|
Command |
Action |
Example |
|
alias |
Creates a temporary name for a Unix command. |
alias name
command |
|
|
To remove an alias: |
unalias name |
|
bg |
Places a suspended job in the background. |
|
|
cat |
Displays a specified file. |
cat file |
|
cd |
Changes current directory to a different directory. |
cd directory |
|
|
To change back to your home directory: |
cd |
|
|
- Directory abbreviations:
- ~
Home directory
- ..
Parent directory
- .
Current working directory
|
|
|
chmod |
Changes permission status for a file or directory. |
chmod code
file
chmod code directory |
|
|
To keep a file private: |
chmod 600
file |
|
|
To give everyone read permission: |
chmod 664
file |
|
compress |
Reduces the size of a file and adds .Z to the
file's name. |
compress file |
|
|
To restore a compressed file: |
uncompress file.Z |
|
cp |
Makes a copy of a file. |
cp file1
file2 |
|
|
To copy a file into a different directory: |
cp file
directory |
|
|
To inquire before overwriting an existing file: |
cp -i file1
file2 |
|
diff |
Compares two files and displays the differences. |
|
|
fg |
Restarts a suspended job in the foreground. |
|
|
finger |
Displays user information at the specified computer. |
finger userid@computer |
|
|
To change your finger entry information: |
chfn |
|
fmail |
Displays email status for all your accounts. |
fmail |
|
|
To display your email forwarding address: |
fmail -forward |
|
|
To set your email forwarding address: |
fmail -to userid@address |
|
ftp |
Starts the file transfer program with a remote
computer. |
ftp address |
|
grep |
Finds lines in a file matching a character pattern. |
grep -icvn pattern
file |
|
|
- -i
Ignores case
- -c
Lists count of lines that contain pattern
- -v
Lists all lines except those with pattern
- -n
Lists line number for each found pattern
|
|
|
head |
Displays the first ten lines of a file. |
head file |
|
|
To display the first n number of lines: |
head -n file |
|
history |
Displays a list of your most recent commands. |
history |
|
|
To repeat the nth command from the list: |
! n |
|
|
To repeat your most recent command: |
!! |
|
jobs |
Displays active jobs and their corresponding
job numbers. |
jobs |
|
|
To start a job in the background: |
job & |
|
|
To return a job to the foreground by the job
number: |
fg %number |
|
|
To send a running job to the background: |
<Control>z bg |
|
kill |
Terminates a process by its process
identification number. |
kill pid |
|
|
To use the strongest form of the kill
command: |
kill -9 pid |
|
logout |
Ends your computer session. |
|
|
ls |
Lists the files and subdirectories in your current
directory. |
ls -Fltra |
|
|
- -l Lists long format
- -t Lists by modification time
- -r Lists in reverse order
- -F Lists file type with special
character
- -a Lists all files including
dot (.) files
|
|
|
lynx |
Starts a text-only Web browser session at UW
home page. |
lynx |
|
|
Starts a Web browser session at a specific Web
address. |
lynx url |
|
man |
Displays Unix Manual entry for a command. |
man command |
|
|
To search Manual Index for a keyword or topic: |
man -k keyword |
|
|
To set your message status to yes or no: |
mesg y
(or n) |
|
mkdir |
Creates a new directory within your current directory. |
mkdir directory |
|
more |
Displays a file one screen at a time. |
more file |
|
|
Use <Spacebar> to scroll
forward and q to quit. |
|
|
mv |
Moves a file to a different directory. |
mv file
directory |
|
|
Moves a directory to a second directory. |
mv directory1
directory2 |
|
|
To rename file1 as file2: |
mv file1
file2 |
|
|
To rename directory1 as directory2: |
mv directory1
directory2 |
|
|
To inquire before overwriting an existing file: |
mv -i file1
file2 |
|
passwd |
Starts program to change account password. |
|
|
pico |
Starts the Pico text editor with a file. |
pico file |
|
pine |
Starts the Pine® electronic mail program. |
|
|
ps |
Displays processes and their corresponding process
identification numbers. |
|
|
pwd |
Displays absolute pathname of current directory. |
|
|
rm |
Permanently deletes a file. |
rm file |
|
|
To verify prior to removal: |
rm -i file |
|
rmdir |
Deletes an empty directory. |
rmdir directory |
|
|
To verify prior to removal: |
rmdir -i directory |
|
spell |
Checks the spelling in a file. |
spell file |
|
|
To display all fields: |
staffdir -full "lastname, firstname" |
|
telnet |
Starts a telnet session with a remote computer. |
telnet address |
|
vi |
Starts the vi text editor with a file. |
vi file |
|
w |
Displays a list of who is on system. |
|
|
wc |
Counts lines, words, and characters in a file. |
wc file |