How to do common admistrative tasks with linux

Logging in remotely from linux:  ssh hostname

Logging in remotely from windows:  start the Putty.exe program, fill in the name, ip, save, load, and put in username and password.

Becoming root on a linux machine:  su

Browsing files in a directory:  ls  *also use ls | less if there is more than a screen full.  b=back, spacebar=forward, you can search with /searchtext

Changing to the log directory:  cd /var/log

Viewing your current directory:  pwd

Viewing system log:  less /var/log/messages

Viewing very end of system log:   tail /var/log/messages

Changing to the mail log directory:   cd /var/log/mail

Finding something in the mail log:   cat /var/log/mail/info | grep reject  *this will show all lines with "reject" in them.

Watching a Mandrake mail log in real time:   tail -f /var/log/mail/info  *Ctrl-C to stop viewing.

Watching a RedHat mail log in real time:   tail -f /var/log/maillog  *Ctrl-C to stop viewing.

Checking to see if mail is running:  /etc/rc.d/init.d/postfix status

Starting mail:  /etc/rc.d/init.d/postfix start

Checking the web proxy (squid):  /etc/rc.d/init.d/squid status

Checking available disk space:  df -h

Repeating a command:  use the arrow keys

Properly Shutting down a Mandrake or Redhat Linux box:  Most machines will initiate a shutdown if you type CTRL-ALT-DEL.  If not, su root, and type shutdown -r now.

Logging out in linux:  Ctrl-d

Running e2fsck on damaged ext2 partitions:  e2fsck -cpvy /dev/hda1 (or hd[a-d][1-n]) (or /dev/md[0-n], for raid)

Running fsck on damaged non-ext2 partitions:  fsck -CV -t (filesystem) /dev/hda1 (or hd[a-d][1-n]) (or /dev/md[0-n], for raid).  Some valid file systems are:  ext2, ext3, msdos, ntfs, vfat, and others.

Last updated September 29, 2003.

Jeff Borders