alias, unalias

What it does

How to write it

alias [-p] [NAME[=VALUE] ...]
unalias [-a] NAME [NAME ...]

Most used

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$ run as a normal user# run as root (or with sudo)

1. 1List all aliases

   $alias
   alias l.='ls -d .* --color=auto'
   alias ll='ls -l --color=auto'
   alias ls='ls --color=auto'

   RHEL adds a few aliases for every user.

2. 2Make a short name

   $alias ports='ss -tulpn'
   $ports

   Works until you close the shell.

3. 3Keep the alias after logout

   $echo "alias ports='ss -tulpn'" >> ~/.bashrc
   $source ~/.bashrc

   source loads it now; new shells read ~/.bashrc by themselves.

4. 4Make a safer rm, cp and mv

   $alias rm='rm -i' cp='cp -i' mv='mv -i'

   -i asks before it removes or overwrites a file. root has these by default on RHEL.

5. 5Run the real command once, without the alias

   $\rm old.log

   A backslash (or command rm) skips the alias.

6. 6Remove an alias

   $unalias ports

   Only for this shell. Delete the line in ~/.bashrc to remove it for good.

7. 7Show what one alias does

   $alias ll
   alias ll='ls -l --color=auto'

   Good when a short name behaves in a strange way.

8. 8Give all admins the same shortcuts

   #cat > /etc/profile.d/ops-aliases.sh <<'EOF'
   alias jctl='journalctl -xe'
   alias fwl='firewall-cmd --list-all'
   EOF

   Every user gets these at the next login. Updates do not touch your file.

9. 9Shorten a long kubectl or podman command

   $alias k='kubectl'
   $alias pps='podman ps --format "table {{.Names}}\t{{.Status}}\t{{.Ports}}"'

   Typical DevOps shortcuts. Keep them in ~/.bashrc.

10. 10Check for a dangerous alias in a security review

    $alias | grep -E "sudo|ssh|su="

    An alias that changes sudo or ssh can steal passwords. There should be none.

11. 11Remove all aliases in this shell

    $unalias -a

    Useful to test a problem without any aliases.

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Files

~/.bashrc

Your own aliases (read by every new shell).

/etc/profile.d/*.sh

Aliases and settings for all users.

/etc/bashrc

System-wide settings for every shell (do not edit; use profile.d).