Command Line Hacks Enthusiast Blog Post Category Archives

5 Linux / Unix Commands For Connecting To The Serial Console

last updated August 9, 2016 in Command Line Hacks, Hardware, Networking

Most embedded Linux / BSD systems such as routers, servers and nas devices comes with console interface (serial port with RS-232). BIOS can uses this, and after boot BIOS screen I/O is redirected so that you can use the device. RS-232 is also used for communicating to headless server, where no monitor or keyboard is installed, during boot when operating system is not running yet and therefore no network connection is possible. You need to use a serial cable between your computer and embedded system or server. In this post I will cover five conman utilities used for serial communication under Linux / Unix / *BSD and Mac OS X.

Linux / Unix pv Command: Monitor Progress of Data Sent Via a Pipe

last updated January 21, 2013 in Command Line Hacks

The pv command allows you to see the progress of data through a pipeline. It provides the following info:

Time elapsed
Percentage completed (with progress bar)
Current throughput rate
Total data transferred
ETA

Linux pidstat Command: Get Statistics For Individual Tasks / Process

last updated August 21, 2012 in Command Line Hacks

Process identifier (PID) is a number used by Linux / Unix kernels (and Windows operating systems) to identify a process. Usually, new processes are created using the fork() system call. Each PID (or so called tasks) can be monitored under Linux. In this quick tutorial, I will explain how to use the pidstat command for monitoring individual tasks currently being managed by the Linux kernel.

ls* Commands Are Even More Useful Than You May Have Thought

last updated August 17, 2012 in Command Line Hacks

Everything is a file under Linux and ls* and friends can help you to dig out more information from the system than you originally thought.

HowTo: Linux Check Password Strength With Cracklib-check Command

last updated January 8, 2017 in Command Line Hacks, Security

Using the same password on different servers allows attackers to access your accounts if cracker manage to steal your password from a less secure server. This is true for online website accounts too. So solution is to create unique passwords for server accounts like your email, sftp and ssh accounts. General guideline to create a strong and unique password is as follows:

Linux Run Command As Another User

last updated July 20, 2012 in Command Line Hacks

Dear nixCraft,

I just want to know how to run Linux commands as another user or as root user?

Sincerely,
Confused About Linux commands.

compgen: An Awesome Command To List All Linux Commands

last updated July 19, 2012 in Command Line Hacks

Ever want to list all the Linux commands (including bash shell aliases and functions) you could run on the server / workstation? Look now further. Try compgen command.
Continue reading “compgen: An Awesome Command To List All Linux Commands”

pinfo: Read Linux Info Documentation in Colors

last updated July 18, 2012 in Command Line Hacks

You can display man pages in colors. Similarly, you can display info pages in colors. The info command is used under Linux or Unix to read multipage documentation and act as help viewer working on a command line interface, useful when there is no GUI available on the server. The info command processes info files. All info files are are in Texinfo format. You get the documentation tree. pinfo is a little known tool that can display info pages in colors.