System & Storage commands

diskpart list disk→lsblk -d -o NAME,SIZE,MODEL Quick reference Block Devices List physical disks Shows disk devices and models. Distro equivalents Debian/Ubuntu lsblk -d -o NAME,SIZE,MODEL Fedora lsblk -d -o NAME,SIZE,MODEL Arch lsblk -d -o NAME,SIZE,MODEL Open quick reference → diskpart list volume→lsblk -f Quick reference Block Devices List volumes/filesystems Shows partitions with filesystems and UUIDs. Distro equivalents Debian/Ubuntu lsblk -f Fedora lsblk -f Arch lsblk -f Open quick reference → fsutil fsinfo drives→lsblk Quick reference Block Devices List block devices Lists disks, partitions and block devices. Distro equivalents Debian/Ubuntu lsblk Fedora lsblk Arch lsblk Open quick reference → bcdedit /enum→bootctl status Quick reference Boot Show boot configuration Shows systemd-boot status where systemd-boot is used. Distro equivalents Debian/Ubuntu bootctl status || grep menuentry /boot/grub/grub.cfg Fedora sudo grubby --info=ALL Arch bootctl status || grep menuentry /boot/grub/grub.cfg Open quick reference → bcdedit /set default→sudo grub-set-default 0 Quick reference Boot Set default boot entry Sets the default GRUB boot entry. Distro equivalents Debian/Ubuntu sudo grub-set-default 0 Fedora sudo grub-set-default 0 Arch sudo grub-set-default 0 Open quick reference → msconfig boot→systemctl get-default Quick reference Boot Show default boot target Shows the default systemd target. Distro equivalents Debian/Ubuntu systemctl get-default Fedora systemctl get-default Arch systemctl get-default Open quick reference → msconfig safe boot→sudo systemctl set-default rescue.target Quick reference Boot Set rescue target Configures boot into rescue mode. Distro equivalents Debian/Ubuntu sudo systemctl set-default rescue.target Fedora sudo systemctl set-default rescue.target Arch sudo systemctl set-default rescue.target Open quick reference → chkdsk→fsck Expanded guide Disk & Storage Check filesystem integrity Scans and repairs filesystem errors on a disk or partition. Distro equivalents Debian/Ubuntu fsck Fedora fsck Arch fsck Open expanded guide → defrag→sudo fstrim -av Expanded guide Disk & Storage Optimize storage maintenance Discards unused SSD blocks or defragments an ext4 filesystem when appropriate. Distro equivalents Debian/Ubuntu sudo fstrim -av Fedora sudo fstrim -av Arch sudo fstrim -av Open expanded guide → diskmgmt.msc→gparted Expanded guide Disk & Storage Manage disks graphically Provides a graphical interface for viewing disks, creating partitions, formatting volumes and managing mounts. Distro equivalents Debian/Ubuntu gparted Fedora gparted Arch gparted Open expanded guide → diskpart / fdisk→fdisk / parted Expanded guide Disk & Storage Manage disk partitions Creates, deletes, and modifies disk partitions. Use with extreme care. Distro equivalents Debian/Ubuntu fdisk / parted Fedora fdisk / parted Arch fdisk / parted Open expanded guide → diskpart clean / clean all→wipefs / shred Expanded guide Disk & Storage Wipe or sanitise a disk Removes filesystem signatures from a disk or securely overwrites all data to prevent recovery. Distro equivalents Debian/Ubuntu wipefs / shred Fedora wipefs / shred Arch wipefs / shred Open expanded guide → format→mkfs.ext4 Expanded guide Disk & Storage Format a disk/partition Creates a new filesystem on a disk partition, erasing all existing data. Distro equivalents Debian/Ubuntu mkfs.ext4 Fedora mkfs.ext4 Arch mkfs.ext4 Open expanded guide → fsutil volume diskfree→df -h Quick reference Disk & Storage Show free filesystem space Displays used and available capacity for mounted filesystems. Distro equivalents Debian/Ubuntu df -h Fedora df -h Arch df -h Open quick reference → label→e2label / tune2fs -L Expanded guide Disk & Storage Set or view disk volume label Assigns a human-readable name (label) to a disk partition for easier identification. Distro equivalents Debian/Ubuntu e2label / tune2fs -L Fedora e2label / tune2fs -L Arch e2label / tune2fs -L Open expanded guide → mountvol→findmnt Expanded guide Disk & Storage View or manage mount points Lists mounted filesystems and attaches or detaches a filesystem from the directory tree. Distro equivalents Debian/Ubuntu findmnt Fedora findmnt Arch findmnt Open expanded guide → wbadmin / disk image→dd Expanded guide Disk & Storage Create raw byte-for-byte disk images Creates a complete raw copy of an entire disk or partition — useful for backups, imaging, and forensics. Distro equivalents Debian/Ubuntu dd Fedora dd Arch dd Open expanded guide → wmic diskdrive get status→sudo smartctl -H /dev/sda Expanded guide Disk & Storage Check drive health Reads SMART health status and diagnostics reported by a physical disk. Distro equivalents Debian/Ubuntu sudo apt install smartmontools && sudo smartctl -H /dev/sda Fedora sudo dnf install smartmontools && sudo smartctl -H /dev/sda Arch sudo pacman -S smartmontools && sudo smartctl -H /dev/sda Open expanded guide → chkdsk /r→sudo badblocks -sv /dev/sdX Quick reference Disk Maintenance Scan for bad blocks Scans a block device for bad sectors. Distro equivalents Debian/Ubuntu sudo badblocks -sv /dev/sdX Fedora sudo badblocks -sv /dev/sdX Arch sudo badblocks -sv /dev/sdX Open quick reference → cipher /w free space→sudo zerofree /dev/sdXn Quick reference Disk Maintenance Zero free space Zeros unused blocks on a supported unmounted filesystem. Distro equivalents Debian/Ubuntu sudo zerofree /dev/sdXn Fedora sudo zerofree /dev/sdXn Arch sudo zerofree /dev/sdXn Open quick reference → defrag /L→sudo fstrim -av Quick reference Disk Maintenance Trim SSD filesystems Runs discard/TRIM on mounted filesystems that support it. Distro equivalents Debian/Ubuntu sudo fstrim -av Fedora sudo fstrim -av Arch sudo fstrim -av Open quick reference → winsat disk→fio --name=test --filename=testfile --size=1G --rw=readwrite Quick reference Disk Maintenance Benchmark disk Runs a configurable disk benchmark with fio. Distro equivalents Debian/Ubuntu fio --name=test --filename=testfile --size=1G --rw=readwrite Fedora fio --name=test --filename=testfile --size=1G --rw=readwrite Arch fio --name=test --filename=testfile --size=1G --rw=readwrite Open quick reference → wmic logicaldisk get size→df -h Quick reference Disk Usage Show disk free space Displays filesystem usage in human-readable units. Distro equivalents Debian/Ubuntu df -h Fedora df -h Arch df -h Open quick reference → driverquery→lspci -k Quick reference Drivers Show hardware drivers Lists PCI devices and active kernel drivers. Distro equivalents Debian/Ubuntu lspci -k Fedora lspci -k Arch lspci -k Open quick reference → pnputil /disable-device→sudo modprobe -r MODULE Quick reference Drivers Unload driver module Removes a kernel module when possible. Distro equivalents Debian/Ubuntu sudo modprobe -r MODULE Fedora sudo modprobe -r MODULE Arch sudo modprobe -r MODULE Open quick reference → pnputil /enum-drivers→lsmod Quick reference Drivers List loaded drivers/modules Lists loaded Linux kernel modules. Distro equivalents Debian/Ubuntu lsmod Fedora lsmod Arch lsmod Open quick reference → chkdsk /f→sudo fsck -f /dev/sdXn Quick reference Filesystems Force filesystem check Checks and repairs a filesystem while unmounted. Distro equivalents Debian/Ubuntu sudo fsck -f /dev/sdXn Fedora sudo fsck -f /dev/sdXn Arch sudo fsck -f /dev/sdXn Open quick reference → diskpart assign letter→sudo mount /dev/sdXn /mnt Quick reference Filesystems Mount filesystem Mounts a filesystem at a directory. Distro equivalents Debian/Ubuntu sudo mount /dev/sdXn /mnt Fedora sudo mount /dev/sdXn /mnt Arch sudo mount /dev/sdXn /mnt Open quick reference → diskpart remove letter→sudo umount /mnt Quick reference Filesystems Unmount filesystem Unmounts a mounted filesystem. Distro equivalents Debian/Ubuntu sudo umount /mnt Fedora sudo umount /mnt Arch sudo umount /mnt Open quick reference → format /q→sudo mkfs.ext4 -F /dev/sdXn Quick reference Filesystems Quick format filesystem Creates a new filesystem on a partition. Distro equivalents Debian/Ubuntu sudo mkfs.ext4 -F /dev/sdXn Fedora sudo mkfs.ext4 -F /dev/sdXn Arch sudo mkfs.ext4 -F /dev/sdXn Open quick reference → fsutil fsinfo volumeinfo→findmnt -no SOURCE,FSTYPE,OPTIONS / Quick reference Filesystems Show mounted volume info Shows source device, filesystem and mount options. Distro equivalents Debian/Ubuntu findmnt -no SOURCE,FSTYPE,OPTIONS / Fedora findmnt -no SOURCE,FSTYPE,OPTIONS / Arch findmnt -no SOURCE,FSTYPE,OPTIONS / Open quick reference → mountvol /l→findmnt Quick reference Filesystems List mounted filesystems Lists current mount points. Distro equivalents Debian/Ubuntu findmnt Fedora findmnt Arch findmnt Open quick reference → dxdiag display→glxinfo -B Quick reference Hardware Info Show graphics renderer Displays OpenGL renderer and driver information. Distro equivalents Debian/Ubuntu glxinfo -B Fedora glxinfo -B Arch glxinfo -B Open quick reference → systeminfo CPU→lscpu Quick reference Hardware Info Show CPU details Displays CPU architecture, cores and flags. Distro equivalents Debian/Ubuntu lscpu Fedora lscpu Arch lscpu Open quick reference → systeminfo memory→free -h Quick reference Hardware Info Show memory usage Shows RAM and swap usage. Distro equivalents Debian/Ubuntu free -h Fedora free -h Arch free -h Open quick reference → wmic diskdrive get model→lsblk -d -o NAME,MODEL,SIZE Quick reference Hardware Info Show disk model Prints disk model and size. Distro equivalents Debian/Ubuntu lsblk -d -o NAME,MODEL,SIZE Fedora lsblk -d -o NAME,MODEL,SIZE Arch lsblk -d -o NAME,MODEL,SIZE Open quick reference → wmic memorychip capacity→sudo dmidecode -t memory Quick reference Hardware Info Show memory modules Displays DIMM slot and module information. Distro equivalents Debian/Ubuntu sudo dmidecode -t memory Fedora sudo dmidecode -t memory Arch sudo dmidecode -t memory Open quick reference → Reliability Monitor→journalctl -p err -b Quick reference Logs Show current boot errors Lists error-level log entries for current boot. Distro equivalents Debian/Ubuntu journalctl -p err -b Fedora journalctl -p err -b Arch journalctl -p err -b Open quick reference → powercfg /a→cat /sys/power/state Quick reference Power Show supported sleep states Lists sleep states exposed by the kernel. Distro equivalents Debian/Ubuntu cat /sys/power/state Fedora cat /sys/power/state Arch cat /sys/power/state Open quick reference → powercfg /energy→sudo powertop Quick reference Power Analyze power usage Opens a power diagnostics tool. Distro equivalents Debian/Ubuntu sudo powertop Fedora sudo powertop Arch sudo powertop Open quick reference → powercfg /hibernate off→sudo systemctl mask hibernate.target hybrid-sleep.target Quick reference Power Disable hibernation targets Masks hibernate-related systemd targets. Distro equivalents Debian/Ubuntu sudo systemctl mask hibernate.target hybrid-sleep.target Fedora sudo systemctl mask hibernate.target hybrid-sleep.target Arch sudo systemctl mask hibernate.target hybrid-sleep.target Open quick reference → DISM RestoreHealth→sudo apt install --reinstall PACKAGE Quick reference Repair/Integrity Reinstall damaged package files Linux repair usually means verifying and reinstalling affected packages. Distro equivalents Debian/Ubuntu sudo apt update && sudo apt install --reinstall PACKAGE Fedora sudo dnf reinstall PACKAGE Arch sudo pacman -S PACKAGE Open quick reference → sfc /scannow→debsums -s Quick reference Repair/Integrity Verify system package files Checks installed package files against package metadata. Distro equivalents Debian/Ubuntu sudo apt install debsums && sudo debsums -s Fedora sudo rpm -Va Arch sudo pacman -Qkk Open quick reference → cleanmgr (Disk Cleanup)→sudo journalctl --vacuum-size=200M Expanded guide System Free up disk space Removes temporary files, old package caches, and other items that can safely be deleted to recover disk space. Distro equivalents Debian/Ubuntu sudo apt clean && sudo apt autoremove Fedora sudo dnf clean all && sudo dnf autoremove Arch sudo pacman -Sc Open expanded guide → gpupdate /force→puppet / ansible / chef Expanded guide System Apply configuration management policies Applies centralised configuration policies — the Linux equivalent of Group Policy Update. Distro equivalents Debian/Ubuntu puppet / ansible / chef Fedora puppet / ansible / chef Arch puppet / ansible / chef Open expanded guide → hibernate→systemctl hibernate Expanded guide System Hibernate — save state to disk and power off Saves the current RAM state to disk and powers off. On next boot, the session resumes exactly where you left off. Distro equivalents Debian/Ubuntu systemctl hibernate Fedora systemctl hibernate Arch systemctl hibernate Open expanded guide → logoff→logout / pkill -KILL -u username Expanded guide System Log off the current user session Ends the current user session, closing all running processes owned by that user. Distro equivalents Debian/Ubuntu logout / pkill -KILL -u username Fedora logout / pkill -KILL -u username Arch logout / pkill -KILL -u username Open expanded guide → msconfig / Task Scheduler→crontab -e Expanded guide System Schedule recurring tasks Runs commands or scripts automatically on a schedule — like Windows Task Scheduler. Distro equivalents Debian/Ubuntu crontab -e Fedora crontab -e Arch crontab -e Open expanded guide → msconfig / systemd-analyze→systemd-analyze Expanded guide System Analyse system boot performance Shows total boot time and which services took the longest to start. Distro equivalents Debian/Ubuntu systemd-analyze Fedora systemd-analyze Arch systemd-analyze Open expanded guide → regedit (Windows Registry)→/etc/ and ~/.config/ Expanded guide System System and application configuration storage Linux stores all configuration in plain text files rather than a registry. System config is in /etc/, user config is in ~/.config/ and dotfiles. Distro equivalents Debian/Ubuntu /etc/ and ~/.config/ Fedora /etc/ and ~/.config/ Arch /etc/ and ~/.config/ Open expanded guide → regsvr32 (register DLL)→sudo ldconfig Expanded guide System Update shared library cache Updates the dynamic linker cache after installing new shared libraries (.so files) — the Linux equivalent of registering a DLL. Distro equivalents Debian/Ubuntu sudo ldconfig Fedora sudo ldconfig Arch sudo ldconfig Open expanded guide → shutdown→shutdown Expanded guide System Shutdown or restart the system Powers off, reboots, or schedules a shutdown of the Linux system. Distro equivalents Debian/Ubuntu shutdown Fedora shutdown Arch shutdown Open expanded guide → whoami→whoami Expanded guide System Show current username Displays the username of the currently logged-in user. Distro equivalents Debian/Ubuntu whoami Fedora whoami Arch whoami Open expanded guide → date /t & time /t→date Expanded guide System Info Display or set date and time Shows the current date and time, or sets the system clock. Distro equivalents Debian/Ubuntu date Fedora date Arch date Open expanded guide → devmgmt.msc (Device Manager)→lspci / lsusb / lshw Expanded guide System Info View hardware devices and drivers Lists hardware devices, their drivers, and status — the Linux equivalent of Device Manager. Distro equivalents Debian/Ubuntu sudo apt install pciutils usbutils lshw && lspci && lsusb Fedora sudo dnf install pciutils usbutils lshw && lspci && lsusb Arch sudo pacman -S pciutils usbutils lshw && lspci && lsusb Open expanded guide → msinfo32 / dxdiag→lshw / inxi Expanded guide System Info Full hardware information Displays detailed hardware inventory — CPU, RAM, motherboard, GPU, and more. Distro equivalents Debian/Ubuntu lshw / inxi Fedora lshw / inxi Arch lshw / inxi Open expanded guide → perfmon / Resource Monitor→vmstat / iostat Expanded guide System Info Monitor system performance Shows real-time statistics on CPU, memory, disk I/O, and system activity. Distro equivalents Debian/Ubuntu vmstat / iostat Fedora vmstat / iostat Arch vmstat / iostat Open expanded guide → powercfg /batteryreport→acpi / upower Expanded guide System Info Battery status and health Shows battery charge level, time remaining, and health information on laptops. Distro equivalents Debian/Ubuntu acpi / upower Fedora acpi / upower Arch acpi / upower Open expanded guide → systeminfo→uname -a Expanded guide System Info Display system information Shows OS version, hardware details, memory, and system configuration. Distro equivalents Debian/Ubuntu uname -a Fedora uname -a Arch uname -a Open expanded guide → uptime (Task Manager → Performance)→uptime Expanded guide System Info Show how long the system has been running Displays how long the system has been running since the last boot, along with current CPU load averages. Distro equivalents Debian/Ubuntu uptime Fedora uptime Arch uptime Open expanded guide → ver→uname -r Quick reference System Info Show kernel version Prints the running Linux kernel release. Distro equivalents Debian/Ubuntu uname -r Fedora uname -r Arch uname -r Open quick reference → winver / About Windows→neofetch / fastfetch Expanded guide System Info Display OS info with ASCII art logo Shows system information in a visually attractive format — distro, kernel, uptime, CPU, RAM, and more. Distro equivalents Debian/Ubuntu neofetch / fastfetch Fedora neofetch / fastfetch Arch neofetch / fastfetch Open expanded guide → wmic bios get serialnumber→sudo dmidecode Expanded guide System Info Read BIOS and hardware serial numbers Reads hardware information from the system BIOS/UEFI including serial numbers, model numbers, and firmware versions. Distro equivalents Debian/Ubuntu sudo dmidecode Fedora sudo dmidecode Arch sudo dmidecode Open expanded guide → wmic memorychip get→sudo dmidecode -t memory Expanded guide System Info Display physical RAM module details Shows information about physical RAM modules including size, speed, type, and which slots are populated. Distro equivalents Debian/Ubuntu sudo dmidecode -t memory Fedora sudo dmidecode -t memory Arch sudo dmidecode -t memory Open expanded guide → wmic temperature / Core Temp→sensors Expanded guide System Info Read CPU and hardware temperatures Displays temperature readings from CPU, GPU, and motherboard sensors. Distro equivalents Debian/Ubuntu sudo apt install lm-sensors && sensors Fedora sudo dnf install lm_sensors && sensors Arch sudo pacman -S lm_sensors && sensors Open expanded guide → PowerShell Set-TimeZone→sudo timedatectl set-timezone Region/City Quick reference Time/Locale Set timezone from shell Changes system timezone from the terminal. Distro equivalents Debian/Ubuntu sudo timedatectl set-timezone Region/City Fedora sudo timedatectl set-timezone Region/City Arch sudo timedatectl set-timezone Region/City Open quick reference → control timedate.cpl→timedatectl Quick reference Time/Locale Show time settings Displays time, timezone and NTP sync settings. Distro equivalents Debian/Ubuntu timedatectl Fedora timedatectl Arch timedatectl Open quick reference → intl.cpl→localectl status Quick reference Time/Locale Show locale settings Displays system locale and keyboard settings. Distro equivalents Debian/Ubuntu localectl status Fedora localectl status Arch localectl status Open quick reference → tzutil /g→timedatectl show --property=Timezone --value Quick reference Time/Locale Show timezone Prints the configured system timezone. Distro equivalents Debian/Ubuntu timedatectl show --property=Timezone --value Fedora timedatectl show --property=Timezone --value Arch timedatectl show --property=Timezone --value Open quick reference → tzutil /s→sudo timedatectl set-timezone Region/City Quick reference Time/Locale Set timezone Changes the system timezone. Distro equivalents Debian/Ubuntu sudo timedatectl set-timezone Region/City Fedora sudo timedatectl set-timezone Region/City Arch sudo timedatectl set-timezone Region/City Open quick reference →