Recommended tools

This page is intended to list system administration related tools recommended for use in a shell (terminal/console) environment. See Recommended applications for other software.

Hardware

 * Enhanced df (disk free) tool, which uses colors and a semi-graphical representation of disk usage.
 * Enhanced df (disk free) tool, which uses colors and a semi-graphical representation of disk usage.


 * Ncurses-based disk usage tool, with easy navigation through the filesystem tree to see du results.
 * Ncurses-based disk usage tool, with easy navigation through the filesystem tree to see du results.


 * Attempts to replicate the functionality of the 'old' apm command on ACPI systems.
 * Attempts to replicate the functionality of the 'old' apm command on ACPI systems.


 * A Linux ACPI client, allowing you to query or set ACPI values. It provides  a.o. information on battery status, AC adapter presence, thermal reading, etc.
 * A Linux ACPI client, allowing you to query or set ACPI values. It provides  a.o. information on battery status, AC adapter presence, thermal reading, etc.


 * Resource-specific view of processes.
 * Resource-specific view of processes.


 * Interactive process viewer (improved alternative for top), with easy function-keys for process management.
 * Interactive process viewer (improved alternative for top), with easy function-keys for process management.


 * Simple top like I/O montior.
 * Simple top like I/O montior.


 * Lists open files for running Unix processes.
 * Lists open files for running Unix processes.

Network

 * Display bandwidth usage on an interface.
 * Display bandwidth usage on an interface.


 * Console-based network monitoring utility.
 * Console-based network monitoring utility.


 * Layer Four Traceroute: An advanced traceroute implementation.
 * Layer Four Traceroute: An advanced traceroute implementation.


 * Console application which monitors network traffic and bandwidth usage in real time.
 * Console application which monitors network traffic and bandwidth usage in real time.


 * Fast traffic generator written in C, allows to send nearly every possible and impossible packet.
 * Fast traffic generator written in C, allows to send nearly every possible and impossible packet.


 * Network traffic monitoring.
 * Network traffic monitoring.


 * Active OS fingerprinting tool. This is Xprobe2.
 * Active OS fingerprinting tool. This is Xprobe2.


 * A FrameWork for layer 2 protocol attacks. Working on DHCP, STP, IEEE 802.1q and also some other Cisco proprietary network protocols.
 * A FrameWork for layer 2 protocol attacks. Working on DHCP, STP, IEEE 802.1q and also some other Cisco proprietary network protocols.


 * Ncurses based monitor for IEEE 802.11 wireless LAN cards.
 * Ncurses based monitor for IEEE 802.11 wireless LAN cards.

File management

 * GNU Midnight Commander is a text based file manager.
 * GNU Midnight Commander is a text based file manager.


 * Console file manager with vi</tt>(m)-like keybindings. Offers familiar navigation for vim junkies.
 * Console file manager with vi</tt>(m)-like keybindings. Offers familiar navigation for vim junkies.

Shell environment

 * Enhanced pager (alternative to more and less) with colored highlighting. Also consider emerging with.
 * Enhanced pager (alternative to more and less) with colored highlighting. Also consider emerging with.


 * A generic colouriser that beautifies system log files or command output.
 * A generic colouriser that beautifies system log files or command output.


 * Command-line interface to various pastebin-like websites.
 * Command-line interface to various pastebin-like websites.


 * Readline wrapper.
 * Readline wrapper.


 * Command-line interface to X selections (clipboard).
 * Command-line interface to X selections (clipboard).

Others

 * A Linux system rescue disk (based on Gentoo) available as a bootable CD-ROM or USB stick for administrating or repairing your system and data after a crash.
 * A Linux system rescue disk (based on Gentoo) available as a bootable CD-ROM or USB stick for administrating or repairing your system and data after a crash.


 * Stores, retrieves, generates, and synchronizes passwords securely using gpg</tt>, pwgen</tt>, and git</tt>.
 * Stores, retrieves, generates, and synchronizes passwords securely using gpg</tt>, pwgen</tt>, and git</tt>.


 * Interactive who</tt>-like program that displays information about users currently logged on in real time.
 * Interactive who</tt>-like program that displays information about users currently logged on in real time.


 * Dynamic virtual terminal manager.
 * Dynamic virtual terminal manager.


 * Visual diffing tool for binary files.
 * Visual diffing tool for binary files.


 * A top</tt> clone for mysql
 * A top</tt> clone for mysql