Linux Networking Commands with Examples

As a network engineer, navigating through the labyrinth of Linux commands can be daunting. However, mastering these tools is essential for efficient network management and troubleshooting. Let's delve into each command with practical examples to solidify your understanding.

1. ifconfig:
   Example: Assign an IP address to an interface

sudo ifconfig eth0 192.168.1.10 netmask 255.255.255.0

2. ip:
   Example: Display information about all network interfaces

ip addr show

3. traceroute:
   Example: Trace the route to a destination host

 traceroute google.com

4. tracepath:
   Example: Trace the path to a destination host with ICMP

 tracepath google.com

5. ping:
   Example: Check the connectivity to a host

 ping 192.168.1.1

6. netstat:
   Example: Display listening TCP ports

netstat -tuln

7. ss:
   Example: Show all established connections

ss -t -a

8. dig:
   Example: Query DNS records for a domain

dig google.com

9. nslookup:
   Example: Lookup DNS information for a domain

nslookup google.com

10. route:
    Example: Display the routing table

route -n

11. host:
    Example: Resolve a hostname to an IP address

host google.com

12. arp:
    Example: Display the ARP cache

arp -a

13. iwconfig:
    Example: View wireless interface configuration

iwconfig wlan0

14. hostname:
    Example: Display the system's hostname

hostname

15. curl or wget:
    Example: Download a file from a URL using curl

curl -O http://example.com/file.tar.gz

16. mtr:
    Example: Perform a continuous trace route with ping statistics

mtr google.com

17. whois:
    Example: Retrieve WHOIS information for a domain

whois google.com

18. ifplugstatus:
    Example: Check the status of Ethernet interfaces

ifplugstatus eth0

19. iftop:
    Example: Monitor network traffic in real-time

sudo iftop -i eth0

20. tcpdump:
    Example: Capture packets on a specific interface

sudo tcpdump -i eth0 -n 'tcp port 80'

 

Incorporating these examples into your daily workflow will help you harness the full potential of these essential Linux commands, enabling you to tackle network challenges with confidence and efficiency. Happy networking!