2025 Guide: Top 10 RHCSA Commands for Linux Newbies

Are you preparing for the RHCSA exam or just starting your journey as a Linux system administrator? Here are the Top 10 must-know RHCSA commands every beginner should master — with clear examples and practical use cases.

---

🧑‍💻 1. sudo – Run Commands as Root

Use: Allows a regular user to perform administrative tasks.

sudo yum update

✅ Tip: Use sudo carefully. It's powerful and can change system-wide settings.

---

🗂 2. cd – Change Directory

Use: Navigate the Linux file system.

cd /etc

📌 Shortcut: cd ~ takes you to the home directory.

---

📄 3. ls – List Files and Directories

Use: See files, permissions, and directory contents.

ls -l /home ls -la

✅ Pro Tip: Use ls -lh to view sizes in human-readable format (KB, MB).

---

📋 4. cp – Copy Files and Folders

Use: Copy files from one place to another.

cp file.txt /tmp/

🧠 Note: Use cp -r for copying directories.

---

🗑 5. rm – Remove Files or Directories

Use: Delete unwanted files or folders.

rm filename.txt rm -r foldername/

⚠ Warning: No recycle bin! Use with care.

---

🔄 6. mv – Move or Rename Files

Use: Move or rename files/directories.

mv oldname.txt newname.txt

📦 Move files to another directory:

mv file.txt /home/user/Documents/

---

🛠 7. chmod – Change File Permissions

Use: Modify who can read/write/execute files.

chmod +x script.sh

🔐 Example: chmod 755 myscript.sh = owner can read/write/execute, others can read/execute.

---

👤 8. useradd / passwd – Create a New User

Use: Manage user accounts.

sudo useradd john sudo passwd john

✅ Important for RHCSA exam and real-world sysadmin tasks.

---

📂 9. tar – Archive and Compress Files

Use: Create/extract .tar or .tar.gz files.

tar -czvf backup.tar.gz /home/user/

🔁 Extract:

tar -xzvf backup.tar.gz

---

📈 10. systemctl – Manage System Services

Use: Start, stop, enable, or check services (systemd).

sudo systemctl start sshd sudo systemctl enable firewalld sudo systemctl status httpd

💡 Bonus: Always check service status if something isn’t working!

---

📌 Bonus Tip: Practice in a Virtual Lab

You can use free tools like:

VirtualBox + CentOS/RedHat

Linux Academy Playground (now part of A Cloud Guru)

Katacoda (Limited)

---

✅ Final Words

Mastering these 10 RHCSA commands will give you a solid foundation in Linux system administration and increase your confidence for the RHCSA exam in 2025.

---

📣 Share Your Thoughts

Which command was new for you? Are you preparing for RHCSA this year? 💬 Comment below or share this blog with your friends!

---

🔁 Stay Connected

Follow us on:

🌐 LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sana-mujawar-b21a452a8

📺 YouTube Shorts (Linux Tips)