UNIX Basic Commands:

Logging Off:

  • exit 
    		•  closes your telnet session. 

    Information and Help:

  • softlist 
    		•  shows you a listing of available applications. 
  • man 
    		•  shows you how to use any UNIX command. For example, 
    man softlist will show you information on how to use the softlist command. "man" stands for "manual". 
    The -k flag shows you the available commands related to a topic, in case you don't know the name of the command you need. For example, 
    man -k print will show you all the commands associated with the word "print". 
  • quota 
    		•  displays information about your disk space usage. For example, 
    quota -v shows your usage and allowed quota as well as other information in a table format. 

    Directory and File Management

  • ls 
    		•  lists all the files in the current directory. You can add different options to the command by adding flags. The -l flag will show you the long version of the list, including permissions, file size, and last modified date. For example, 
    ls -l shows you all the files in your current directory with all file details listed. 
  • mkdir 
    		•  creates a new directory. For example, 
    mkdir public_html creates a new directory called "public_html". 
  • cd 
    		•  changes your current directory. For example, 
    cd public_html will change your current directory to the "public_html" directory. Typing the command by itself will always return you to your own home directory, or typing cd.. will take you back one directory. 
  • rmdir 
    		•  removes an empty directory. For example, 
    rmdir public_html will remove the directory called "public_html" as long as it is empty. 
     
  • pico 
    		•  This is a UNIX file editor. You can get more information on it by pressing control-g (^g) when in Pico. You can specify a file when you open Pico. For example:
    pico file1 will edit the file called "file1". 
  • cp 
    		•  makes a copy of a file. For example, 
    cp file1 file2 will make an exact copy of "file1" and call it "file2". You will then have two copies of the file. 
  • mv 
    		•  moves a file from one place to another, or renames a file from one name to another. For example, 
    mv file1 file2 renames "file1" to be called "file2". "file1" no longer exists. 
  • rm 
    		•  removes (deletes) a file. For example, 
    rm file2 deletes the file called "file2". 
  • more 
    		•  shows the contents of a file, one page at a time. For example, 
    more file3 will display on your screen the contents of "file3". If the file is more than one page, you must press the space bar to move to the next page. 

    Printing

  • lpr 
    		•  Prints a file to a network printer. You use the -P flag to specify which printer, and you must also specify the file name to be printed. For example, 
    lpr -Pbsb file1 prints the file called "file1" to the network printer called "bsb". Network printers are usually designated by the room number or name - look on the printer itself for its name. 
  • lpq 
    		•  checks the status of a print queue when used with the -P flag. For example, 
    to see the status of the sel2058 print queue, you would type 
    lpq -Psel2058. 

    Security

  • passwd 
    		•  changes your account password. When you issue this command, you will be prompted for your OLD password first, then your new password twice. 
     
    For more UNIX Commands and resources, see UNIX 101 at:
    http://www.accc.uic.edu/software/unixgeneral/unixstud.html