Skip to main content

Networking Commands in Linux

Networking commands are essential for system administrators to monitor and debug their system, or server, or network-devices.

It is important to know the commands and tools that can help admins and developers to organize, troubleshoot, and optimize their applications and systems.

Here are some of the essential networking commands grouped into categories:

Host information commands

Know the information about your own system or the remote with these commands.

Command Description Example
ping Check if a remote host is reachable or not ping command
nslookup Querying the Domain Name System (DNS) records nslookup command
dig Retrieving the DNS information of a remote server dig command
uname Provide important system information uname command
ip Get network stats and other configurations ip command

Network connection commands

These commands let you work while being connected to a remote system

Command Description Example
scp Securely copy files between remote scp command
curl A tool for data transfer curl command
rsync A synchronization tool rsync command

Network monitoring commands

As a sysadmin, you'll have to keep a tab on what's going on with your network. These commands help you with that.

Command Description Example
netcat Allowing two computers to connect and share resources nc command
netstat Monitor incoming and outgoing connections and more netstat command