Linux nameservers and DNS Resolution
A practical guide to DNS resolution on Linux: how /etc/resolv.conf, systemd-resolved, and dig work together, and how to troubleshoot common nameserver failures. Continue reading...
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Linux ssh-keygen: Set Up SSH Key Authentication the Right Way
Password-based SSH login is a liability. This guide walks through generating SSH key pairs with ssh-keygen, deploying public keys, disabling password authentication, and managing multiple keys cleanly with ~/.ssh/config. Continue reading...
netcat (nc) Command in Linux, with Examples
The nc command (netcat) is a lightweight but surprisingly powerful networking tool for port testing, file transfers, banner grabbing, and connectivity debugging. This practical guide covers the flags and real-world usage patterns that Linux users and sysadmins actually reach for. Continue reading...
Diagnosing Swap Usage with smem on Linux
If you've ever looked at your server and wondered why it's using swap even though plenty of RAM is available, you're not alone. This is a common scenario on Linux systems, and it can impact performance if not addressed. Continue reading...
ln Command in Linux: Hard Links vs. Symlinks
Hard links and soft links in Linux both use the ln command but behave very differently. This practical guide explains exactly how each works, when to use which, and how to avoid the common pitfalls that catch even experienced sysadmins. Continue reading...
Linux Server Health Checks: 10 Metrics Every Sysadmin Should Monitor
Servers give you warnings before they fail. Most sysadmins performing Linux server monitoring miss them because they're watching the wrong numbers. The metrics that actually matter are one level deeper: iowait instead of CPU percentage, active swap paging instead of memory usage, inode counts instead of just disk space. Continue reading...
Mastering Linux Administration: 20 Powerful Commands to Know
Linux is a powerful and versatile operating system that can be used for a wide range of purposes. For many system administrators, the command line interface is the primary way to interact with the system. Continue reading...
How I Chose the Best Managed Network Switch for My Home Lab
Update (one year later): The verdict is in. I went with the TP-Link SG2210XMP-M2, and after a full year in the rack it's been running flawlessly: fanless, multigig, VLANs and not a single issue. Continue reading...
Docker Alternative: Podman on Linux
This article is inspired by our LinuxCommunity.io forum discussion thread (thanks to users @tmick and @shybry747 for the feedback). Let's walk through what Podman is and how to use it as a Docker alternative on Linux. Continue reading...
Network Rack for Small Office (Build Guide)
Last week I walked into an empty 5 × 4 ft storage room. By the end of the week, that blank space held a fully functional network core designed to keep a small professional office online through power cuts, ISP hiccups, and future growth. Continue reading...
watch Command in Linux: Real-Time Monitoring with Examples
The watch command runs any Linux command repeatedly at a set interval and displays the output full-screen, making it one of the quickest ways to monitor live system activity without writing a script. This guide covers all the key options with practical examples for real sysadmin use cases. Continue reading...
Linux Troubleshooting: These 4 Steps Will Fix 99% of Errors
I’ll admit, I hesitated a bit before writing this post. The whole point of this linuxblog.io and linuxcommunity.io forum is to bring together like-minded Linux users and professionals so we can troubleshoot, share ideas, and learn from one another. Continue reading...
Nginx tuning tips: HTTPS/TLS – Turbocharge TTFB/Latency
Nginx TLS tuning won't fix a slow application, but it does cut handshake overhead and improve connection reuse, which shaves milliseconds off every HTTPS request. Continue reading...
Linux tmpfs for Speed and Temporary Storage
tmpfs lets you mount a filesystem entirely in RAM. Here is how Linux already uses it, how to create your own mounts, and where it actually makes sense to use one. Continue reading...
From TECO to Neovim: 50 Years of Text Editing on Unix and Linux
Every so often, something surfaces in the LinuxCommunity.io forums that deserves a wider audience. Generally it is a question, a solved problem, or a quick tip. Continue reading...
Linux: Guide to useradd, usermod, and groupadd
A practical guide to Linux user and group management using useradd, usermod, userdel, groupadd, gpasswd, and chage. Covers real-world examples, common mistakes, service accounts, and safe account removal. Continue reading...
PHP-FPM tuning: Using ‘pm static’ for max performance
Let's take a quick look at how best to set up PHP-FPM for high throughput, low latency, and more stable CPU and memory use. By default, most setups have PHP-FPM's PM (process manager) string set to dynamic and there's also the common advice to use ondemand if you suffer from available memory issues. Continue reading...
Choosing the Perfect Network Firewall Device for under $300
Embarking on the quest to find the ideal home office, home lab or small business firewall device is akin to navigating a jungle, but let's narrow it down by setting the budget to under $300 USD. Continue reading...
Best Linux Distro (2026)
Looking for the best Linux distro (distribution) to enhance your desktop or laptop experience? This article will guide you to what, I believe, are the best Linux distros for beginner, experienced, and expert users. Continue reading...
Linux Network Bonding: Combine Network Interfaces
Two network interfaces are better than one. With Linux network bonding (also known as NIC bonding or link aggregation), you can combine multiple NICs into a single logical interface, gaining either increased throughput, failover redundancy, or both. Continue reading...