Basic Linux BASH commands

Shell prompts:

  • $ - This means you are a user. From the terminal you will see:
  • user@host:~$
  • # - This means you are root (superuser). From the terminal you will see:
  • user@host:~#

View previous screen information:

Shift + Page Up - allows scrolling to view previous screen data

Permitting administrative tasks:

sudo - within Ubuntu, type sudo prior to a command
Note: You will be prompted enter your user password to continue
su - within Debian a user can be allowed to assume the identity (substitute user) of root, or another user
Note: You will be prompted enter the root password to continue

Find out package (applications or programs) information:

dpkg -l - lists all currently installed packages
dpkg -s [package] - informs if the package is installed, and lists package details if available

Shuting down and rebooting the system:

shutdown -r now - shuts down the system, then reboots
shutdown -h now - shuts down the system and leaves it off (halts)
shutdown -rF now - shuts down the system, then reboots and forces an fsck check

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