Basic Unix Quick Reference
< filename - take input from a file
> filename - send output to a file
>> filename - append output to a file
Finding Information about People
finger - info about others
who - who's logged on
ps -a - what is anyone doing
send - send 1-line message
write - interactive term-to-term communication
Finding Information about Yourself
chfn - edit my 'finger' entry
groups - what groups am I in
passwd - change my password
ps -x - list my processes
mail - send letter
script - record a term. session
Getting System Information
date - date
daytime - time in words
time - on 24-hour clock
ps -aux - what's in process
File Utilities
cp - copy old to new
mv - rename old to new, also move a file
rm - delete
chmod - change file attributes:
u (self) +, r (read)
g (group) -, or w (write)
o (others) = x (execute)
Help
man - system command info
whereis - find dir. a file is in
apropos - find documentation
Mosaic - run Mosaic, must be in X Windows first
Directories
cd - change directories
pwd - which directories am I in
ls - directory
ls -f - list fast
ls -l - list long, showing file protection,
date, groups, size
ls -a - list all files
cd - change directory
mkdir - create a new directory
rmdir - delete a directory
rm -r - delete entire directory tree
.. - parent of this dir.
Printing: hardcopy (printer)
lpr - print filename
lprm - remove print request
lpq - what's queued found with lpq
NOTE: You may need/want to use the -P to the above
printing command, which will allow you to change to
printer you are printing to. For example,
lpr -Pgarth
would print to the printer garth.
Printing: to screen
cat - show the whole file
more - show it screen at a time
<SPACE> for next screen
q to quit, h for help
Process
^S - stop screen display
^Q - resume
^D - EOF at the terminal
ps - list my processes
kill - stop process number
found with 'ps'
& - run this command in
the background
NOTE: The ^ means press the CONTROL Key and the following letter.
Additional help is available by using the man command on a particular
program name.
Press here to return to the Basic Unix Help Menu