How to use the SSH df command
Learning how to use the SSH df command is one of the most useful Linux skills for anyone managing a server. The df command shows how much disk space is used and available on your file systems, so you can spot a full disk before it causes problems. In this article, we will show you how to use the SSH df command with clear, practical examples.
How to use the SSH df command
In short, df (disk free) reports disk usage for every mounted file system. To get started, connect to your account over SSH, then run the examples below to check your available space.
Basic df usage
First, run the command on its own to list all file systems and their usage in blocks:
dfShow sizes in a human-readable format
Next, add the -h flag to display sizes in KB, MB, and GB instead of raw blocks. This is the option most people use every day:
df -hCheck a specific file system
Additionally, you can point df at a single path to see usage for just that mount:
df -h /home
df -h .Display inode usage
Finally, use the -i flag to show inodes instead of space. This is useful when a disk reports free space but still refuses new files, because it has run out of inodes:
df -iYou can also add the -T flag to show each file system’s type, for example df -hT, which helps when a server has several kinds of storage. Because these commands only read information, they are completely safe to run at any time, making df a quick first step when you troubleshoot storage issues.
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