Linux Troubleshooting 101

By Dzhingarov

The first step in Linux troubleshooting is to understand the symptoms of a hang. While a hang may seem like an insignificant inconvenience, it is often an indication of a larger problem. To troubleshoot a hang, press CTRL+ALT+DEL to open a virtual console. From here, you can shut down and reboot your machine to determine what is causing the issue. Some common causes of hangs include hardware compatibility issues and lack of RAM.

Documentation is key

Documentation is key to Linux troubleshoot! Writing down your steps, symptoms, and theory will save you a lot of time when you encounter similar problems. You can also refer to these notes the next time you face the same issue. Documentation will also help you identify and narrow down the possibilities.

Network troubleshooting

If you’re experiencing network issues on Linux, you might consider using a network troubleshooting tool. The ethtool utility can help you pinpoint the cause of the problem. For instance, it can tell you whether your interface is running at the wrong speed, a possible sign of a hardware or cabling issue. Using ethtool will also help you identify the cause of any network negotiation misconfiguration.

A bandwidth tester is a program that tests a user’s internet connection, often through a third-party website. It can be used to confirm if a user is reporting a slow connection or slow download speed. Another tool for troubleshooting networks is nmap, which scans the entire network for open ports. Nmap is useful for troubleshooting Linux network problems, and can also monitor remote network connections. Another useful tool is route, which allows you to manually update your routing table. This can help you troubleshoot static routing problems.

Linux networks are composed of many devices connected by network media. The Linux Operating System is a component of many computer networks, both small and large. It is used for multitasking and multiuser systems, and for networking troubleshooting, and many networking commands are available in the Linux kernel.

Application software troubleshooting

Linux is a stable operating system, but there are times when application software won’t run properly. To solve the problem, you need to understand how to force-close the application. Sometimes, the software might be corrupted or rogue, which will affect the system in a negative way.

Fortunately, there are tools available to help you. Command line tools are the most effective, and can help you pinpoint the cause of your application’s failure. Using these tools will give you a peek inside your Linux system and narrow down the possibilities. You can also use a GUI to troubleshoot an application that won’t run. The troubleshooting process can be lengthy, but it is a valuable exercise.

The first thing to try is to see if the process hangs or freezes. This is often a symptom of a bigger problem. Trying to restart the computer with the help of a live CD may work temporarily, but it will require more time. Alternatively, you may try to trade hardware between machines to see if this fixes the problem.

Memory issues

If you are experiencing memory issues on your Linux system, the first step is to diagnose the problem. This can be done by using the free -m command. This command will show you how much memory is available on your system. Once you have identified the memory issue, you can start troubleshooting it.

While memory errors are very rare, they can occur on a system. Memory errors can be caused by a few factors. A faulty memory module is one of them. A bad power supply or high temperatures in the system could be another culprit. If you are experiencing these problems, it is a good idea to check for a power supply problem before moving on to memory issues.

Another factor to consider when troubleshooting memory issues is OOM (Out of Memory). OOM errors occur when the Linux kernel does not have enough memory to run all of the user-space processes. As a result, at least one process will exit without warning. Out-of-memory errors can be tricky to diagnose without a comprehensive memory monitoring solution.