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

See change without typing again

After SSH works, re-run a command with watch so you see change without typing again. You don't need a monitoring app for this.

Sometimes you want to see a folder grow without typing the command again. Tonight you re-run a command on a timer: watch. Watch re-runs a command until you stop. Start with a tiny folder in home. Press Ctrl+C to leave. You are still only practicing on the computer. It does not need a monitoring app, 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 folder size is what you want once, that is see how big one folder is. If what is busy is what you want, that is see what is keeping the computer busy.

What this is

watch re-runs a command. You type watch -n 2 du -sh ~/watch-me. -n 2 means every two seconds. The screen refreshes. Ctrl+C leaves. It is not timeout. Timeout stops after a few seconds. It is not a monitoring stack. Tonight: one command in home.

Watch a practice folder 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 ~

Make a tiny folder:

mkdir -p ~/watch-me

echo hello > ~/watch-me/hi.txt

Watch its size every two seconds:

watch -n 2 du -sh ~/watch-me

The screen should refresh. Leave with Ctrl+C. That is enough for tonight. Practice only in home.

Debian and Ubuntu usually already have watch. Don't make apt the job. If watch is missing:

sudo apt install procps

Then stop. That install is not the lesson.

When you are done, throw the practice files away. Careful delete only. That is delete a file carefully. Skip rm -rf.

rm -i ~/watch-me/hi.txt

Useful extras, still home only

Optional: watch the clock:

watch -n 2 date

Optional: watch a zip you already have from pack files into a zip a laptop can open:

watch -n 2 du -sh ~/zip-me.zip

Skip that if the zip is not there. Don't make zip the job tonight.

Skip watch of /, /etc, other disks, and production services. Tonight: a tiny folder in home.

What this is not

This is not timeout. That is stop a command after a few seconds. It is not du as the job. That is see how big one folder is. It is not what is busy. That is see what is keeping the computer busy. It is not lid sleep. That is don't let the old laptop sleep. It is not timers. That is see what already runs on a schedule. It is not a monitoring app. 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 folder size once? See how big one folder is. Need how long a command took? See how long a command took. Keep SSH on the house network: keep the computer on the house network. Don't forward port 22.

Skip

Skip if SSH still fails. Finish SSH from the couch first.
Skip watch of /, /etc, other disks, and production services. Tonight: a tiny folder in home.
Skip timeout, du, whats-busy, and timers as tonight's job. Those pages already exist.
Skip buying Grafana, a monitoring box, or a NAS for this look.
Skip files under /etc, SSH folders, or paths you don't own. Practice only in home.
Skip rm -rf. Careful delete only: delete a file carefully.
Skip opening SSH to the internet so you can do this from a coffee shop. That is keep the computer on the house network. Don't forward port 22.

Sources

Debian: watch(1). Ubuntu: watch(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. See how big one folder isAfter SSH works, see how big one folder is with du. You don't need extra software for this. Pack files into a zip a laptop can openAfter SSH works, pack files into a zip a laptop can open. You don't need extra software for this. 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 what is keeping the computer busyAfter SSH works, see what is keeping the computer busy. 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 already runs on a scheduleAfter SSH works, see what already runs on a schedule. 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. 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.