What is the first command to try when devices are missing?

When troubleshooting missing devices in a Linux environment, the first command to use is lsblk. This command provides a clear and concise overview of all the block devices currently recognized by the system, such as hard drives, partitions, and USB drives. By issuing lsblk, a user can quickly visualize the hierarchy and status of these devices, including their mount points and sizes.

This information is crucial when devices are reported as missing because it allows you to confirm whether the operating system detects the device at all. If the device appears in the output of lsblk, but is not functioning properly or not mounted, further investigation can be conducted. Conversely, if the device is absent from the lsblk output, it may indicate a hardware failure or connection issue.

Other commands like fdisk, blkid, and df -h serve different purposes and are useful in specific situations. fdisk is often used for partition management, blkid identifies block devices and can show their filesystem types and labels, while df -h provides information about disk space usage on mounted filesystems. However, these do not provide an immediate view of all available devices, making lsblk the most appropriate first step when addressing