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How to Check File System Utilization in Linux?

Published in System Administration 3 mins read

You can check file system utilization in Linux using various commands and tools. Here are some common methods:

1. Using df command:

The df (disk free) command provides information about the amount of disk space used and available on mounted file systems.

Here's an example:

df -h

This command displays the following information in a human-readable format:

  • Filesystem: The name of the mounted file system.
  • 1K-blocks: The total number of 1K blocks available on the file system.
  • Used: The number of 1K blocks used.
  • Avail: The number of 1K blocks available.
  • Use%: The percentage of disk space used.
  • Mounted on: The directory where the file system is mounted.

2. Using du command:

The du (disk usage) command calculates the disk space used by files and directories.

For example, to check the disk usage of the current directory:

du -sh .

This command displays the total disk space used by the current directory and its subdirectories in human-readable format.

3. Using ncdu tool:

The ncdu (ncurses disk usage) tool is a powerful tool for visualizing disk usage. It provides an interactive interface to browse directories and identify files or directories that are consuming the most disk space.

You can install ncdu using your package manager:

sudo apt install ncdu  # for Debian/Ubuntu
sudo yum install ncdu  # for CentOS/RedHat

Once installed, you can run ncdu to start the interactive interface.

4. Using baobab tool:

The baobab tool is a graphical disk usage analyzer available in GNOME desktop environments. It provides a visual representation of disk usage, allowing you to identify large files and directories easily.

You can open baobab from your application menu or by running the following command:

baobab

5. Using Disk Usage Analyzer in File Manager:

Most file managers in Linux distributions provide a built-in disk usage analyzer. You can typically access this tool by right-clicking on a directory and selecting an option like "Properties" or "Disk Usage."

These tools provide a graphical representation of disk usage and allow you to drill down into individual directories to see their contents.

By using these methods, you can effectively check file system utilization in Linux and identify areas where disk space can be optimized.

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