VPS SSH Commands Cheat Sheet (Linux + Docker + n8n)

VPS SSH Commands Cheat Sheet

Linux VPS (Ubuntu Server) + Docker + n8n + Backups + OS Updates

1. Navigation & File Management

Command	Description
`pwd`	Show current directory (where you are).
`ls -l`	List files with details (permissions, size, dates).
`ls -la`	List all files including hidden ones.
`cd /path`	Change to directory `/path`.
`cd ..`	Go up one directory level.
`mkdir folder`	Create a new folder named `folder`.
`rm file`	Delete file `file`.
`rm -rf folder`	Delete folder `folder` and all contents (dangerous).
`cp file1 file2`	Copy `file1` to `file2`.
`cp -r src dst`	Copy folder `src` recursively to `dst`.
`mv old new`	Move or rename `old` to `new`.

2. System Monitoring

Command	Description
`top`	Live process monitor (CPU, RAM, processes).
`htop`	Improved process monitor (if installed).
`free -h`	Show RAM usage in human-readable format.
`df -h`	Show disk usage for all mounted filesystems.
`du -sh /path`	Show total size of folder `/path`.
`uptime`	Show system uptime and load averages.
`who`	Show logged-in users.

3. Service Management (systemd)

Command	Description
`systemctl status service`	Show status of a service (e.g. `nginx`, `docker`).
`systemctl restart service`	Restart a service.
`systemctl stop service`	Stop a service.
`systemctl start service`	Start a service.
`journalctl -u service -f`	Follow live logs for a service.

4. Docker Core Commands

Command	Description
`docker ps`	List running containers.
`docker ps -a`	List all containers (including stopped).
`docker logs container -f`	Follow logs of a container (replace `container` with name/ID).
`docker restart container`	Restart a container.
`docker stop container`	Stop a container.
`docker rm container`	Remove a stopped container.
`docker images`	List Docker images.
`docker rmi image`	Remove an image.

5. Docker & n8n Update Commands

Assuming you run n8n via Docker Compose.

Command	Description
`docker pull n8nio/n8n`	Download the latest n8n image.
`docker compose down`	Stop the n8n stack (from the folder with `docker-compose.yml`).
`docker compose up -d`	Start the n8n stack in the background with the new image.
`docker pull image`	Update any Docker image (replace `image` with name).
`docker system prune -a`	Remove unused containers, networks, and images (careful).

Safe pattern: backup n8n data → pull new image → docker compose down → docker compose up -d.

6. OS Update Commands (Ubuntu Server)

Command	Description
`apt update`	Refresh package list from repositories.
`apt upgrade -y`	Install available package updates.
`apt dist-upgrade -y`	Perform a more complete upgrade (may change dependencies).
`apt autoremove -y`	Remove unused packages and dependencies.
`reboot`	Reboot the VPS (often needed after kernel updates).
`uname -r`	Show current kernel version.

Best practice: take a VPS snapshot in your provider panel before running major OS upgrades.

7. Backup Commands (Files & Folders)

Command	Description
`cp -r /source /backup/`	Copy folder `/source` recursively to `/backup/`.
`tar -czvf backup.tar.gz /folder`	Create a compressed backup archive of `/folder`.
`tar -xzvf backup.tar.gz`	Extract a compressed backup archive.
`rsync -av /source /destination`	Sync `/source` to `/destination` (great for backups).

Tip: use /backup or another dedicated folder for storing backup archives.

8. n8n Backup Commands

Protect workflows, credentials, and executions. Adjust paths to your actual n8n data directory.

Command	Description
`cp -r ~/.n8n /root/n8n-backup/`	Backup n8n data folder to `/root/n8n-backup/` (or another safe location).
`tar -czvf n8n-backup.tar.gz ~/.n8n`	Create a compressed backup of the n8n data folder.
`docker exec n8n n8n export:workflow --all`	Export all n8n workflows from inside the `n8n` container.
`docker exec n8n n8n export:credentials --all`	Export all n8n credentials from inside the `n8n` container.

Pattern: before updating n8n or Docker, backup the n8n data folder and optionally export workflows/credentials.

9. Database Backup Commands

Only needed if you use an external database (PostgreSQL/MySQL) for n8n or other apps.

Command	Description
`pg_dump dbname > backup.sql`	Backup a PostgreSQL database named `dbname` to `backup.sql`.
`mysqldump -u root -p dbname > backup.sql`	Backup a MySQL database named `dbname` (will prompt for password).
`gzip backup.sql`	Compress the SQL backup file.

10. Network & Connectivity

Command	Description
`ping google.com`	Test basic network connectivity.
`curl ifconfig.me`	Show the server’s public IP address.
`ss -tulpn`	Show listening ports and associated processes.
`ufw status`	Show UFW firewall status and rules.
`ufw allow 443`	Allow incoming traffic on port 443 (HTTPS).

11. Safe Update & Backup Workflow

Before OS Updates (Ubuntu)

Take a VPS snapshot in your hosting panel.
SSH into the server.
Run apt update.
Run apt upgrade -y.
If kernel or core packages updated, run reboot.

Before n8n / Docker Updates

Backup n8n data:
cp -r ~/.n8n /root/n8n-backup/
or
tar -czvf n8n-backup.tar.gz ~/.n8n
Optionally export workflows and credentials:
docker exec n8n n8n export:workflow --all
docker exec n8n n8n export:credentials --all
Update image:
docker pull n8nio/n8n
Restart stack:
docker compose down
docker compose up -d

Rule of thumb: snapshot before big OS changes; folder/file backups before app/container changes.