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To administer Ubuntu Linux, use sudo for temporary privilege elevation, APT for package maintenance, systemd for services, and the networking tools appropriate to your installation. This guide focuses on recurring tasks on a currently supported Ubuntu Server LTS installation; Ubuntu’s official Server documentation targets the latest LTS and notes that some instructions vary on older releases. Ubuntu Desktop uses different networking management. Check your release with lsb_release -a before changing a system, and consult the instructions for that release when a command or configuration differs.
This is a foundation for day-to-day administration, not a guide to every server role. Databases, directory services, containers, virtualization, high availability, and advanced observability each require their own procedures.
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How do I add a user and give them sudo access on Ubuntu?
Use a normal account for everyday work and elevate only the commands that require administration. Ubuntu disables direct administrative root login by default; an authorized user runs sudo with their own password. Local users and groups are commonly managed with adduser. Accounts provided through LDAP, Active Directory, Samba, or another identity source need that system’s own account-management procedure.
Create a local user and grant administrative access
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Create the account:
sudo adduser sam. Replacesamwith the intended username and follow the prompts to set a password and optional user details.#1 Best Overall
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Add the account to Ubuntu’s administrative group:
sudo usermod -aG sudo sam. The-aGoptions append the group rather than replacing the user’s existing supplementary groups. -
Have the user start a new login session, then verify membership with
groups. Test authorization withsudo -v; it should prompt for that user’s password if needed and return without an error.
Do not edit /etc/passwd or related identity files by hand as a routine way to create accounts. Grant sudo only to people who need administrative authority, and remove access when it is no longer required.
How do I update Ubuntu from the terminal?
Package maintenance and an Ubuntu release upgrade are separate operations. Refreshing package lists checks which package versions are available; upgrading packages installs updates for the current release. Moving to a new Ubuntu release is a distinct process and should be planned for the machine’s workload and target release.
Refresh package information and install available updates
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Check which release you are administering with
lsb_release -a. -
Refresh the local package index:
sudo apt update. -
Review and install available package updates:
sudo apt upgrade. Read APT’s proposed changes before confirming, especially on a production system. -
Restart services or the machine if an update requires it, following the relevant package or service guidance. Schedule production updates for a suitable maintenance window and test them where practical.
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To install or remove a package, use sudo apt install package-name or sudo apt remove package-name. Substitute the actual package name. APT may show dependent packages or other changes for review before proceeding.
Understand automatic updates and release upgrades
Ubuntu’s documentation describes unattended-upgrades as installed by default, with security updates enabled and daily runs in the documented default setup. That is not a guarantee that every machine has identical configuration or behavior. Review the system’s settings in /etc/apt/apt.conf.d/20auto-upgrades and /etc/apt/apt.conf.d/50unattended-upgrades, and check logs under /var/log/unattended-upgrades/ when investigating its activity. Configuration and behavior can vary by release.
For a release upgrade, first check the release-specific Ubuntu instructions and confirm compatibility of applications, repositories, and operational plans. Do not treat apt upgrade as a release upgrade or schedule release changes as if they were routine package updates.
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How do I check and restart a service in Ubuntu?
Ubuntu commonly uses systemd to manage services. Substitute the actual unit name for service-name; package documentation is the best place to confirm it.
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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorssystemctl status service-nameshows whether the service is active and recent status information.sudo systemctl restart service-namerestarts a running service after a change or to recover from a fault.sudo systemctl start service-namestarts a stopped service.sudo systemctl stop service-namestops a service.sudo systemctl enable service-nameconfigures a service to start at boot; it does not necessarily start it immediately.sudo systemctl disable service-nameremoves that boot-start setting; it does not necessarily stop a currently running service.
Before restarting a production service, consider who depends on it and whether the restart interrupts active work. If it fails, inspect the status output and logs with sudo journalctl -u service-name. Add --since "1 hour ago" to narrow the log window.
Change service configuration safely
Use the configuration method documented for the specific package. Package-managed files can be changed by package updates, so direct edits may be overwritten or prompt a decision during an upgrade. For systemd unit customization, a drop-in override is often preferable to editing the vendor unit:
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Open the override editor:
sudo systemctl edit service-name. -
Add only the supported settings for that service. The appropriate directives depend on the application and its unit.
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Save the override and apply it with
sudo systemctl daemon-reload, then restart the service if the change requires it. -
Verify the result with
systemctl status service-nameand, if needed,sudo journalctl -u service-name.
How do I configure networking on Ubuntu Server?
First identify whether you are administering Ubuntu Server or Desktop and which tool owns the network configuration. Ubuntu Server uses Netplan as a high-level YAML configuration abstraction; the renderer and setup beneath it matter. Ubuntu Desktop networking is driven by NetworkManager, so Server Netplan instructions should not be applied blindly to Desktop.
Inspect interfaces, routes, and DNS
ip -br addresslists interfaces and their addresses in a compact format.ip routeshows the routing table, including the default route when configured.resolvectl statusdisplays DNS configuration and resolver status on systems using systemd-resolved.
For time synchronization on the Server setup described in Ubuntu’s networking documentation, Chrony is the default service; timedatectl and timesyncd are alternatives. Check the release-specific guidance before changing time services.
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Netplan configuration is typically stored in YAML files under /etc/netplan/. Read the existing files and establish which renderer and network settings are in use before editing. A mistake to an address, route, or remote-access interface can disconnect your session.
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Back up the relevant configuration file and ensure you have a practical recovery route, such as local console access or a provider’s recovery console.
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Edit the applicable Netplan YAML file using the settings required for your network. The correct interface name, renderer, address, gateway, and DNS values depend on the machine and network; do not copy a generic static-address example without adapting it.
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Where supported by the installed Netplan version, use
sudo netplan tryto test the configuration with a timed confirmation. If the connection is lost or the change is wrong, do not confirm it; use the available console or recovery access.The Tool Desk
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After applying or confirming a change, verify the address, route, and DNS again with
ip -br address,ip route, andresolvectl status, then test the required connectivity.
On Ubuntu Desktop, use NetworkManager’s controls for its connection rather than assuming the Server configuration path applies. Desktop networking has a different hook mechanism.
How should I secure an Ubuntu system?
Security is a set of layers, not a universal command sequence. Keep software current, limit privileged access, expose only required services, secure remote administration, and understand the protections already in place.
- Limit privilege: use individual accounts and grant sudo only where required. Avoid sharing administrative credentials.
- Maintain packages: choose a package-update process appropriate to the system’s release and availability requirements, and monitor whether updates are being applied.
- Use a firewall that matches the workload: allow only intended services and account for where the machine is exposed. A safe rule set for one server may block a required service on another.
- Secure remote access: use SSH for secure remote administration and review the relevant Ubuntu SSH guidance for authentication and access controls appropriate to your environment.
- Keep AppArmor in view: Ubuntu uses AppArmor to limit software access. Investigate its status and related logs when an application encounters an access problem rather than disabling protections without understanding the cause.
Firewall rules, advanced authentication, certificate management, VPNs, and centrally managed accounts depend on the services and environment involved. Use dedicated, release-appropriate instructions for those configurations instead of applying a blanket hardening recipe.
How do I back up an Ubuntu server?
A backup plan specifies what data is protected, how often copies are made, where they are stored, and how restoration will work. Important backup media should have an off-site copy. A removable hard drive is one possible physical destination, but a local drive alone does not provide off-site protection.
Choose an approach that fits the system
Ubuntu’s backup guidance names Bacula for multi-system network backups and rsnapshot for periodic local or remote snapshots over SSH on a single system. They are examples, not universal recommendations. Compare options against the number of systems, automation needs, encryption, incremental behavior, operating complexity, storage location, and restore procedure. Custom scripts can be appropriate for a narrow task, but they still need monitoring and a tested recovery plan.
Plan and test restoration
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List the data and configuration needed to restore the service, including any dependencies or application-specific state.
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Set a backup frequency that reflects how much recent data the service can afford to lose, and decide how long copies should be retained.
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Store copies in a location that remains useful if the server itself or its site is unavailable. Keep important media off-site.
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Perform a restore test in a safe environment and verify that the restored data can actually be used by the service. A completed backup job alone does not establish that recovery will succeed.
Ubuntu’s backup documentation, last updated 2026-01-20, discusses planning, off-site storage, and restoration. The suitable tool and schedule depend on the system being protected.
Where should I start when troubleshooting Ubuntu?
Start with the symptom and the component involved, then gather evidence before changing configuration. This keeps recovery work focused and helps distinguish an application problem from a package, service, network, or permission problem.
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Record the release and recent changes:
lsb_release -aand, where relevant, the package or configuration change that preceded the failure. -
For a service problem, run
systemctl status service-nameand inspect its recent logs withsudo journalctl -u service-name --since "1 hour ago". -
For an update problem, review the APT output and package-update logs; for unattended updates, inspect
/var/log/unattended-upgrades/. -
For a connectivity problem, inspect addresses, routes, and DNS using
ip -br address,ip route, andresolvectl status. On a remote system, preserve a recovery path before modifying network settings.Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy. -
For an access problem, check the account’s group membership and the exact command’s sudo or AppArmor-related error before changing permissions or disabling controls.
Make one controlled change at a time, verify the result, and keep a way to reverse configuration changes. Application-specific failures may require the package’s own documentation or logs beyond these general system checks.
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