Monitoring disk usage is important for maintaining the performance, stability and security of any Linux server. Whether you manage a VPS, dedicated server, or local machine, the du and df commands help you understand how storage is being used and prevent issues such as low disk space or unexpected interruptions.<\/p>\n
This guide explains how to use both commands, what their output means, and practical examples for real-world server management.<\/p>\n
Disk monitoring helps you avoid full storage issues that can crash applications, prevent database writes, <\/a>or stop services from running. Linux provides two powerful built-in utilities, \u2018df\u2019 and \u2018du\u2019, to gather accurate information about disk usage.<\/p>\n df (Disk Free)<\/strong><\/p>\n Displays the available and used disk space across all mounted file systems.<\/p>\n du (Disk Usage)<\/strong><\/p>\n Shows disk space<\/a> used by files and directories.<\/p>\n These commands complement each other; df gives a system-wide view, while du helps identify which directories consume the most space.<\/p>\n This displays all mounted file systems along with their total size, used space, available space, and usage percentage. It provides a quick system-wide overview to help you identify if any partition is running low on space.<\/li>\n The -h option converts the output into a human-readable format, showing sizes in MB, GB, or TB, making it easier to understand.<\/p>\n Example Output:<\/p>\n This helps you quickly assess disk usage on each mounted partition.<\/li>\n Inodes track files and directories. Even if <\/a>disk space is available, a server can stop working if it runs out of inodes. This command helps identify inode shortages before they cause service issues.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n This displays the total size of everything contained in the current directory, useful for quick space checks.<\/li>\n This shows the size of every file and subfolder, helping you identify which areas consume storage.<\/li>\n This command <\/a>sorts directory sizes in descending order and displays the top 20 largest. It is especially helpful when cleaning up a server that\u2019s running out of space.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n The df and du commands are essential tools for monitoring disk usage on Linux servers. While df gives an overview of total disk space, du helps identify which files and directories consume the most storage. Using these commands together guarantees better resource management and helps maintain server performance and reliability.<\/p>\n Want to manage email storage as well? Learn How to manage email disk usage in cPanel<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Monitoring disk usage is important for maintaining the performance, stability and security of any Linux server. Whether you manage a VPS, dedicated server, or local machine, the du and df…<\/p>\nWhat are the du and df Commands?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
How to Use the df (Disk Free) Command?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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\nRun the following command:<\/p>\ndf<\/pre>\n
\nRun:<\/p>\ndf -h<\/pre>\n
Filesystem\u00a0\u00a0 Size\u00a0 Used Avail Use% Mounted on\r\n\/dev\/sda1\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 50G\u00a0\u00a0 23G\u00a0\u00a0 25G\u00a0 48% \/<\/pre>\n
\nRun:<\/p>\ndf -i<\/pre>\n
How to Use the du (Disk Usage) Command?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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\nRun:<\/p>\ndu -sh \/path\/to\/directory<\/pre>\n
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\nThis helps you quickly see how much space a specific folder consumes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
\nNavigate into the directory and run:<\/p>\ndu -sh<\/pre>\n
\nRun:<\/p>\ndu -h \/path\/to\/directory<\/pre>\n
\nUse:<\/p>\ndu -h \/path\/to\/directory | sort -hr | head -20<\/pre>\n
Practical Examples<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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du -ah \/ | sort -rh | head -20<\/pre>\n<\/li>\n
du -sh \/var\/*<\/pre>\n<\/li>\n
du -sh \/home\/*<\/pre>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Tips for Monitoring Disk Usage<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Conclusion<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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