Ubuntu Linux Shell Commands quick reference

The following is a quick reference list of some useful Ubuntu shell commands along with a short description of common usage. There are more, but this basic list was created to help familiarize the newly introduced Ubuntu user who might be migrating from a Windows operating environment.

cd – change directory

usage: cd

clear – clear screen
cp - copy files (similar to copy in DOS)

cp < new location>

diff – compare files

diff

exit – exit or quit
find – find files

find -name

fsck – check disk integrity (similar to DOS scandisk)
ifconfig – view network settings (similar to DOS ipconfig)
less – view text files

less

lpr – print text files

lpr

man – get help

man

mkdir – create a directory

mkdir

mv – move or rename files

mv

ping – check a network connection

ping

rm – delete or remove a directory or file (similar to del in DOS)

rm -rf
rm

tracepath – view a network route

tracepath

vi – edit text files

vi