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Written 30 Aug 2026. This is a how-to, not a product card.

See how long a command took

After timeout, see how long a command took with time. You don't need extra software for this.

Stop a command after a few seconds gave a command a time limit. Tonight you time a command: time. Time runs a command, then prints how long it ran. You are still only practicing in home on the computer. It does not need extra system software, htop, Grafana, or a NAS for this one job.

Skip until SSH already works

SSH from the couch should already get you a prompt. If a time limit is what you want, that is stop a command after a few seconds. If the clock read is what you want, that is see what time the computer thinks it is. If re-run until you stop is what you want, that is see change without typing again.

What this is

time times a command. You type time, then the command. After it finishes, time prints real, user, and sys. Real is wall-clock. Start with time sleep 2. It is not date. Date reads the clock. It is not timeout. Timeout stops a command. Lid sleep is a different job: don't let the old laptop sleep.

Practice time in home

SSH in. Make sure home is where you sit:

pwd

You want a path that ends in your login name. If not:

cd ~

Time a two-second wait:

time sleep 2

You want the wait, then a short timing report. Real should be about two seconds. That is enough for tonight. Practice only in home.

Debian and Ubuntu shells already have time. Don't make apt the job.

Useful extras, still home only

Optional: a command that returns at once:

time true

Optional: time a listing:

time ls

Optional: POSIX format:

time -p sleep 2

Don't make -p required. You can stop at time sleep 2.

What this is not

This is not timeout. That is stop a command after a few seconds. It is not date. That is see what time the computer thinks it is. It is not watch. That is see change without typing again. It is not lid sleep. That is don't let the old laptop sleep. It is not what is busy. That is see what is keeping the computer busy. It is not opening SSH to the internet. That is keep the computer on the house network. Don't forward port 22.

What next

Need a time limit? Stop a command after a few seconds. Need the clock? See what time the computer thinks it is. Need a month grid? See the month on a calendar. Keep SSH on the house network: keep the computer on the house network. Don't forward port 22.

Skip

Sources

Debian: bash(1) (shell builtin time). Ubuntu: bash(1). Official pages only. For the login, see SSH from the couch. For a time limit, see stop a command after a few seconds.

Also on this topic

SSH from the couchType commands on the computer from your laptop, on the house network. Password login first. Don't open this to the internet. Stop a command after a few secondsAfter SSH works, stop a command after a few seconds with timeout so you don't wait forever. You don't need extra software for this. See change without typing againAfter SSH works, re-run a command with watch so you see change without typing again. You don't need a monitoring app for this. Set the clock to your houseAfter SSH works, set the clock to your house. You don't need extra software for this. See how long the computer has been awakeAfter SSH works, see how long the computer has been awake. You don't need extra software for this. Don't let the old laptop sleepClose the lid. The old laptop has to stay awake so SSH and Pi-hole keep working. A desktop can skip this note. See what is keeping the computer busyAfter SSH works, see what is keeping the computer busy. You don't need extra software for this. See what already runs on a scheduleAfter SSH works, see what already runs on a schedule. You don't need extra software for this. See file size, date, and permissionsAfter SSH works, see file size, date, and permissions with stat. You don't need extra software for this. Delete a file carefullyAfter SSH works, delete one file with rm -i. Ask first. Skip rm -rf. You don't need a NAS for this. See what time the computer thinks it isAfter SSH works, print the clock with date. You don't need extra software for this. See the month on a calendarAfter date, print this month as a grid with cal. You don't need extra software for this. Turn off password login once the key worksAfter the laptop key login is boring, tell SSH to stop accepting the password. The key is how you get in. A keyboard on the computer is the backup now. Keep the computer on the house networkSSH and Pi-hole belong on the house network. Skip this if you never opened the router settings. Don't forward port 22.