What are common pitfalls with ss command?

The ss command is a powerful utility for examining socket connections in Linux. However, users may encounter several common pitfalls while using it. Below are some of these issues along with tips to avoid them:

  • Misinterpreting TCP States: Users often misinterpret the various TCP states displayed, leading to incorrect assumptions about connection statuses. Make sure to familiarize yourself with these states.
  • Filtering Options: Forgetting to use filtering options can result in overwhelming outputs. Always specify if you're interested in TCP, UDP, or all protocols.
  • Missing Permissions: Running ss without appropriate permissions may exclude certain socket information. Use sudo to access all sockets.
  • Not Using Protocol Specific Commands: The command is highly customizable. Not utilizing options such as -t for TCP or -u for UDP can lead to an incomplete picture of socket states.

ss command Linux sockets TCP state socket filtering Linux networking