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ZDNET Highlights
- Some Linux commands are no longer in use.
- These commands may still be available, but it is best to avoid them.
- There is a new replacement for each of these commands.
Over the decades I’ve been using Linux, I’ve seen distributions and apps come and go. This should not surprise anyone.
However, I also experienced that commands come and go, which can feel a little strange at first. However, when you understand why some commands become obsolete, it makes sense.
Also: My 5 Favorite Distros of Linux in the Past – and Why I’m Still Thinking About Them
The command has been rejected for the following reasons:
- security vulnerabilities
- lack of ongoing maintenance
- Availability of new, more feature-rich options
Sure, you may have used Command
There are always reasons.
Too: 7 Linux commands I can’t live without after living in the terminal for 20 years
What are the orders that have been declined? let’s take a look.
ifconfig (use ip instead)
Of all the obsolete commands, this is probably the most important. During my early years of using Linux, ifconfig was an absolute essential. With this command, you can not only collect information about network connections (such as network device name, IP address, gateway, and more), but you can also configure networking.
The reason ifconfig went away was because the net-tools app became obsolete. Because ifconfig was a part of net-tools, it also went bye-bye.
Too: I’m a command-line pro and thanks to the AI, this is the best terminal app I’ve ever used
In place of ifconfig is the ip command, which can do everything that ifconfig can do.
Keep in mind that ifconfig is probably still on your Linux distribution. I would not recommend using it, as it is no longer under development.
iwconfig (use iw instead)
The iwconfig command is the same for wireless connections as ifconfig is for wired ones. Iwconfig was removed because the Wireless Extensions (WXT) kernel interface it required became outdated and limited. WXT was replaced by the nl80211 interface, thus making the iw command the new standard.
iw command provides better support for modern wireless technologies, including Wi-Fi 6.
scp (use rsync instead)
The scp command was used to securely copy files from one machine to another via the SSH protocol. However, the scp command was removed because it is outdated, has not been updated for some time, and due to security vulnerabilities.
Most modern Linux distributions have switched to the more secure SFTP protocol, but the Linux version you’re using probably still includes SSL. I will no longer use scp, mainly because of the security issues it causes. Apart from SFTP, you can also use rsync to transfer files.
egrep/fgrep (use grep instead)
grep command is very useful. In fact, I would call grep a must-know command. At one point, egrep and fgrep were created to extend grep’s feature set. Egrep added extended regex, and fgrep worked on fixed strings.
Also: 5 Linux commands you need to know to quickly find system information
Some people considered those orders necessary; However, both of those functionalities were eventually added to grep, making them redundant. Because of that, neither egrep nor fgrep are maintained, so don’t use them.
netstat (use ss instead)
The netstat command was used to display active network connections, routing tables, and interface statistics.
This command was made obsolete because the net-tools package was no longer actively maintained. Ultimately, netstat was replaced by the iproute2 suite of tools, which are more efficient, provide better integration with the Linux kernel, and provide more detail than netstat.
Netstat has been replaced by the ss command, which is faster than netstat and provides more detailed information.
Route (use IP instead)
The route command was used to view or manipulate the IP routing table. Root was another victim of the net-tools loss. The bigger issue with Root was that it had limited functionality, poor handling of IPv6/complex setup, and security issues.
In place of root we have the ip route command.
ARP (use IP neighbor instead)
The arp command was used to manage the address resolution protocol cache. Guess why ARP went away? If you guessed net-tools, you are correct.
The replacement for Route is IP Neighbor (or just IP Neighbor), which is better than ARP because it is more efficient, integrated, and robust. This command also provides more advanced features, such as Neighbor Unreachability Detection, which detects failures faster.
Also: Two tricks that make using the Linux command line much easier
You may still find these commands on your Linux distribution. If you do this, make sure you check to see if replacements are available. If you find a replacement that isn’t on your system, make sure to install it and start using the new option.
