Useful Commands

Command	Example	Explanation
$\langle\textnormal{tab}\rangle$ key	less /etc/isapn $\langle\textnormal{tab}\rangle$	Filename autocompletion
Up, down arrow keys	N/A	Repeat previously-typed commands
$\langle\textnormal{alt}\rangle$+fnkey	$\langle\textnormal{alt}\rangle$+ $\langle\textnormal{F2}\rangle$	Switch virtual terminals (console mode)
$\langle\textnormal{ctrl}\rangle$+ $\langle\textnormal{alt}\rangle$+fnkey	$\langle\textnormal{ctrl}\rangle$+ $\langle\textnormal{alt}\rangle$+ $\langle\textnormal{F2}\rangle$	Get console from graphical mode
	$\langle\textnormal{ctrl}\rangle$+ $\langle\textnormal{alt}\rangle$+ $\langle\textnormal{F7}\rangle$	Return to graphical mode
$\langle\textnormal{shift}\rangle$+ $\langle\textnormal{page up}\rangle$	N/A	Scroll up (in terminal window)
pstree	pstree	See running processes
top	top	See processor, memory usage (q to quit)
df	df	See hard disk usage
dmesg	dmesg | less	See kernel bootup messages
date MMDDhhmmCCYY	date 051318432003	Set time and date
		(to 6:43pm, May 13, 2003)
tzconfig	tzconfig	Set time zone
detect	detect	Detect hardware to ./report.txt
		(Danger! Blanks displays!)
apg	apg	Generate sample passwords
passwd user	passwd daveb	Set password (for daveb)
adduser	adduser	Add user account (with password)
adduser	adduser -disabled-password	Add user account (no password)
nano filename	nano /etc/isapnp.conf	Edit a file
less filename	less /etc/isapnp.conf	View a file
zcat filename	zcat Status.gz | less	Display a gzipped file
ifconfig	ifconfig	See which network devices are up
ifup device	ifup eth0	Enable network connection
ifup -a	ifup -a	Enable all “automatic” network devices
ifdown device	ifdown eth0	Disable network connection
wvdialconf file	wvdialconf /tmp/out1	Check modem detection
pppconfig	pppconfig	Configure PPP dialer
pon, poff	pon	Bring up/down modem connection
gkdial	gkdial &	Graphical dialer
pppoeconf	pppoeconf	Configure ADSL modem dialer
lprngtool	lprngtool	Set up printer
printop	printop	Graphical printer management
lpr filename	lpr /etc/isapnp.conf	Print a file
dpkg-reconfigure	dpkg-reconfigure xserver-svga	Configure X-window system
startx	startx	Start X-window system
$\langle\textnormal{ctrl}\rangle$+ $\langle\textnormal{alt}\rangle$+ $\langle\textnormal{backspace}\rangle$	$\langle\textnormal{ctrl}\rangle$+ $\langle\textnormal{alt}\rangle$+ $\langle\textnormal{backspace}\rangle$	Exit X-window system (if no GDM)
update-rc.d	update-rc.d gdm defaults 99	Re-enable GDM
aptitude	aptitude	Install/remove Debian packages
apt-get	apt-get update	Update package information
apt-get install pkg	apt-get install nethack	Install package(s)
pnpdump	pnpdump -c > /etc/isapnp.conf	Write Plug and Play register
		file and attempt to configure
sndconfig	sndconfig	Configure sound card (OSS drivers)
alsaconfig	alsaconfig	Configure sound card (ALSA drivers)