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