Ubuntu Commands Cheat Sheet

Privileges

  • To run a command as root
  • $ sudo command

  • To open a root shell
  • $ sudo -s

  • To open a shell as username
  • $ sudo -s -u username

  • To forget sudo passwords
  • $ sudo -k

  • To open a visual sudo dialog (GNOME)
  • $ gksudo command

  • To open a visual sudo dialog (KDE)
  • $ kdesudo command

  • To edit /etc/sudoers
  • $ sudo visudo

  • To open a root file manager (GNOME)
  • $ gksudo nautilus

  • To open a root file manager (KDE)
  • $ kdesudo konqueror

  • To change your password
  • $ passwd

    Display

  • To restart X and return to login (GNOME)
  • $ sudo /etc/init.d/gdm restart

  • To restart X and return to login (KDE)
  • $ sudo /etc/init.d/kdm restart

  • To reset xorg.conf configuration
  • $ sudo dexconf

  • To switch to tty N
  • $ Ctrl+Alt+FN

  • To switch back to X display
  • $ Ctrl+Alt+F7

  • To restart X display if frozen
  • $ Ctrl+Alt+Bksp

    System Services

  • To start a job service
  • $ sudo start serviceName

  • To stop a job service
  • $ sudo start serviceName

  • To check if service is running
  • $ sudo status serviceName

  • To start a service (SysV)
  • $ sudo /etc/init.d/service start

  • To stop a service (SysV)
  • $ sudo /etc/init.d/service stop

  • To check a service (SysV)
  • $ sudo /etc/init.d/service status

  • To restart a service (SysV)
  • $ sudo /etc/init.d/service restart

  • To get current runlevel
  • $ runlevel

    Package Management

  • To refresh available updates
  • $ sudo apt-get update

  • To upgrade all packages
  • $ sudo apt-get upgrade

  • To upgrade with package replacements; upgrade Ubuntu version
  • $ sudo apt-get dist-upgrade

  • To install a particular pkgName
  • $ sudo apt-get install pkgName

  • To uninstall a particular pkgName
  • $ sudo apt-get purge pkgName

  • To remove obsolete packages
  • $ sudo apt-get autoremove

  • Try to fix broken packages
  • $ sudo apt-get -f install

  • Try to fix broken packages (alternate cmd)
  • $ sudo dpkg --configure -a

  • To install file pkg.deb
  • $ sudo dpkg -i pkg.deb

  • To display APT repository list
  • $ cat /etc/apt/sources.list

    Network

  • To show all network interface cards info.
  • $ ifconfig

  • To show all wireless interface card info.
  • $ iwconfig

  • To scan for wireless networks
  • $ sudo iwlist scan

  • To reset network for manual configurations
  • $ sudo /etc/init.d/networking restart

  • To display network config file
  • $ cat /etc/network/interfaces

  • To bring interface online
  • $ sudo ifup interface

  • To disable interface
  • $ sudo ifdown interface

    Special Packages

  • Standard Ubuntu environment
  • ubuntu-desktop

  • KDE desktop
  • kubuntu-desktop

  • XFCE desktop
  • xubuntu-desktop

  • core Ubuntu utilities
  • ubuntu-minimal

  • standard Ubuntu utilities
  • ubuntu-standard

  • non-free, but useful
  • ubuntu-restricted-extras

  • KDE non-free, but useful
  • kubuntu-restricted-extras

  • XFCE non-free, but useful
  • xubuntu-restricted-extras

  • packages used to compile programs
  • build-essential

  • latest generic kernel image
  • linux-image-generic

  • latest build headers
  • linux-headers-generic

    Firewall

  • To turn on the firewall
  • $ sudo ufw enable

  • To turn off the firewall
  • $ sudo ufw disable

  • To allow all connections by default
  • $ sudo ufw default allow

  • To reject all connections by default
  • $ sudo ufw default deny

  • To check current status and rules
  • $ sudo ufw status

  • To allow traffic on a port
  • $ sudo ufw allow portNumber

  • To block a port
  • $ sudo ufw deny portNumber

  • To block ip address
  • $ sudo ufw deny from ipAddress

    Application Names

  • To open file manager (GNOME)
  • $ nautilus

  • To open file manager (KDE)
  • $ dolphin

  • To open text editor (GNOME)
  • $ gedit

  • To open text editor (KDE)
  • $ kate

  • To open web browser (KDE)
  • $ konqueror

  • To open web browser (GNOME)
  • $ sensible-browser

  • To display current month calender
  • $ cal

    System

  • To get Ubuntu version
  • $ lsb_release -a

  • To get kernel version
  • $ uname -r

  • To get all kernel info
  • $ uname -a
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