Checking Your Network Basics – The Warrior’s Digital Map

Ah, young warrior! 🥷

Before launching an attack (or fixing your Wi-Fi 😅), you must first know your own network. A skilled Linux ninja never walks into battle blind – they scan, analyze, and understand the digital terrain.

Today, we train in network reconnaissance – the art of knowing where you stand before moving forward! 🎯

Finding Your Own IP – Who Am I?

Every warrior must know their identity in the digital world. To see your IP address, use:

Command	What It Does
ip a	📜 Shows all IP addresses
hostname -I	🎯 Shows your local IP only
curl ifconfig.me	🌍 Shows your public IP (requires internet)

💡 Example:

ip a  # Displays all network interfaces
hostname -I  # Only shows your local IP

Now you know where you are in the network dojo! 🏯

Checking Your Network Interfaces – The Hidden Paths

Every device has interfaces – different ways to connect to the digital world. Check them using:

Command	What It Does
ip link show	🔗 Shows all network interfaces
ifconfig	🖥 Displays interface details (Old-school)
iwconfig	📡 Shows Wi-Fi details

💡 Example:

ip link show  # Shows Ethernet, Wi-Fi, and virtual interfaces
iwconfig  # Checks Wi-Fi details (SSID, signal strength)

This is how you know your weapons before battle! ⚔

Checking Open Connections – Who’s Talking to Me?

Want to see who’s connected to your machine? These commands reveal the hidden connections:

Command	What It Does
netstat -tulnp	📡 Lists open ports & connections
ss -tulnp	🚀 Faster, modern version of netstat
lsof -i	🧐 Shows which programs are using the network

💡 Example:

netstat -tulnp  # Lists active ports
ss -tulnp  # Faster version
lsof -i  # Shows which program is using which port

If you find suspicious connections, a hacker may already be inside your system! 😱

Checking Your Gateway & DNS – The Master’s Secrets

A ninja must know who they depend on. Find out your router (gateway) & DNS servers:

Command	What It Does
ip route show	🛤 Shows default gateway (router)
nmcli dev show	grep 'DNS'`

🌍 Finds your DNS servers

💡 Example:

ip route show  # Shows your default gateway (router IP)
nmcli dev show | grep 'DNS'  # Finds your DNS servers

Knowing these helps you troubleshoot internet issues like a pro! 🏆