Basic UNIX Commands

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Basic UNIX Commands

Essential UNIX Commands

These commands that you really need to know in order to get started with UNIX. They are probably similar to commands you already know for another operating system.

Command	Example	Description
1. ls	ls ls -alF	Lists files in current directory List in long format
2. cd	cd tempdir cd .. cd ~dhyatt/web-docs	Change directory to tempdir Move back one directory Move into dhyatt’s web-docs directory
3. mkdir	mkdir graphics	Make a directory called graphics
4. rmdir	rmdir emptydir	Remove directory (must be empty)
5. cp	cp file1 web-docs cp file1 file1.bak	Copy file into directory Make backup of file1
6. rm	rm file1.bak rm *.tmp	Remove or delete file Remove all file
7. mv	mv old.html new.html	Move or rename files
8. more	more index.html	Look at file, one page at a time
9. lpr	lpr index.html	Send file to printer
10. man	man ls	Online manual (help) about command

Valuable UNIX Commands

Once you have mastered the basic UNIX commands, these will be quite valuable in managing your own account.

Command	Example	Description
1. grep <str> <files>	grep “bad word” *	Find which files contain a certain word
2. chmod <opt<file>	chmod 644 *.html chmod 755 file.exe	Change file permissions read only Change file permissions to executable
3. passwd	passwd	Change passwd
4. ps <opt>	ps aux ps aux \| grep dhyatt	List all running processes by #ID List process #ID’s running by dhyatt
5. kill <opt> <ID>	kill -9 8453	Kill process with ID #8453
6. gcc (g++)<source>	gcc file.c -o file g++ fil2.cpp -o fil2	Compile a program written in C Compile a program written in C++
7. gzip <file>	gzip bigfile gunzip bigfile.gz	Compress file Uncompress file
8. mail (pine)	mail support@Hostripples.com< file1 pine	Send file1 by email to someone Read mail using pine
9. telnet <host> ssh <host>	telnet hostripples.com ssh -l dhyatt jazz.hostripples.com	Open a connection to vortex Open a secure connection to jazz as user dhyatt
10. ftp <host> ncftp <host/directory>	ftp station1.hostripples.com ncftp metalab.hostripples.com	Upload or Download files to station1 Connect to archives at UNC

Fun UNIX Commands

These commands that you might find interesting or amusing. They are actually quite helpful at times, and should not be considered idle entertainment.

Command	Example	Description
1. who	who	Lists who is logged on your machine
2. finger	finger	Lists who is on computers in the lab
3. ytalk <user@place>	ytalk hostripples.com	Talk online with dhyatt who is on threat
4. history	history	Lists commands you’ve done recently
5. fortune	fortune	Print random humerous message
6. date	date	Print out current date
7. cal <mo> <yr>	cal 9 2000	Print calendar for September 2000
8. xeyes	xeyes &	Keep track of cursor (in “background”)
9. xcalc	xcalc &	Calculator (“background” process)
10. mpage <opt> <file>	mpage -8 file1 \| lpr	Print 8 pages on a single sheet and send to printer (the font will be small!)

Helpful UNIX Commands

These commands are very helpful, especially with graphics and word processing type applications.

Command	Example	Description
1. netscape	netscape &	Run Netscape browser
2. xv	xv &	Run graphics file converter
3. xfig / xpaint	xfig & (xpaint &)	Run drawing program
4. gimp	gimp &	Run photoshop type program
5. ispell <fname>	ispell file1	Spell check file1
6. latex <fname>	latex file.tex	Run LaTeX, a scientific document tool
7. xemacs / pico	xemacs (or pico)	Different editors
8. soffice	soffice &	Run StarOffice, a full word processor
9. m-tools (mdir, mcopy, mdel, mformat, etc. )	mdir a:mcopy file1 a:	DOS commands from UNIX (dir A:)Copy file1 to A:
10. gnuplot	gnuplot	Plot data graphically

Useful UNIX Commands:

These commands are useful for monitoring system access, or simplifying your own environment.

Command	Example	Description
1. df	df	See how much free disk space
2. du	du -b subdir	Estimate disk usage of directory in Bytes
3. alias	alias lls=”ls -alF”	Create new command “lls” for long format of ls
4. xhost	xhost + threat.hostripples.comxhost –	Permit window to display from x-window program from threatAllow no x-window access from other systems
5. fold	fold -s file1 \| lpr	Fold or break long lines at 60 characters and send to printer
6. tar	tar -cf subdir.tar subdirtar -xvf subdir.tar	Create an archive called subdir.tar of a directoryExtract files from an archive file
7. ghostview (gv)	gv filename.ps	View a Postscript file
8. ping (traceroute)	ping threat.hostripples.com traceroute www.hostripples.com	See if machine is alivePrint data path to a machine
9. top	top	Print system usage and top resource hogs
10. logout (exit)	logout or exit	How to quit a UNIX shell.

Vishwajit Kale

Vishwajit Kale blazed onto the digital marketing scene back in 2015 and is the digital marketing strategist of Hostripples, a company that aims to provide affordable web hosting solutions. Vishwajit is experienced in digital and content marketing along with SEO. He's fond of writing technology blogs, traveling and reading.