Ubuntu Reference
Privileges Network
sudo command run command as root ifconfig show network information
sudo -s open a root shell iwconfig show wireless information
sudo -s -u user open a shell as user sudo iwlist scan scan for wireless networks
sudo -k forget sudo passwords sudo /etc/init.d/networking restart reset
gksudo command visual sudo dialog (GNOME) network for manual configurations
kdesudo command visual sudo dialog (KDE) (file) /etc/network/interfaces manual
sudo visudo edit /etc/sudoers configuration
gksudo nautilus root file manager (GNOME) ifup interface bring interface online
kdesudo konqueror root file manager (KDE) ifdown interface disable interface
passwd change your password
Special Packages
Display ubuntu-desktop standard Ubuntu environment
sudo /etc/init.d/gdm restart restart X and kubuntu-desktop KDE desktop
return to login (GNOME) xubuntu-desktop XFCE desktop
sudo /etc/init.d/kdm restart restart X and ubuntu-minimal core Ubuntu utilities
return to login (KDE) ubuntu-standard standard Ubuntu utilities
(file) /etc/X11/xorg.conf display ubuntu-restricted-extras non-free, but useful
configuration kubuntu-restricted-extras KDE of the above
sudo dexconf reset xorg.conf configuration xubuntu-restricted-extras XFCE of the above
Ctrl+Alt+Bksp restart X display if frozen build-essential packages used to compile
Ctrl+Alt+FN switch to tty N programs
Ctrl+Alt+F7 switch back to X display linux-image-generic latest generic kernel
image
System Services linux-headers-generic latest build headers
start service start job service (Upstart)
stop service stop job service (Upstart) Firewall
status service check if service is running ufw enable turn on the firewall
(Upstart) ufw disable turn off the firewall
/etc/init.d/service start start service ufw default allow allow all connections by
(SysV) default
/etc/init.d/service stop stop service (SysV) ufw default deny drop all connections by
/etc/init.d/service status check service default
(SysV) ufw status current status and rules
/etc/init.d/service restart restart service ufw allow port allow traffic on port
(SysV) ufw deny port block port
runlevel get current runlevel ufw deny from ip block ip adress
Package Management Application Names
apt-get update refresh available updates nautilus file manager (GNOME)
apt-get upgrade upgrade all packages dolphin file manager (KDE)
apt-get dist-upgrade upgrade with package konqueror web browser (KDE)
replacements; upgrade Ubuntu version kate text editor (KDE)
apt-get install pkg install pkg gedit text editor (GNOME)
apt-get purge pkg uninstall pkg
apt-get autoremove remove obsolete packages System
apt-get -f install try to fix broken packages Recovery - Type the phrase REISUB while
dpkg --configure -a try to fix broken holding down Alt and SysRq (PrintScrn) with
packages about 1 second between each letter. Your system
dpkg -i pkg.deb install file pkg.deb will reboot.
(file) /etc/apt/sources.list APT repository lsb_release -a get Ubuntu version
list uname -r get kernel version
uname -a get all kernel information
1. Prefix commands with sudo to run.
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