Last updated 14 July 2026 · reviewed for accuracy

The CLI toolkit

Five commands solve most connectivity tickets: ping (is it alive?), traceroute (where does the path break?), dig (does the name resolve?), ip (what am I configured as?), and netstat (what’s talking?). Each gets a lesson-sized workout with real output to read.

These are also the commands interviewers reach for. Being fluent (not just aware) is a cheap, visible edge.