Introduction

As part of my RHCSA + RHCE Fast-Track Training with the Cloud Whistler community, I’m documenting everything I learn and today is Day 3 of my 30-day Linux challenge.

In this article, I’ve listed the 25 most essential Linux commands that I’m using regularly whether it’s managing files, navigating the system or working with users and permissions. These are practical, real-world commands that every Linux user beginner or advanced ends up relying on daily.

If you’re learning Linux, preparing for a certification or just want to feel more confident in the terminal, this list will guide you in the right direction.

Index

  1. The Top 25 Linux Commands You will Actually Use
  2. Real World Use Cases
  3. Best Practices and Recommendations
  4. Why These Matter for Your RHCSA Journey
  5. Quick Summary

🧰 The Top 25 Linux Commands You will Actually Use) 

Command           |  What It Does
pwd               | `Show current directory`
ls                | `List files and folders`
cd                | `Change directory`
mkdir             | `Create a new directory`
touch             | `Create an empty file`
rm                | `Remove files or directories`
cp                | `Copy files or folders`
mv                | `Move or rename files/folders`
cat               | `View file content`
less / more       | `Scroll through long files`
head / tail       | `View start or end of a file`
echo              | `Display a string or variable`
whoami            | `Show current user`
id                | `Display user ID and group ID`
passwd            | `Change a user password`
chmod             | `Change file permissions`
chown             | `Change file owner`
ps                | `Show running processes`
top               | `Live process monitor`
kill              | `End a process manually`
clear             | `Clear the terminal screen`
df -h             | `Show disk space in human-readable format`
du -sh            | `Show file/folder size`
ifconfig / ip a   | `Display network interfaces`
history           | `Show previously used commands`

Image description

🧪 Real World Use Cases

Let me share how I’ve personally used these in just the last 3 days:

• Used ls, cd and pwd to navigate through /etc, /var and /home.
• Created a test file with touch, edited it, then deleted it with rm.
• Checked disk space before downloading the ISO with df -h.
• Used ps and kill to end a stuck process during a VM freeze.

You’ll find that the more you practice, these commands start becoming second nature like muscle memory.

Best Practices and Recommendations

💡 Helpful Tips
Use man to read the manual of any command. Example: man chmod
• Use --help at the end of most commands to get a quick overview. Example: cp --help
• Practice using flags (-l, -h, -r, etc) to understand variations.

🤝 Why These Matter (for Your RHCSA Journey)

Almost every RHCSA question or lab task will require you to know at least 10–15 of these commands by heart.
Knowing what they do, how they behave and what could go wrong is the difference between struggling and passing with confidence.

Image description

🔚 Quick Summary

These 25 commands are the foundation of everything you’ll do in Linux from setting up servers to troubleshooting issues. The more you use them, the more confident you become.

Image description

I'd love to hear your thoughts, insights or experiences with Linux. Feel free to share and join the conversation [Connect with me on LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/techwithsana ]💜

#30dayslinuxchallenge #redhat #networking #cloudcomputing #cloudenginner #cloudarchitect #cloud #RHCSA #RHCE #RHEL #WomeninTech #Technology