Du Command
Linux Disk Usage Analysis with `du`
The du command (disk usage) is a fundamental Linux utility used to estimate file space usage. It recursively displays the disk space used by files and directories. Understanding disk usage is crucial for system administration, performance optimization, and managing storage effectively. This section focuses on practical applications of the du command to identify large directories and manage disk space.
Finding Largest Directories
One of the most common uses of the du command is to find out which directories are consuming the most disk space. This can help in identifying unnecessary files or large application data that might need to be cleaned up. The following command provides a sorted list of the largest directories on the root filesystem.
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
du -x / \| sort -k1n \| tail -70 |
Show largest directories on the root filesystem, sorted by size. The -x option prevents du from crossing filesystem boundaries, ensuring results are confined to the root filesystem. sort -k1n sorts numerically by the first column (size), and tail -70 displays the top 70 largest entries. |
Understanding Disk Space
Efficiently managing disk space requires regular monitoring. The du command, combined with other shell utilities like sort and tail, offers powerful ways to analyze disk usage patterns. By understanding which directories are growing, administrators can proactively address potential storage issues before they impact system performance.