) 

deluser username
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Delete a user and their home directory 

deluser --remove-home username
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⚠️ Be careful — this action is irreversible.

10. Why This Matters

These skills are foundational for:

  • Managing cloud servers
  • Deploying applications
  • Securing production environments
  • Working with Docker, CI/CD, and automation tools

Understanding users, permissions, and file management is essential before moving into advanced Linux or DevOps topics.

Final Thoughts

Today’s learning covered:

  • Secure server access via SSH
  • User creation and management
  • Linux file system navigation
  • File operations (copy, move, edit)
  • Permission control using sudo

This is the groundwork for becoming comfortable and confident on any Linux server. 💪🐧

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