The Art of Network Penetration Testing

appendix B. Essential Linux commands

I must admit, this appendix’s title is somewhat misleading. I should clarify that when I say Linux commands, I’m not using proper terminology. Technically, Linux is the name of the operating system; the command prompt or terminal that you launch to run a command usually opens a Bourne shell or bash prompt. So, I suppose I could have gone with the title “Essential bash commands,” but I thought that might have confused some readers.

By no means are the commands in this appendix a comprehensive list, nor are they the full extent of the commands you’ll need to know. Think of them instead as a starting point to become familiar with command-line operations. These are the absolute must-haves; without them, your ...