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Linux and Windows Commands

Everyday commands for checking connectivity, name resolution, files, and processes. The focus is purpose and how to read the output.

Connectivity

  • ping

    Sends an echo request to test whether a host replies.

  • Test-NetConnection

    A PowerShell cmdlet that tests reachability and a specific TCP port.

  • traceroute

    Lists the routers a packet passes through on the way to a destination.

Addressing

  • arp command

    Shows the local cache of protocol-to-hardware address mappings.

  • ifconfig

    An older Unix command for interface addresses and status.

  • ip

    The modern Linux utility for addresses, links, and routes.

  • ipconfig

    Shows Windows address, mask, gateway, and related settings.

  • route

    Shows the table a host uses to choose the next hop.

Sockets

  • netstat

    Lists network connections, listening ports, and routes.

  • ss

    A Linux utility that lists sockets and listening ports.

Name resolution

  • dig

    A detailed name-lookup utility that shows the question and the answer.

  • nslookup

    A simple utility that asks a name server for records.

Identity

  • hostname

    Prints the computer's own host name.

  • whoami

    Prints the user identity of the current session.

Files

  • chmod

    Changes read, write, and execute permissions on a Unix file.

  • chown

    Changes the user and group that own a Unix file.

  • find

    Walks directories and lists files that match conditions you set.

  • grep

    Prints lines in a file or stream that match a pattern.

Web

  • curl

    Transfers data from a URL, including headers or a response body.

  • wget

    Downloads a file from a URL and saves it locally.

Services

  • systemctl

    Controls and inspects services on Linux systems that use systemd.

Processes

  • Get-Process

    A PowerShell cmdlet that lists processes and their resource use.

  • tasklist

    Lists running processes on Windows.