LINUX · 5 min read
Essential Linux Commands for IT Technicians
Commands I use to inspect services, network interfaces, logs, and storage.
Start with system information
Use hostnamectl to inspect the host, uname -a to view kernel details, and uptime to check how long the system has been running.
Check networking
ip addr shows interface addresses, ip route displays routing decisions, and ping tests basic reachability. For a web service, ss -tulpn can help identify listening ports.
Investigate services and logs
systemctl status SERVICE checks a systemd service. journalctl -u SERVICE --no-pager displays recent logs for that unit. Replace SERVICE with the actual unit name.
Check storage and resources
df -h shows filesystem usage, free -h summarizes memory, and top provides a live process view. Review command output before making changes to a production system.