Using Basic SSH Commands in Google Cloud's Browser‐Based SSH for VM Instances

Introduction

In this guide, we will explore basic SSH commands that can be used in the browser-based SSH terminal for your Google Compute Engine VM instances. SSH (Secure Shell) allows you to remotely access and manage your virtual machines.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, make sure you have:

• Created a VM instance in Google Compute Engine as described in a previous guide.

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Accessing the VM via SSH in Browser

• Open a web browser and navigate to the Google Cloud Console.
• Sign in with your Google Cloud account credentials.
• Locate and select your VM instance from the VM instances list.
• Click the "SSH" button next to your VM instance to open the browser-based SSH terminal.

2. Using Basic SSH Commands

a. List Files and Directories (ls)

• To list files and directories in the current directory, simply use the ls command:

b. Check Disk Space Usage (df)

• To check disk space usage on your VM, use the df command:

c. Check Free Memory (free -g)

• To check available memory on your VM, use the free -g command:

d. Monitor System Processes (top)

• To monitor running processes and system resource usage, use the top command:

e. Update Package Lists (sudo apt update)

• To update the package lists for software updates, use the sudo apt update command:

f. Upgrade Installed Packages (sudo apt upgrade)

• To upgrade installed packages to their latest versions, use the sudo apt upgrade command:

g. Switch to Superuser (sudo su)

• To switch to the superuser (root) for administrative tasks, use the sudo su command:

h. Add a New User (adduser)

• To add a new user to your system, use the adduser command. Replace newuser with the desired username:

3. Exiting SSH

• To exit the SSH session, simply type exit and press Enter.

Conclusion

Using these basic SSH commands in the browser-based SSH terminal for your VM instance allows you to perform various system administration tasks and manage your virtual machine effectively.