A UNIX Commands Reference Tutorial

A UNIX Commands Reference Tutorial

Table of Contents
A UNIX Commands Reference Tutorial...........................................................................................................1
Introduction..........................................................................................................................................................1
Getting Started.....................................................................................................................................................1

− A −.....................................................................................................................................................................5

− B −.....................................................................................................................................................................6

............................................................................................................................................................................7

− C −.....................................................................................................................................................................8

− D −...................................................................................................................................................................12

− E −...................................................................................................................................................................14

− F −....................................................................................................................................................................15

− G −...................................................................................................................................................................17

− H −...................................................................................................................................................................18

− I −....................................................................................................................................................................19

− J −....................................................................................................................................................................20

− K −...................................................................................................................................................................21

− L −...................................................................................................................................................................22

− M −..................................................................................................................................................................25

− N −...................................................................................................................................................................27

− O −...................................................................................................................................................................28

− P −....................................................................................................................................................................29

− Q −...................................................................................................................................................................32

− R −...................................................................................................................................................................33

− S −...................................................................................................................................................................34

− T −...................................................................................................................................................................37

i
 A UNIX Commands Reference Tutorial

Table of Contents
− U −..................................................................................................................................................................39

− V −...................................................................................................................................................................40

− W −.................................................................................................................................................................42

− X −...................................................................................................................................................................44

− Y −...................................................................................................................................................................45

− Z −...................................................................................................................................................................46

ii
 A UNIX Commands Reference Tutorial
By ©John N. Kostaras

Introduction

This tutorial stems from and enhances a manual I once read, “INTERACTIVE UNIX Operating System
Primer – Version 3.0” [1]. It covers both Unix and Linux releases. It is basically a quick reference of the most
common commands avoiding the bundle of information currently offered by the man command. For a more
complete reference, however, one should either use the man command or another more complete source.

Getting Started

Before you can start working with UNIX, you or your system administrator must have installed the system
and set up your login account. If your system is switched off, you must first boot the Unix operating system.
In a workstation normally, the computer where the operating system has been installed, is on 24 hours per
day, and a common user simply connects to the main computer via a terminal. If this is the case, once you
switch on the terminal, a screen asking for a login name appears:
Login:
If however the operating system is installed in a PC (e.g. a LINUX release), after you switch on the computer
the operating system is booted. If this is your case then you will see a number of strange messages appearing
on your screen before the aforementioned login screen appears.

Logging in

In the login prompt, type in your user identification name (ID), or login name, assigned to you and press
ENTER. After a user ID is entered, the system may request a password:
Login: johnPassword:
Type in your password (if you have been assigned one) and press ENTER. The password is not shown on the
screen so that no one watching at your display at that time can see it.If you have typed your login name and
password correctly the system displays the command prompt on the screen:
$
or something similar (# or %). The prompt indicates that the system is ready to receive information. You may
enter a command or run an application when the prompt is displayed on your screen. When you interact with
the UNIX operating system (shortly OS), the commands you type are processed by the command interpreter,
which passes your commands to the OS for processing and delivers the results to you. This interactive
command interpreter is called the shell.Each time you log in, the OS places you in your home directory. This
is your personal working area. Like the DOS OS, the UNIX OS consists of files and directories. A file is a
collection of data stored under an assigned name. Examples of files are a text document you type, an
executable program etc. This tutorial is also stored in a file with filename “UNIX tutorial.doc”. A directory is
a file repository. It exists only to help you organize your files into separate thematic entities. A directory can
contain other directories (or sub−directories) and files.

Logging out

After you have finished your work with the system, you must log out. Always logout when you are finished
using the computer, to prevent unauthorised use of your account. You can log out by one of the following
ways.

• You can hold down the CTRL key and simultaneously press d

A UNIX Commands Reference Tutorial 1

 A UNIX Commands Reference Tutorial

• You may type the exit command at the prompt and press ENTER
• You may type logout at the prompt and press ENTER.

The OS will display the login: prompt, indicating that it is ready to accept a new login name.

Shutting down the system

If you are a system administrator you can shut down the system. Switching off the terminal display does not
shut down the system. In a PC however, you cannot simply switch it off. You first must shut down the OS.
Because UNIX is a multi−tasking OS, the computer can be running many different processes (programs) at
the same time. For example, you may be printing a file while at the same time you are editing another file. To
arrange for the computer to complete all the tasks that are currently running, you should shut down first before
switching off.To shut down the computer you must first login as a system administrator, or a user with system
administrator’s privileges. If you are then you can shutdown the system by entering the following command at
the administrator’s shell prompt (which is #):
# shutdown
and press the ENTER key. The system will ask you a number of questions like when should the system go
down etc. You should answer to these questions with a y for yes or a n for no. If you want however to
shutdown the system immediately without being prompted with questions you should add either now or –g 0
or –h 0 after the shutdown command at the prompt. After a number of strange messages on the screen, the
message:
System halted
appears and the system is halted. You can then switch off the computer.If you want to reboot the computer
you should enter –r 0 after the shutdown command.

Command syntax

In a UNIX OS, the user types a command followed by the ENTER key, the system runs the program that
executes the user’s command, and it outputs the results. The commands in UNIX are case sensitive, which
means that the system distinguishes between uppercase and lowercase letters. Most system commands are
typed in lowercase letters. A UNIX command consists of three parts: the command name, its options, and its
arguments. Options typically begin with a dash (−). The command name, options and arguments are separated
by spaces. Thus, e.g. to shutdown the system you should type:# shutdown –h 0
Here is the command format I shall use in this document:

COMMAND NAME command name

FORMAT command [option(s)] argument(s)

DESCRIPTION A brief description of what the command does.

OPTIONS A list of the most useful options and a brief description of each.

ARGUMENTS Mandatory or optional arguments.

EXAMPLE A simple example of how to use the command.

Getting Started 2
 A UNIX Commands Reference Tutorial

UNIX Commands

Using the above command format, the first command we have learned, shutdown, is given:

COMMAND NAME shutdown

FORMAT shutdown [−g|h|r] time|now

DESCRIPTION Shutdown or reboot the system in a safe way.

−g|h Shutdown and halt the system.

OPTIONS
−r Reboot the system after shutdown.

ARGUMENTS time Shutdown the system after time secs or now (time=0).

EXAMPLE shutdown –h now

Setting a password

If you were not assigned a password when your login account was set up, the system will probably request
that you choose one the first time you login. Passwords keep unauthorized users from using your account and
harm your files or others’ files. Once your password has been set, only you can access your account.

COMMAND NAME passwd

FORMAT passwd

Set or change your login password. The program prompts for the old
DESCRIPTION password (if any) and prompts twice for the new password.

OPTIONS None.

ARGUMENTS None.

EXAMPLE passwd

Index of UNIX commands

An alphabetical index of the most common UNIX (and LINUX) commands appears on the top frame of this
web page. For more information check the references (especially [1]).

References

1. INTERACTIVE UNIX Operating System Primer – Version 3.0.

2. Kernighan B.W., Pike R., The UNIX Programming Environment, Prentice−Hall: 1984.
3. Waite M., Martin D., Prata S., UNIX Primer Plus, 2nd edition, The Waite Group: 1990.
4. Libadas K., Papageorgas L., UNIX, Christodoulidis: 1988. (in Greek).

Getting Started 3
 A UNIX Commands Reference Tutorial

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Getting Started 4
 −A−
COMMAND NAME alias

FORMAT alias abbreviation=command

Create your own abbreviations (aliases) for commands. With no arguments it displays a list of all
DESCRIPTION aliases. To cancel the alias use unalias.

OPTIONS None.

The abbreviation we want to use, an equal sign, and the command to be abbreviated. If the command
ARGUMENTS contains spaces or other special characters (e.g \ ! *) use single quotes (' ').

EXAMPLE alias dir='ls −al'

COMMAND NAME at

FORMAT at [−ffilename ][−m] time

DESCRIPTION Execute the command(s) read from the standard input or from a specified file at the time specified.

−ffilename Read the command(s) from the file specified (not from the standard input).
OPTIONS
−m Notify the user by mail when the job has completed.

ARGUMENTS The time where the commands are going to be executed.

at 08:00
EXAMPLE at> echo "It's 8 o'clock. Wake up!"
at> (Ctrl−D)

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−A− 5
 −B−
COMMAND NAME bc

FORMAT bc

Use the calculator. To use decimals, type scale = number of

DESCRIPTION decimal digits. To end the calculator, type Ctrl−D.

OPTIONS Not presented in this document.

ARGUMENTS Not presented in this document.

EXAMPLE bc

COMMAND NAME bg or &

FORMAT bg [ %n ]

Execute processes in the background. With no arguments it displays the jobs that
are currently executed in the background. If a number is provided, then the
DESCRIPTION process with the given number is executed in the background. One can also add
the & in the end of a command to make it processed in the background. See also
fg.

OPTIONS None.

ARGUMENTS The number of the process to be executed in the background.

bg %1 or %1 &
EXAMPLE
cp −r /usr/man . &

−B− 6
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 −C−

COMMAND NAME cal

FORMAT cal [ month][ year ]

DESCRIPTION Display the calendar of the current month (with no arguments) or the month and/or year given.

OPTIONS None.

ARGUMENTS The year we wish to display.

EXAMPLE cal 3 2000

COMMAND NAME cat

FORMAT cat [−sn] [ filename(s) ]

Display one or more files on your terminal screen. If more than one filename is supplied, it is
DESCRIPTION “concatenated” to (i.e. added in the end of) the previous file and displayed.

−n Display numbers in ascending order in front of each line.

OPTIONS
−s Be silent – do not comment about files that do not exist.

ARGUMENTS The filename(s) in the order that you want them to display.

EXAMPLE cat foo1 foo2 > foo

COMMAND NAME cd

FORMAT cd [ pathname ]

DESCRIPTION Change current directory. With no arguments the command moves you to your home directory.

OPTIONS None.

The (full or relative) path name of the directory to which you want to move. (.) is the current
ARGUMENTS directory (..) is the parent directory.

EXAMPLE cd src

COMMAND NAME chgrp

−C− 8
 A UNIX Commands Reference Tutorial

FORMAT chgrp groupname filename(s) | directoryname(s)

DESCRIPTION Change group of the named file(s) or directory(s).

OPTIONS None.

The name of the group whom you want to own the file(s) or directory(ies) and the name(s) of the
ARGUMENTS file(s) or directory(ies) you wish to change the group of.

EXAMPLE chgrp local foo

COMMAND NAME chmod

FORMAT chmod [ugo,+−,rwx] filename(s) | directory name(s)

DESCRIPTION Change mode permissions of the name file(s) or directory(ies).

OPTIONS None.

The octal number or a character representation of the new file access permissions
and the name(s) of the file(s) or directory(ies) whose file access permissions are
going to be changed. It consists of 3 parts:
Who Action License
ARGUMENTS
u user + Grant license. r read
g group − Do not grant license. w write
o other x execute

EXAMPLE chmod u+x foo

COMMAND NAME chown

FORMAT chown username filename(s) | directoryname(s)

DESCRIPTION Change ownership of the named file or directory.

OPTIONS None.

The name of the user whom you want to own the file(s) or directory(ies) and the name(s) of the
ARGUMENTS file(s) or directory(ies) you wish to change the ownership of.

EXAMPLE chown john foo

COMMAND NAME clear

FORMAT clear

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 A UNIX Commands Reference Tutorial

DESCRIPTION Clear the display. After that only the prompt is displayed at the top left of the terminal.

OPTIONS None.

ARGUMENTS None.

EXAMPLE clear

COMMAND NAME cmp

FORMAT cmp filename1 filename2

DESCRIPTION Compare the named files.

OPTIONS None.

The names of the files to compare. If they are equal, returns nothing, otherwise it returns the first
ARGUMENTS char and line where the two files differ.

EXAMPLE cmp foo foo1

COMMAND NAME compress

FORMAT compress [−v] filename

DESCRIPTION Compress the named file.

OPTIONS −v Ask for verification after compressing the file.

The name of the file you want to compress. The compressed file has a .Z
ARGUMENTS added to the end of the filename.

EXAMPLE compress −v foo

COMMAND NAME cp

FORMAT cp [−ir] filename pathname

DESCRIPTION Copy the named file to the named directory.

−i Ask before updating a file or directory that exists in the destination with the same name.
OPTIONS
−r Copy recursively each subdirectory of the named directory too.

ARGUMENTS The name of the file you want to copy and the destination to where you want to copy it.

−C− 10
 A UNIX Commands Reference Tutorial

EXAMPLE cp foo /temp

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−C− 11
 −D−
COMMAND NAME date

FORMAT date

DESCRIPTION List the current date and time.

OPTIONS Not presented in this document.

ARGUMENTS Not presented in this document.

EXAMPLE date

COMMAND NAME df

FORMAT df [ −k ][ filesystem]

Display the amount of disk space used and available on the given filesystem in blocks (1 block =
DESCRIPTION 512 bytes or 1024 bytes). With no arguments displays the amount of disk space used and available
on all mounted filesystems.

OPTIONS −k Use 1024−byte blocks (instead of the default 512).

ARGUMENTS The filesystem name.

EXAMPLE df /home

COMMAND NAME diff

FORMAT diff textfilename1 textfilename2

DESCRIPTION Display the differences between the two text files.

OPTIONS None.

ARGUMENTS The filenames of the two text files

EXAMPLE diff version1.txt version2.txt

COMMAND NAME du

FORMAT du [ −aks ] [ filename(s) | directoryname(s) ]

−D− 12
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DESCRIPTION Display the amount of disk space used by the specified file(s) or directory(ies) in blocks (1 block =
512 bytes or 1024 bytes). With no arguments, the disk used from the current directory is displayed.

−a Show counts for all files encountered, not only directories.

OPTIONS −k Use 1024−byte blocks (instead of the default 512).
−s Display space usage of the arguments given only, not of their subdirectories.

ARGUMENTS The name(s) of the file(s) or directory(ies) .

EXAMPLE du −k essay

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−D− 13
 −E−
COMMAND NAME echo

FORMAT echo characterString

DESCRIPTION Display its arguments to the standard output. With no arguments an empty line is displayed.

OPTIONS None.

ARGUMENTS Any string of characters.

EXAMPLE echo Today is my wedding day!

COMMAND NAME exit

FORMAT exit

DESCRIPTION Exit the system or logout (the same as Ctrl−D).

OPTIONS None.

ARGUMENTS None.

EXAMPLE exit

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−E− 14
 −F−

COMMAND_NAME fg

FORMAT fg [ %n ] or %n

Restart a process (i.e. execute in the foreground) that is executed in the

backgound. With no arguments it restarts the process with the + sign. If a number
DESCRIPTION is provided, then the process with the given number is restarted. It is the opposite
of bg.

OPTIONS None.

ARGUMENTS The number of the process to be executed in the foreground.

EXAMPLE fg %2

COMMAND_NAME find

FORMAT find directory−path(s)search−pattern action(s)

Search the specified directorie(s) for files that satisfy the search−pattern and
act on them according to action(s).

Search−patterns:
−name filename: Search for files with the specified
filename.
− size n: Search for files of n blocks (usually 512 or 1024
bytes).
− links n: Search for files with n links.
− atime n: Search for files that have been last accessed
before n days.
− mtime n: Search for files that have been last modified
before n days.
DESCRIPTION − newer filename: Search for files that have been modified
more recently than the specified file.
Actions:
− print: Display the path(s) of the files found.
− exec command: Run for each file found; {} represents
the file specified.
− ok command: As the previous one, but it asks for your
approval before every action.
Note: Search−patterns can be combined.
! means negation;
− o means logical or;
one or more search−patterns are combined using logical and;
( ) or \ \ can be used to define groups of
search−patterns.

−F− 15
 A UNIX Commands Reference Tutorial

OPTIONS None.

The search−path(s), the search−pattern and the action(s) to perform for each
ARGUMENTS file found.

EXAMPLE find / −name "Hallo world!" −print

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−F− 16
 −G−
COMMAND NAME grep

FORMAT grep [ −c,−n,−i,−v,−w,−y ] pattern [ file(s) ]

Search the specified file(s) for lines that contain the pattern and then display these lines. If more
DESCRIPTION than one files are given, the filename is displayed before the line(s). If no file(s) are given, the
standard input is searched.

−c Displays only the number of lines that match.

−n Displays the line number in front of every displayed line.
−i Ignore case.
OPTIONS −v Displays all other lines except those lines that match.
−w Matches whole words only.
−y Case independent pattern matching, i.e. lower case letters in pattern will also match upper
case letters in the input.

ARGUMENTS The file(s) to be searched.

EXAMPLE grep −y classpath *

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−G− 17
 −H−
COMMAND NAME head

FORMAT head [ −n]filename(s)

Display the first n lines of the named file(s). If no option number is given then the first 10 lines are
DESCRIPTION displayed.

OPTIONS −n The number of the lines to display from the top of the file.

ARGUMENTS The filename(s) to display.

EXAMPLE head −15 mydiary

COMMAND NAME hostname

FORMAT hostname

DESCRIPTION Display the name of the host machine.

OPTIONS None.

ARGUMENTS None.

EXAMPLE hostname

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−H− 18
 −I−

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−I− 19
 −J−
COMMAND NAME jobs

FORMAT jobs

DESCRIPTION Display active processes

OPTIONS None.

ARGUMENTS None.

EXAMPLE jobs

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−J− 20
 −K−
COMMAND NAME kill

FORMAT kill [ −signo ] process_ID

DESCRIPTION Terminate the process with process ID.

OPTIONS −9 Send a definite kill signal.

ARGUMENTS The ID of the process you want to kill (returned from ps).

EXAMPLE kill –9 10965

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−K− 21
 −L−
COMMAND NAME learn

FORMAT learn

Learn UNIX. This command provides a

DESCRIPTION Computer Aided Interface (CAI). To end the
command type either bye or Ctrl−c.

OPTIONS None.

ARGUMENTS None.

EXAMPLE learn

COMMAND NAME lpq

FORMAT lpq [ −Pprinterqueue ]

Display printer queues' jobs. Displays information about the file(s) in the printer's queue; its owner
DESCRIPTION name, id, size and its filename. The filename displayed is the temporary filename in the printer's
queue and not the file's name.

OPTIONS −Pprinterqueue Specify the printer's queue instead of using the default.

ARGUMENTS None.

EXAMPLE lpq

COMMAND NAME lpr

FORMAT lpr [ −h −Pprinterqueue ] filename(s)

Print the filename(s) to the line printer. Sends the filename(s) to the line printer's
DESCRIPTION queue. With no arguments, standard input is being printed (end with Ctrl−q).

−h Print no header.
OPTIONS
−Pprinterqueue Specify the printer's queue instead of using the default.

ARGUMENTS The name(s) of the file(s) to be printed.

EXAMPLE lpr −Php5000 myaddressbook.txt

COMMAND NAME lprm

−L− 22
 A UNIX Commands Reference Tutorial

FORMAT lprm [ −Pprinterqueue ] fileid(s) | fileowner| filename

Remove the file(s) with the information provided from the printer's queue. The file id and
DESCRIPTION filename are provided by lpq.

OPTIONS −Pprinterqueue Specify the printer's queue instead of using the default.

fileowner Removes from printer's queue all the files with the file owner provided.
ARGUMENTS fileid Remove from printer's queue the file with the file id provided.
filename Remove from printer's queue the file with the specified filename.

EXAMPLE lprm 03847

COMMAND_NAME ls

FORMAT ls [−CFRR*acdglrstu] [ list of filenames|directories ]

For each directory named, list its contents and any other information requested; for each filename,
DESCRIPTION list the requested information.

OPTIONS −C List entries by columns.

−F List directories with /.
−R List subdirectories too.
−R* List subdirectories too (only two levels lower from current directory).
−a List all entries, including files that begin with a dot (.).
−c Sort entries by time of last modification (latest first) rather than by name.
−d List directories only.
−g List hidden files or directories (that begin with a dot (.)).

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−r List in reverse order.

−s List size into 1024 byte−blocks.
−t Sort contents by time of last modification (latest first) rather than by name.
Use time of last access instead of last modification for sorting (with –t option) or printing on
−u
the screen (with −l option).

A file name or a directory name. If no filename or directory name is given, the current directory is
ARGUMENTS listed.

EXAMPLE ls −Fal

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−L− 24
 −M−
COMMAND NAME man

FORMAT man [ −k ] [ command_name ]

Show information about the specified command. To end the command

DESCRIPTION
type Ctrl−q.

OPTIONS −k Display a summary.

ARGUMENTS The name of the command you want to find information for.

EXAMPLE man cat

COMMAND NAME mesg

FORMAT mesg [ y|n ]

Allow or prevent messages from being received due to the talk

DESCRIPTION command. With no arguments the command returns a y or n
denoting the current state of the command.

OPTIONS None.

y Allow other users to pass on messages to you using the

talk command.
ARGUMENTS
n Prevent other users to pass on messages to you using the
talk command.

EXAMPLE mesg n

COMMAND NAME mkdir

FORMAT mkdir name(s)

DESCRIPTION Create a directory with the name provided.

OPTIONS None.

ARGUMENTS The name(s) of the directory(ies) you want to create.

EXAMPLE mkdir src

COMMAND NAME more

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FORMAT more filename(s)

Display the file(s) on the standard output, one page at a time. If no

filename is specified the standard input is displayed. See also pg.

[RETURN or ENTER]: Display next line

[Space]: Dislpay next page
b: Display previous page
DESCRIPTION /<s>[RETURN]: Search forward for string <s>
!<c>[RETURN]: Execute command <c>
v: load vi editor
.: Repeat previous command
h: Display help page
q: quit more command.

OPTIONS None.

ARGUMENTS The names of the files to display.

EXAMPLE more foo

COMMAND NAME mv

FORMAT mv filename | directoryname pathname

DESCRIPTION Move the named file or directory to the named position.

OPTIONS None.

ARGUMENTS The name of the file or directory you wish to move and its destination.

EXAMPLE mv foo /temp

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−M− 26
 −N−

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−N− 27
 −O−

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−O− 28
 −P−
COMMAND NAME passwd

FORMAT passwd

Set or change your login password.The program prompts for the old password (if any) and prompts
DESCRIPTION twice for the new password.

OPTIONS None.

ARGUMENTS None.

EXAMPLE passwd

COMMAND NAME pc

FORMAT pc [ −c, −ofilename ] filename(s).p|.o

Compile Pascal source files (.p) or Pascal object files (−o). The
DESCRIPTION executable file that is produced is named a.out.

−c Suppresses the creation of a a.out file and forces the creation of an

executable file.
OPTIONS
−ofilename Produces an executable file with the given filename instead
of a.out.

ARGUMENTS The name(s) of the Pascal file(s) to be compiled.

EXAMPLE pc −o foo foo.p math.o

COMMAND NAME pg

FORMAT pg filename(s)

Display the file(s) on the standard output, one page at a time. If no

filename is specified the standard input is displayed. See also
more.

[RETURN or ENTER]: Display next line

[Space]: Dislpay next page
DESCRIPTION b: Display previous page
/<s>[RETURN]: Search forward for string <s>
!<c>[RETURN]: Execute command <c>
v: load vi editor
.: Repeat previous command
h: Display help page
q: quit pg command.

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OPTIONS None.

ARGUMENTS The names of the files to display.

EXAMPLE pg foo

COMMAND NAME pr

FORMAT pr [ −ln ] filename(s)

Print the file(s) on the standard output, one page at a time. Each page consists of 66 lines with an
additional margin of 5 empty lines at the bottom of the page and a 5 line−header at the top. The
DESCRIPTION header consists of two empty lines, one line for the date, the filename and the page number, and two
more empty lines.

OPTIONS −ln Set the page height to n lines.

ARGUMENTS The names of the files to print.

EXAMPLE pr foo | lpr

COMMAND NAME ps

FORMAT ps [ −aefx]

DESCRIPTION Report the status of all currently active processes.

−a Display all processes of all users in the system.

−e Display all processes using standard syntax.
OPTIONS
−f Generate a full listing.
−x Display processes that did not start from your terminal.

ARGUMENTS None.

EXAMPLE ps −ef

COMMAND NAME pwd

FORMAT pwd

Print the current working directory. Displays the complete path name of the directory you are
DESCRIPTION currently in.

OPTIONS None.

ARGUMENTS None.

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EXAMPLE pwd

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COMMAND NAME rm, rmdir

FORMAT rm [−fri] [ filename(s) ]rmdir [ directory name(s) ]

DESCRIPTION Remove the name file(s) or directory(ies).

−f Ask no questions about removal. −i Ask before removing

OPTIONS each file or directory. −r Examine each directory before
removing it.

ARGUMENTS One or more file or directory.

EXAMPLE rm –i foormdir src

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COMMAND NAME set

FORMAT set variable= value

Set a variable. With no arguments, display the values of all defined variables.
DESCRIPTION Dispose of the variable with unset.

OPTIONS Not presented in this document.

ARGUMENTS The name of the variable to set and its value.

EXAMPLE set CLASSPATH=$CLASSPATH:/usr/java/lib

COMMAND NAME setenv

FORMAT setenv variable value

DESCRIPTION Set an environment variable.

OPTIONS None.

ARGUMENTS The name of the environment variable to set and its value.

EXAMPLE setenv COLORS 8

COMMAND NAME shutdown

FORMAT shutdown [−g|h|r] time

DESCRIPTION Shutdown or reboot the system in a safe way.

−g|h Shutdown and halt the system.

OPTIONS
−r Reboot the system after shutdown.

ARGUMENTS time Shutdown the system after time secs or now (time=0).

EXAMPLE shutdown –h now

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COMMAND NAME sort

FORMAT sort [−dfnr] [−ooutput file ] [ filename(s) ]

Sort the lines of the named file(s) together and write the result(s) to the standard output. Sort
DESCRIPTION standard input if no input files are given. Write the results to standard output if no output file is
given.

−d Use “dictionary” order. Only letters, digits and blanks are significant.−f Ignore case when
OPTIONS sorting.−n Sort numeric strings arithmetically.
−r Reverse sort.

ARGUMENTS One or more file(s) or directory(ies).

EXAMPLE sort –d –osorted phoneindex

COMMAND NAME spell

FORMAT spell filename(s)

Checks the spelling of the input file and lists the words that do not appear in its dictionary on the
DESCRIPTION standard output.

OPTIONS Not presented in this document.

ARGUMENTS Not presented in this document.

EXAMPLE spell foo

COMMAND NAME stty

FORMAT stty [all|erase|everything] [erase char] [kill char] −tabs

DESCRIPTION Set terminal settings.

OPTIONS all Display information for all normally used settings.

erase Character for erase.

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everything Display information about stty.

kill Character for line kill.

−tabs Causes tabs to be replaced by spaces when printed on the terminal.

ARGUMENTS Depend on options.

EXAMPLE stty erase ^h

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COMMAND NAME tail

FORMAT tail [ −n|+n ][lbc] filename(s)

Display the last n lines of the named file(s). If no option number is given then the last 10 lines are
DESCRIPTION displayed.

+n The number of the lines to display starting from the beginning of the file.
−n The number of the lines to display from the bottom of the file (i.e. the last nth lines of the
OPTIONS
file).
lbc Determines the meaning of the number, i.e. either lines (l), blocks (b) or characters (c).

ARGUMENTS The filename(s) to display.

EXAMPLE tail −20c mydiary

COMMAND NAME talk

FORMAT talk username_connection

Communicate with another user. The command passes on what you type on
DESCRIPTION your terminal to the other user's terminal. To end the transmission type
Ctrl−c.

OPTIONS None.

ARGUMENTS The login name of the user you wish to talk with.

EXAMPLE talk john

COMMAND_NAME tar

FORMAT tar [b|c|f|t|x|v] [n] [tar−file] [filenames or directory names]

DESCRIPTION Backup files.

OPTIONS bn (block) Number of blocks (512 bytes) to use.

c (create) Create tar file.

f tar−file (file) The name of the tar file to use.

t Display tar file contents.

x (extract) Extract files from tar file.

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v (verbose) Display files or directories as they are processed.

The name of the backup (.tar) file and the filenames or directory names that are contained
ARGUMENTS in the tar file.

EXAMPLE tar xvf backup.tar

COMMAND NAME touch

FORMAT touch filename

DESCRIPTION Create an empty file.

OPTIONS None.

ARGUMENTS The name of the file to create.

EXAMPLE touch empty

COMMAND_NAME tty

FORMAT tty

Returns the path of the terminal the user is using. It returns something like:
DESCRIPTION /dev/tty08 meaning that the user is using terminal 8.

OPTIONS None.

ARGUMENTS None.

EXAMPLE tty

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 −U−
COMMAND NAME unalias

FORMAT unalias abbreviation

DESCRIPTION Undo alias. The reverse command of alias.

OPTIONS None.

ARGUMENTS The abbreviation of the command you want to cancel alias.

EXAMPLE unalias dir

COMMAND NAME unset

FORMAT unset variable

DESCRIPTION Dispose of a variable that was defined by set.

OPTIONS None.

ARGUMENTS The name of the variable to unset.

EXAMPLE unset CLASSPATH

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 −V−
COMMAND_NAME vi

FORMAT vi [ filename(s) ]

DESCRIPTION Create or edit a text file with the given filename. If no filename is given, a new empty file is created.
The editor operates in two modes:

• command mode: allows the use of commands (it is in this mode when vi is started or
whenever the user presses Esc)
• text mode: allows text editing (to enter this mode use one of the commands a, i, o,
O, R or c).

commands for text editing

commands for cursor movement
a adds text after cursor's position
j moves cursor one line down
i inserts text before cursor's position
k moves cursor one line up
o adds an empty line under cursor's position
h moves cursor one space to the left
O adds an empty line after cursor's position
l moves cursor one space to the right
commands for text deletion
Ctrl−d moves screen half a page down
x deletes the character at the cursor

Ctrl−u moves screen half a page up

dw deletes the characters from the cursor position to the
beginning of the next word
Ctrl−w moves screen one page up
dd deletes the line containing the cursor
Ctrl−f moves screen one page down
d) deletes the rest of the line from cursor onwards
nG moves cursor to the n−th line of the
document d} deletes the rest of the paragraph from cursor
onwards
commands for text modification search commands

r replaces character with the next character /template searches for the next appearance of the
you type template

R ovewrites previous characters, starting at ?template searches for the previous appearance
cursor position of the template

cw changes word with the next word you n repeats the last search command
type
commands for text movement
c) changes sentence
yy copies a line to the clipboard

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j joins the sentence of the cursor and the p pastes the text in the clipboard after cursor position
next sentence
P pastes the text in the clipboard before cursor
u undo last command position

. redo last command

U undo all commands at the sentence of the

cursor
commands for save of document

Esc :w save current document

Esc :q quit vi if no changes were made

commands for screen improvement

Esc :q! quit without saving

Esc :set nu display line numbers

Esc :wq save document and exit vi

Esc :set wm = k set margin on the right to k
characters
Esc ZZ save document and exit vi
Esc :set redraw keep the current display
Esc :n,kw filename save lines n to k
to another filename

Esc :n,kw>>filename append lines n

tok to another filename

OPTIONS None.

ARGUMENTS The name(s) of the file(s) to edit.

EXAMPLE vi newtextfile

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 −W−
COMMAND_NAME wc

FORMAT wc [ −clw ] filename(s)

Count the lines, words and characters of the named file(s). With no arguments the standard input is
DESCRIPTION used. If more than one filenames are given then it also calculates the sum of the lines, words and
characters of all files.

−c Count the characters.

OPTIONS −l Count the lines.
−w Count the words.

ARGUMENTS A list of filenames.

EXAMPLE wc −w essay

COMMAND NAME who

FORMAT who [am i]

DESCRIPTION List the users logged into the system.

OPTIONS Not presented in this document.

ARGUMENTS List the information for the users only.

EXAMPLE who

COMMAND_NAME write

FORMAT write login−name

Communicate with a user by writing on their terminal. The requested user has to
DESCRIPTION
take explicit action to accept the conversation.

OPTIONS Not presented in this document.

ARGUMENTS The login name of the user to write to.

EXAMPLE write john

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 −X−

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 −Y−

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 −Z−

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