Step 1: Check Disk Space Usage

Start by identifying which directories or files are consuming the most space. Use the following command to see an overview of disk usage:

df -h

This shows all mounted filesystems and their usage in a human-readable format. To pinpoint the problematic directories, use:

du -sh /* 2>/dev/null

Step 2: Clear Log Files

Log files in /var/log can grow significantly. Navigate to the log directory and identify large files:

Clear unnecessary log files or truncate large ones:

sudo truncate -s 0 /var/log/<logfile_name>

Step 3: Remove Unused Packages

Unused packages and their dependencies can occupy valuable space. Clean up your package manager:

For systems using apt:

For systems using dnf or yum:

Step 4: Delete Temporary Files

Temporary files can accumulate over time in /tmp and /var/tmp. Safely delete them using:

Step 5: Check and Remove Old Backups

If you have old backups stored locally, they could be taking up significant space. Locate backup files in common directories like /home, /backup, or /root:

find / -type f -name “*.bak” -o -name “*.old”

Carefully delete unnecessary backups:

sudo rm /path/to/backup