LPIC-1 and LPIC-2 Command Cheat Sheet

July 13, 2026~15 min read

LPI

lpic-1lpic-2cheatsheetlinuxcommandsexam-prep

· ~7 min read

LPIC-1 101-500 vs 102-500: What's the Difference?

Compare LPIC-1 exam 101-500 and 102-500: topic breakdown, difficulty, overlap, and whether you should take them together or separately.

July 13, 2026· ~4 min read

LPIC-1 102-500 Deep Dive: Shell Scripting, User Management, Networking, and Security

Master LPIC-1 102-500: shell scripting, user management, networking fundamentals, system security, and administrative tasks with detailed command examples.

Master LPIC-1 101-500: hardware configuration, boot process, disk partitioning, package management, and system maintenance with command examples.

lpic-1101-500linux

This cheat sheet covers essential Linux commands for the LPIC-1 and LPIC-2 exams, organized by domain. Use it as a quick reference during study and lab practice.

System Architecture

Command	Description	Common Flags	Example
`uname -a`	Show all system information	`-r` (kernel release), `-m` (architecture)	`uname -r` → `6.1.0-16-amd64`
`lscpu`	Display CPU architecture info	—	`lscpu \| grep "Model name"`
`lsblk`	List block devices	`-f` (filesystem), `-m` (permissions)	`lsblk -f`
`dmidecode`	Read hardware info from BIOS	`-t processor`, `-t memory`	`dmidecode -t memory`
`lspci`	List PCI devices	`-v` (verbose), `-nn` (numeric IDs)	`lspci -nn \| grep VGA`
`lsusb`	List USB devices	`-v` (verbose), `-t` (tree)	`lsusb -t`
`lsmod`	List loaded kernel modules	—	`lsmod \| grep ^usb`
`modinfo`	Show module information	`-p` (parameters), `-d` (description)	`modinfo -p e1000`

Boot Process and GRUB

Command	Description	Common Flags	Example
`grub-install`	Install GRUB to disk	`--target=x86_64-efi`, `--boot-directory`	`grub-install --target=x86_64-efi /dev/sda`
`grub-mkconfig`	Generate GRUB config	`-o /boot/grub/grub.cfg`	`grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg`
`update-grub`	Debian shortcut for grub-mkconfig	—	`update-grub`
`dmesg`	Print kernel ring buffer	`-T` (human timestamps), `-w` (follow)	`dmesg -T \| grep error`
`journalctl -xb`	View boot logs (systemd)	`-b -1` (previous boot), `-p err` (errors)	`journalctl -b -p err`
`systemd-analyze blame`	Show boot time per service	—	`systemd-analyze blame \| head -10`

Package Management (Debian/Ubuntu)

Command	Description	Common Flags	Example
`apt-get update`	Refresh package index	—	`apt-get update`
`apt-get install`	Install package with deps	`--no-install-recommends`, `-y`	`apt-get install -y nginx`
`apt-get remove`	Remove package	`--purge` (remove config)	`apt-get remove --purge apache2`
`apt-get upgrade`	Upgrade all packages	`--dry-run` (simulate)	`apt-get upgrade --dry-run`
`dpkg -i`	Install .deb package	—	`dpkg -i package.deb`
`dpkg -r`	Remove installed package	`-P` (purge)	`dpkg -r nginx`
`dpkg -l`	List installed packages	—	`dpkg -l \| grep nginx`
`dpkg -L`	List files in a package	—	`dpkg -L nginx-common`
`dpkg --configure -a`	Fix partly-installed packages	—	`dpkg --configure -a`
`apt-cache search`	Search package database	—	`apt-cache search web server`
`apt-cache policy`	Show package version info	—	`apt-cache policy nginx`

Package Management (RHEL/Fedora)

Command	Description	Common Flags	Example
`dnf install`	Install package	`-y`	`dnf install -y nginx`
`dnf remove`	Remove package	—	`dnf remove nginx`
`dnf update`	Update all packages	—	`dnf update`
`dnf search`	Search packages	—	`dnf search web server`
`dnf groupinstall`	Install a group of packages	—	`dnf groupinstall "Web Server"`
`rpm -ivh`	Install RPM package	`-U` (upgrade), `-e` (erase)	`rpm -ivh package.rpm`
`rpm -qa`	Query all installed RPMs	`-qi` (info), `-ql` (file list)	`rpm -qa \| grep nginx`
`rpm -V`	Verify installed package	—	`rpm -V nginx`

GNU and Unix Commands

Command	Description	Common Flags	Example
`grep`	Search lines matching pattern	`-r` (recursive), `-i` (case), `-v` (invert), `-E` (extended regex)	`grep -ri "error" /var/log/`
`sed`	Stream editor for text transform	`-i` (in-place), `s/old/new/g` (substitute)	`sed -i 's/foo/bar/g' file.txt`
`awk`	Pattern scanning and processing	`-F` (field separator)	`awk '{print $1, $3}' file.txt`
`find`	Search for files	`-name`, `-type`, `-mtime`, `-exec`	`find /var -name "*.log" -mtime +7`
`sort`	Sort lines of text	`-u` (unique), `-n` (numeric), `-r` (reverse)	`sort -u file.txt`
`wc`	Word/line/byte count	`-l` (lines), `-w` (words)	`wc -l /var/log/syslog`
`cut`	Extract fields from lines	`-d` (delimiter), `-f` (fields)	`cut -d: -f1 /etc/passwd`
`tr`	Translate/delete characters	`-d` (delete), `-s` (squeeze)	`tr '[:upper:]' '[:lower:]' < file`
`tee`	Read stdin and write to file + stdout	`-a` (append)	`echo "text" \| tee -a file.log`
`xargs`	Build and execute command lines	`-n` (max args), `-I` (replace str)	`find . -name "*.tmp" \| xargs rm`
`tar`	Archive utility	`-c` (create), `-x` (extract), `-z` (gzip), `-f` (file), `-v` (verbose)	`tar -czvf archive.tar.gz /path/`
`gzip`/`gunzip`	Compress/decompress files	`-k` (keep original), `-v` (verbose)	`gzip -k file.txt`
`bzip2`	Block-sorting file compressor	`-k`, ,

Filesystems and Storage

Command	Description	Common Flags	Example
`mount`	Mount a filesystem	`-t` (type), `-o` (options)	`mount -t ext4 /dev/sdb1 /mnt`
`umount`	Unmount a filesystem	`-l` (lazy), `-f` (force)	`umount -l /mnt`
`df -h`	Show disk usage (human-readable)	`-T` (type), `-i` (inodes)	`df -hT`
`du -sh`	Show directory size	`-a` (all), `--max-depth=N`	`du -sh /var/log/`
`fsck`	Check/repair filesystem	`-f` (force), `-y` (auto-yes)	`fsck -f /dev/sdb1`
`mkfs.ext4`	Create ext4 filesystem	`-L` (label), `-m` (reserved blocks %)	`mkfs.ext4 -L data /dev/sdb1`
`e2label`	Show/change ext label	—	`e2label /dev/sdb1 mydata`
`tune2fs`	Adjust ext filesystem params	`-l` (list), `-c` (max mount count)	`tune2fs -l /dev/sdb1`
`blkid`	Show block device attributes	—	`blkid /dev/sdb1`
`parted`	Partition disk (GPT)	`mklabel gpt`, `mkpart`	`parted /dev/sdb mklabel gpt`
`fdisk`	Partition disk (MBR)	`-l` (list)	`fdisk -l`

LVM (Logical Volume Manager)

Command	Description	Example
`pvcreate /dev/sdb1`	Create a physical volume	`pvcreate /dev/sdb1 /dev/sdc1`
`pvs`	List physical volumes	`pvs`
`pvdisplay`	Show detailed PV info	`pvdisplay /dev/sdb1`
`vgcreate vg_data /dev/sdb1`	Create a volume group	`vgcreate vg_data /dev/sdb1 /dev/sdc1`
`vgs`	List volume groups	`vgs`
`vgdisplay`	Show detailed VG info	`vgdisplay vg_data`
`vgextend vg_data /dev/sdd1`	Add PV to VG	`vgextend vg_data /dev/sdd1`
`lvcreate -L 50G -n lv_data vg_data`	Create a logical volume	`lvcreate -L 50G -n lv_data vg_data`
`lvcreate -l 100%FREE -n lv_data vg_data`	Use all remaining free space	`lvcreate -l 100%FREE -n lv_root vg_system`
`lvs`	List logical volumes	`lvs`
`lvextend -L +10G /dev/vg_data/lv_data`	Extend LV by 10G	`lvextend -L +10G /dev/vg_data/lv_data`
`lvreduce -L -5G /dev/vg_data/lv_data`	Reduce LV by 5G	`lvreduce -L -5G /dev/vg_data/lv_data`

After extending an LV, resize the filesystem:

ext4: resize2fs /dev/vg_data/lv_data
XFS: xfs_growfs /mount/point

RAID (mdadm)

Command	Description	Example
`mdadm --create /dev/md0 --level=5 --raid-devices=3 /dev/sd[bcd]1`	Create RAID 5	`mdadm --create /dev/md0 --level=5 --raid-devices=3 /dev/sdb1 /dev/sdc1 /dev/sdd1`
`mdadm --detail /dev/md0`	Show detailed RAID info	`mdadm --detail /dev/md0`
`mdadm --manage /dev/md0 --add /dev/sde1`	Add disk to array	`mdadm --manage /dev/md0 --add /dev/sde1`
`mdadm --manage /dev/md0 --fail /dev/sdb1`	Fail a disk	`mdadm --manage /dev/md0 --fail /dev/sdb1`
`mdadm --manage /dev/md0 --remove /dev/sdb1`	Remove a disk	`mdadm --manage /dev/md0 --remove /dev/sdb1`
`cat /proc/mdstat`	Check RAID status	`cat /proc/mdstat`

Shell Scripting

Concept	Syntax	Example
Shebang	`#!/bin/bash`	`#!/bin/bash`
Variable	`VAR=value`	`NAME="John"`
Variable use	`$VAR` or `${VAR}`	`echo "Hello, $NAME"`
Command substitution	`$(cmd)` or `cmd`	`DATE=$(date +%Y-%m-%d)`
Arithmetic	`$((expr))`	`TOTAL=$((COUNT + 1))`
If statement	`if [ cond ]; then ... fi`	`if [ "$NAME" = "root" ]; then echo "admin"; fi`
For loop	`for i in LIST; do ... done`	`for file in *.txt; do echo "$file"; done`
While loop	`while [ cond ]; do ... done`	`while read line; do echo "$line"; done < file`
Case statement	`case $VAR in pattern) ...;; esac`	`case $OPT in -h) usage;; *) error;; esac`
Function	`func() { ... }`	`usage() { echo "Usage: $0 [-h]"; }`
Exit status	`$?`	`cmd; if [ $? -eq 0 ]; then echo OK; fi`
Test operators	`-f` (file), `-d` (dir), `-z` (empty), `-n` (non-empty)	`[ -f /etc/passwd ] && echo exists`

User and Group Management

Command	Description	Common Flags	Example
`useradd`	Create user	`-m` (home), `-s` (shell), `-G` (groups)	`useradd -m -s /bin/bash -G sudo jdoe`
`usermod`	Modify user	`-aG` (append groups), `-L` (lock), `-U` (unlock)	`usermod -aG docker jdoe`
`userdel`	Delete user	`-r` (remove home + mail)	`userdel -r jdoe`
`groupadd`	Create group	`-g` (GID)	`groupadd -g 1001 developers`
`groupdel`	Delete group	—	`groupdel developers`
`passwd`	Change password	`-l` (lock), `-u` (unlock), `-d` (delete)	`passwd jdoe`
`chage`	Change password aging	`-l` (list), `-d` (last day), `-E` (expire)	`chage -d 0 jdoe`
`id`	Show user identity	—	`id jdoe`
`who`	Show logged-in users	`-a` (all details)	`who -a`
`w`	Show who is logged in + activity	—	`w`
`last`	Show last logins	`-n 10` (limit)	`last -n 10`

Process Management

Command	Description	Common Flags	Example
`ps aux`	List all processes	`-ef` (full), `--forest` (tree)	`ps aux --sort=-%mem \| head -10`
`top`	Interactive process viewer	`-u user`, `-p PID`	`top -u www-data`
`htop`	Enhanced process viewer (if installed)	—	`htop`
`kill PID`	Send SIGTERM to process	`-9` (SIGKILL), `-15` (SIGTERM), `-1` (SIGHUP)	`kill -9 1234`
`killall`	Kill by process name	`-9`, `-15`, `-I` (case-insensitive)	`killall -9 nginx`
`pkill`	Kill by name or pattern	`-u user`, `-f` (full command)	`pkill -u jdoe -f "node app"`
`pgrep`	List PID by name	`-u`, `-l` (show name)	`pgrep -l nginx`
`nice`	Start with priority	`-n` (nice value, -20 to 19)	`nice -n 10 backup.sh`
`renice`	Change priority	`-n` (priority), `-p` (PID)	`renice -n 5 -p 1234`
`nohup`	Run immune to hangups	—	`nohup backup.sh &`
`bg`/`fg`	Background/foreground jobs	—	`Ctrl+Z`, then `bg`
`jobs`	List background jobs	`-l` (with PIDs)	`jobs -l`

Networking

Command	Description	Common Flags	Example
`ip addr`	Show/manipulate network interfaces	`add`, `del`	`ip addr show eth0`
`ip link`	Manage network interfaces	`set up`, `set down`	`ip link set eth0 up`
`ip route`	Show/manage routing table	`add`, `del`	`ip route add default via 10.0.0.1`
`ip neigh`	Show ARP cache	—	`ip neigh`
`ss -tlnp`	List TCP listening sockets	`-u` (UDP), `-a` (all), `-s` (stats)	`ss -tlnp \| grep :80`
`ping`	Test network reachability	`-c` (count), `-i` (interval)	`ping -c 4 google.com`
`traceroute`	Trace route to host	`-n` (numeric), `-w` (wait)	`traceroute -n google.com`
`nc` (netcat)	TCP/UDP swiss army knife	`-l` (listen), `-z` (scan), `-v` (verbose)	`nc -zv 10.0.0.1 22-443`
`nmap`	Network exploration	`-sS` (SYN scan), `-sn` (ping sweep)	`nmap -sn 10.0.0.0/24`
`dig`	DNS lookup tool	`+short`, `-x` (reverse)	`dig +short example.com`
`nslookup`	Legacy DNS lookup	—	`nslookup example.com`
`host`	Simplified DNS lookup	—	`host example.com`
`curl`	HTTP/HTTPS client	`-I` (headers), `-v` (verbose)	`curl -I https://example.com`
`wget`	File download utility	`-O` (output), `-q` (quiet)	`wget -O file.zip https://url/file.zip`

System Security

Command	Description	Example
`chmod 755 file`	Change file permissions (rwxr-xr-x)	`chmod 750 /root`
`chown user:group file`	Change file owner/group	`chown -R jdoe:www-data /var/www`
`setfacl -m u:jdoe:rw file`	Set ACL entry	`setfacl -m g:developers:rx /project`
`getfacl file`	View ACLs	`getfacl /etc/shadow`
`chattr +i file`	Set immutable flag	`chattr +i /etc/hosts`
`lsattr file`	List file attributes	`lsattr /etc/hosts`
`iptables -L`	List iptables rules	`iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 22 -j ACCEPT`
`nft list ruleset`	List nftables rules	`nft add rule inet filter input tcp dport 443 accept`
`getenforce`	Get SELinux mode	`setenforce 1` (enforcing)
`sestatus`	SELinux status	`sestatus \| grep ^SELinux`
`ls -Z`	Show SELinux context	`ps -eZ \| grep httpd`
`restorecon -Rv /path`	Restore default SELinux contexts	`restorecon -Rv /var/www`
`setsebool -P httpd_can_network_connect on`	Set SELinux boolean	`setsebool -P httpd_can_sendmail on`
`sealert -a /var/log/audit/audit.log`	Analyze SELinux denials	`sealert -a /var/log/audit/audit.log`
`openssl enc -aes-256-cbc -salt -in file -out file.enc`	Encrypt file	`openssl enc -d -aes-256-cbc -in file.enc -out file`
`gpg --symmetric --cipher AES256 file`	GPG symmetric encryption	`gpg --decrypt file.gpg`
`ssh-keygen -t ed25519`	Generate SSH key	`ssh-keygen -t rsa -b 4096`
`ssh-copy-id user@host`	Copy SSH key to host	`ssh-copy-id -i ~/.ssh/id_ed25519 user@host`

System Monitoring

Command	Description	Example
`free -h`	Show memory usage	`free -h`
`vmstat 2 10`	Virtual memory stats (every 2s, 10 times)	`vmstat -s` (summary)
`iostat -x 2`	I/O stats (extended, every 2s)	`iostat -x \| grep sda`
`mpstat -P ALL 2`	Per-CPU usage (every 2s)	`mpstat -P ALL`
`sar -u 2 10`	CPU stats (every 2s, 10 times)	`sar -r` (memory), `sar -b` (I/O)
`uptime`	Show system uptime and load	`uptime`
`lsof`	List open files	`lsof -i :80`, `lsof -u jdoe`
`fuser -v /path`	Show processes using file/socket	`fuser 80/tcp`

Test Your Knowledge with Practice Exams

Ready to put this knowledge to the test? The interactive LPI practice platform on courses.graphwiz.ai includes 400+ realistic questions covering LPIC-1, LPIC-2, LPIC-3, and DevOps Tools Engineer certifications — with study mode, timed exams, domain breakdowns, weak-area analysis, and spaced-repetition flashcards.

Start Practicing on courses.graphwiz.ai →

Resources & Related Platforms

tobias-weiss.org - More cheat sheets, articles and store products
graphwiz.ai - AI, knowledge graphs and agentic development
courses.graphwiz.ai - Interactive LPI practice exams and study guides
ki-kompetenz-training.org - EU AI Act compliant AI literacy training

Practice Your Skills

Interactive LPIC-1 practice exams on courses.graphwiz.ai
50 Free LPIC-1 Practice Questions on tobias-weiss.org

-z

-d

Cart

Wishlist

Your wishlist is empty