watch Command in Linux: Real-Time Monitoring with Examples
The watch command is one of those tools you use once and immediately wonder how you lived without it. It runs any command repeatedly at a set interval and displays the output full-screen,…
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Fail2ban on Linux: Protect Your Server from Brute-Force Attacks
Every Linux server exposed to the internet is getting hammered. SSH brute-force attempts, WordPress login floods, bad bots probing your web server. It never stops. If you check your auth logs right now,…
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nmap on Linux: Guide to Network Scanning and Discovery
nmap is one of those tools every sysadmin eventually needs. For auditing servers, mapping out a home lab, or troubleshooting a connectivity issue, knowing how to use nmap properly saves a lot of…
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Linux Log Files: Guide to Reading, Searching, and Managing Logs
If something breaks on a Linux system, logs are almost always the first place to look. Yet many users treat log files as a last resort, digging through them only when things go…
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Linux Environment Variables: env, export, and /etc/environment
Linux environment variables are one of those things you interact with constantly without always realizing it. Every time you run a command, your shell checks PATH. Every time a script logs something, it…
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Bash Aliases: Speed Up Your Linux Workflow (Updated with Zsh)
Every sysadmin has a set of commands they type dozens of times per day. Long ssh strings, grep pipelines, systemctl restarts, directory jumps. You type them, you forget a flag, you retype them….
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A New Home for MATE Desktop Users and Some Long Overdue Forum Updates
A few days ago I received an email from Eric Marceau, a longtime member of the ubuntu-mate.community forum, reaching out to ask whether LinuxCommunity.io would be willing to accommodate a group for MATE…
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Why Linux Servers Slow Down: R, S, D, Z and T Process States Explained
Monitoring dashboards occasionally indicate low CPU utilization (e.g., 22%) and ample free memory, yet applications may exhibit sluggishness and increased response times. This common discrepancy in Linux environments often stems from process states…
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curl Command in Linux with Examples
The curl command in Linux is one of those tools that looks simple on the surface but has surprising depth once you start using it regularly. Most people know it as “that command…
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strace: Trace System Calls and Debug Processes on Linux
The strace command in Linux separates the sysadmins who guess from the ones who actually know what’s happening. When a process misbehaves, hangs, eats CPU, or refuses to start, strace shows you exactly…
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Linux Server Setup – Part 1: A Beginner’s Guide
Setting up a Linux server is one of the best ways to learn Linux and server management hands-on. Linux servers offer unmatched flexibility, performance, and control for hosting services, running applications, supporting production…
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Securing Linux with SELinux (or AppArmor)
SELinux and AppArmor have been around for many years, but are still essential for maintaining a secure Linux environment. This article will cover how to set them up and troubleshoot these mandatory access…
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Docker Alternative: Podman on Linux
This article is inspired by our LinuxCommunity.io forum discussion thread (thanks to users @tmick and @shybry747 for the feedback). Let’s walk through what Podman is and how to use it as a Docker…
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Choosing the Best Linux Server Distro 2026
Choosing a Linux server distribution for your projects can be a daunting task, especially with the many options available. This guide aims to simplify your decision-making process by highlighting the key features and…
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How to Gzip a Directory Using Linux Command Line
Efficiently managing files and directories is a fundamental task in computing. It’s crucial for keeping our data organized, optimizing storage space, and facilitating smooth data transfers. In the Linux ecosystem, the gzip utility…
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Linux Performance: Almost Always Add Swap Space – Part 2: ZRAM
In the previous article, we looked at how swap space, particularly swapping, can severely slow down Linux performance. We then tweaked Linux kernel parameters to better use server memory and avoid heavy swapping….
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How to direct-install Debian SID rolling release using mini.iso (w/ screenshots)
In my tech journey, I’ve always had an affinity for the cutting-edge, the not-fully-tested waters of the Linux world. Rolling release distributions like Arch, Fedora, or even a custom-installed Kali Linux have been…
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iotop command in Linux w/ examples.
This iotop command guide follows my previous 90 Linux Commands frequently used by Linux Sysadmins article. As time allows, I will continue to publish articles on the 90+ commands geared toward Linux sysadmins…
