Linux Commands in DevOps: A Practical Guide with Examples

☄️ 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:

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1. File and Directory Management

These commands help manage files and directories efficiently:

1. ls: Lists directory contents.

2. cd: Changes the current directory.

3. pwd: Prints the current directory path.

4. mkdir: Creates new directories.

5. touch: Creates empty files.

6. cp: Copies files or directories.

7. mv: Moves or renames files/directories.

8. rm: Removes files or directories.

9. ln: Creates hard or symbolic links between files.

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1. Searching and Viewing Files

For finding and inspecting data: 10. find: Searches for files and directories.

1. grep: Searches for patterns in files.
2. cat: Displays or concatenates file contents.
3. less: Opens files for paginated viewing.
4. head: Displays the first few lines of a file.
5. tail: Displays the last few lines of a file.

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1. Text Editors

Essential for modifying configuration files: 16. vi/vim: Advanced text editor for experts.

1. nano: User-friendly text editor.

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1. Compression and Archiving

Optimize storage and backup with these tools: 18. tar: Archives and extracts files.

1. gzip: Compresses files.
2. gunzip: Decompresses files.

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1. Networking

For troubleshooting and managing networks: 21. wget: Downloads files from the web.

1. curl: Transfers data between systems.
2. ssh: Logs into remote servers securely.
3. scp: Copies files securely across servers.
4. ping: Tests network connectivity.
5. netstat: Displays network statistics.
6. ifconfig: Configures network interfaces.
7. dig: Performs DNS lookups.
8. nc: Netcat utility for reading/writing over the network.

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1. System Administration

Handle permissions, processes, and users: 30. chmod: Changes file permissions.

1. chown: Changes file ownership.
2. chgrp: Changes group ownership.
3. ps: Lists running processes.
4. top: Monitors system performance.
5. kill: Terminates processes.
6. df: Displays disk usage.
7. du: Estimates file/directory size.
8. free: Shows memory usage.
9. uname: Prints system information.
10. lsof: Lists open files and processes.

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1. User Management

Commands for managing user accounts: 41. useradd: Creates a new user account.

1. passwd: Changes a user's password.
2. su: Switches to another user.
3. sudo: Executes commands as another user.
4. usermod: Modifies user accounts.
5. groupadd: Creates a new group.
6. id: Displays user and group IDs.

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1. Scheduling and Automation

Automate repetitive tasks: 48. crontab: Schedules recurring jobs.

1. at: Schedules one-time tasks.
2. history: Displays command history.
3. source: Executes commands from a file in the current shell.

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1. File System Management

Maintain and modify file systems: 52. mkfs: Formats a new file system.

1. mount: Mounts file systems.
2. umount: Unmounts file systems.

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1. Development Utilities

Boost productivity with these tools: 55. sed: Edits text streams or files.

1. awk: Processes and analyzes text data.
2. diff: Compares files line by line.
3. rsync: Synchronizes files between locations.
4. tee: Redirects output to multiple files.
5. cut: Extracts sections from text.
6. wc: Counts words, lines, and characters.

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1. Security

Manage keys and encryption: 62. ssh-keygen: Generates SSH keys.

1. iptables: Configures the firewall.
2. ssh-agent: Manages SSH keys in memory.

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1. Miscellaneous

Additional commands to streamline your workflow: 65. alias: Creates command shortcuts.

1. whois: Queries domain registration.
2. uniq: Removes duplicate lines.
3. sort: Arranges lines in order.
4. tr: Translates or deletes characters.
5. paste: Combines lines of files.

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💡 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.