Linux System Optimization: 5 Essential Tips for Beginners

The article introduces five practical tips for Linux system optimization, covering basic maintenance, performance improvement, and security hardening. Tip 1: Regularly update the system (use `apt update/upgrade` for Debian/Ubuntu, and `yum/dnf update` for CentOS/RHEL), and clean up caches (`apt clean` + `autoremove`) to ensure security and performance. Tip 2: Reduce resource usage by disabling redundant services (`systemctl disable`) and adjusting the kernel parameter `vm.swappiness=10` to avoid excessive memory swapping. Tip 3: Optimize the file system by checking disk health (`fsck`), and modify `fstab` to add `noatime` to disable file access time recording and improve read/write speed. Tip 4: Enhance command-line efficiency by using `htop` instead of `top`, and set aliases in `~/.bashrc` (e.g., `alias ll='ls -l'`). Tip 5: Perform basic security hardening by enabling the UFW firewall (allowing SSH ports) and modifying `sshd_config` to disable `PermitRootLogin` to prevent attacks. These operations can improve system fluency and security, suitable for beginners to solidify basic knowledge. Advanced optimizations such as kernel parameters can be explored subsequently.

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Beginner's Guide: Linux Disk Space Cleaning Tips

When the disk space on a Linux server is insufficient, you can resolve it by following these steps: First, execute `df -h` to check partition usage, focusing on the root directory or system directories like `/var`. Next, use `du -sh` to locate large directories (e.g., `/var/cache`), and `find / -type f -size +100M 2>/dev/null` to search for large files. For targeted cleanup: Logs in `/var/log` can be rotated using logrotate or old compressed packages deleted; temporary cache files in `/tmp` and `/var/tmp` can be cleared after running `sync`, or system cache can be released by `echo 3 > /proc/sys/vm/drop_caches`; uninstall unnecessary software packages (via `yum` or `apt`); and large files in user directories (e.g., under `/home`) can be directly deleted. **Note**: Do not delete system-critical files. Confirm no programs are using files before deletion, and follow the procedures for safe and efficient operation.

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