Simple UNIX Commands — 723
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Appendix
Simple UNIX Commands
The following tables contain a brief list of simple but useful UNIX commands1.
These commands can be used to move around the file system, examine files, and copy,
delete, or rename files. They can also be used to do housekeeping on a user’s account,
and to communicate with other users on the local system or on remote systems.
Directory Operations
Command
Action
pwd
cd
cd
mkdir
rmdir
quota
present working directory (show directory name)
change directory: cd /path/name
change to your home directory: cd
make (create) new directory: mkdir Name
remove directory (if empty): rmdir Name
check disk space quota: quota -v
File Operations
Command
Action
ls
cp
rm
mv
more
cat
less
vi
pico
chmod
list files
copy files: cp /path/name newname
remove (i.e. delete) files: rm name
move or rename files: mv name newname
page file contents (spacebar to continue): more name
scroll file contents: cat name
better pager than more? (q to quit): less name
visual text editor (:wq to save and quit): vi name
pico text editor (Ctrl-X to quit): pico name
change mode of file permissions: chmod xxx name
1Most commands have options. To see what options are available, use the man command to
open the manual pages for that command, e.g. type man ls to open the manual for the ls command.
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Manual Pages
Command
Action
man
open the man pages for a command: man command
Communications
Command
Action
write
talk
mail
pine
telnet
ftp
lynx
write messages to another user’s screen
talk split-screen with another user: talk username
UNIX email command
send or read E-mail with pine mail system
connect to another computer via the network
file transfer over the network
text-based Web browser
System Operations
Command
Action
df
du
ps
kill
passwd
date
w
who
ping
finger
exit
show free disk space
show disk usage
list your processes
kill a process: kill ###
change your password
show date and time
who is doing what on the system
who is connected to the system
ping another computer (is it alive?)
get information on users
exit, or logout, from the system
X Windows
Command
Action
clock &
cmdtool &
filemgr &
mailtool &
perfmeter &
seqlab &
setenv DISPLAY
shelltool &
textedit &
xterm &
display a clock (&: run in background)
command tool window
file manager
email program
system performance meter
SeqLab interface for GCG
for setting the DISPLAY environment variable
shell tool window
text editor
X terminal window
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