---
title: "Using your operating system's command line console"
description: "Learn how to use your operating system's (Windows, Mac OS, Linux, etc.) command line console to diagnose issues with your server."
source: "https://nodecraft.com/support/knowledgebase/advanced/using-your-operating-systems-command-line-console"
image: "https://dynamic-assets.nodecraft.com/signedurl/w7vokBAexMnVlnMZ1Q/image.jpg?modifications=W3sibmFtZSI6ImdhbWVfYmciLCJpbWFnZV91cmwiOiJodHRwczovL2Ntcy1hLm5vZGVjcmFmdC5jb20vZi8xMzM5MzIvMjAwMHg1NTAvZGNiMGFkNjkzOC9jYXZlcy1hbmQtY2xpZmZzLXB0LTItMS0yLTAucG5nL20vIn0seyJuYW1lIjoiZ2FtZV9sb2dvIiwiaW1hZ2VfdXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly9jbXMtYS5ub2RlY3JhZnQuY29tL2YvMTMzOTMyLzM3NXgxNTAvM2MxZGIyYmFiNS9taW5lY3JhZnQucG5nL20vIn0seyJuYW1lIjoiY3RhX3RleHQiLCJ0ZXh0IjoiQ3JlYXRlIHlvdXIgb3duIHNlcnZlciEifSx7Im5hbWUiOiJ0ZXh0IiwidGV4dCI6IlVzaW5nIHlvdXIgb3BlcmF0aW5nIHN5c3RlbSdzIGNvbW1hbmQgbGluZSBjb25zb2xlIn1d&s=c8d33b0d1889b615b7a78109bdfb3b26f8f2b70b9b518f38e76ba5bac905ca0d"
published: "2017-07-10T16:30:39.362Z"
updated: "2017-12-06T17:40:00.000Z"
---

# Using your operating system's command line console

Learn how to use your operating system's (Windows, Mac OS, Linux, etc.) command line console to diagnose issues with your server.

Often used to help debug, a console is a user interface to send direct commands to your operating system. Similar to the commands you may send when using a server's console, these commands are used to manage files or perform operations on your computer, such as performing a Ping Test or a Traceroute.

#### Windows

To open the command prompt in windows you need to press the Windows Key + R. This will open the Run Dialog. Type "cmd" into this input and click "OK". See the screenshot below for reference:
![Windows Command Prompt](https://s3-assets.nodecraft.com/attachments/UpGX1wwhS2O5nELNlFd5_PKjujMfRYCf2p5unniGy_cmd.png)

#### Mac

To open the command prompt on Mac you first need to open Finder. Next open Applications > Utilities and you'll find the Terminal.
![Mac Terminal](https://s3-assets.nodecraft.com/attachments/kUXbyIheQOWIcv1kZNqS_hb3ydR6IUvjRJSTi-cmd-mac-small.png)

#### Linux

As there are many different flavours of Linux, it's best to use the search function to look for the Terminal.