This command will update a single package upon request. This would be very useful if you want to update only one critical package on a Debian system. dpkg -s <package> 2>/dev/null | grep -q Status.*installed && sudo apt-get install <package>dpkg -s <package> 2>/dev/null | grep -q Status.*installed && sudo apt-get install <package> I found this … Read more
This is a good theme for your modern Ubuntu or Linux Mint desktop, a version of the Human theme for GTK 3.0: http://gnome-look.org/content/show.php?content=164227. This is a perfect theme to make your Ubuntu desktop look like the old Ubuntu 8.10 releases. Here is another lovely GTK 3.0 theme, Dorian: http://gnome-look.org/content/show.php/Dorian+Theme?content=157200. A collection of old Ubuntu wallpapers: … Read more
Use the sudo hostnamectl set-hostname HOSTNAME to set a new hostname for your machine. This command does all of the steps in one go and takes the worry out of this task. Just close the terminal after entering this command and reopen it and the new hostname will be visible. Here I am setting a … Read more
The shutdown command for Linux and UNIX is used to shutdown your Linux system properly. This command will bring down the system immediately. shutdown -h nowshutdown -h now This will shut down the system in 60 minutes. shutdown -h +60shutdown -h +60 Use this command to reboot the computer immediately. shutdown -r nowshutdown -r now … Read more
This cool fork bomb will open a CMD window and then another and another exponentially until the machine slows to a halt. This is for interests sake only. 1 2 3 :s start "loop.bat" %0 goto s:s start "loop.bat" %0 goto s This is another variant. 1 2 3 4 @echo off :begin echo Hello … Read more
This is a sighting of Ubuntu on American ABC news in a sensationalist segment about “terrorist hackers on steroids.” They are showing the Ubuntu Ambience theme to show that all terrorist hackers use Linux. This is sensationalist journalism, like all mainstream news, but is an interesting screenshot though.
To open a new virtual terminal to enter commands, use the Ctrl-Alt-F2 key combination and enter your username and password. This is a virtual terminal where you can control your system with a distraction free full-screen terminal. There are key combinations to switch between virtual terminals, read more here: http://www.tldp.org/LDP/GNU-Linux-Tools-Summary/html/virtual-terminals.html. To get a version of … Read more
The wall command is a perfect way to send a message to all logged on users on a Linux machine. This is used when you shutdown to alert all users that the system will be shutting down. The example below shows me sending the output of the ps command to all users. ubuntu@ip-172-31-20-234:~$ sudo ps … Read more
Sony pictures serves were recently hacked and some files were stolen. Apparently, there was a single folder named “Passwords” and this contained all of the files that were stolen. Apparently a DVDrip of the movie Fury was downloaded as well as countless passwords and other files. 47,000 social security numbers for various Hollywood stars including … Read more
This simple little script will print an updating clock in the terminal. #!/bin/sh watch -t -n 1 ‘date +%H:%M:%S | figlet’#!/bin/sh watch -t -n 1 ‘date +%H:%M:%S | figlet’ This version will print a cow that tells you the time. #!/bin/sh watch -t -n 1 ‘date +%H:%M:%S | cowsay’#!/bin/sh watch -t -n 1 … Read more
Navigating the Linux filesystem is very easy. The cd command is used to move to another directory. But there are other ways too. To navigate back to the last directory you were in, type cd -. This will take you back to where you were before. ubuntu /usr/share $ cd – /home/ubuntuubuntu /usr/share $ cd … Read more
This web page allows a user to generate a sources.lst file for an Ubuntu distribution. repogen.simplylinux.ch is a site that allows you to recreate your sources.lst if it is deleted accidentally. This would be very useful for a person that needs this kind of service in a hurry. So, check this site out and see … Read more