Useful UNIX Commands
IT Systems

Basic Operating System Commands

If you are just beginning to learn UNIX here are four tables of commands for executing common functions. Not all possible commands are represented, just those which are most useful.

Table 1. UNIX Commands for Directories, Files and Devices

Purpose

UNIX COMMAND
Create Directory mkdir
Remove Directory rmdir, rm
Change Directory cd
List files ls
Name of working directory pwd
Create a file touch, cat
Edit a file vi, emacs, pico
Copy a file cp
Rename a file mv
Merge two or more files cat
Delete a file rm
Compare two files diff, cmp
String Searches grep
File Protections chmod
Assign files ln, setenv
Deassign files rm link name
Disk space du, df

 

Table 2. UNIX Commands for Executables, Procedures and Job Execution

Purpose

UNIX COMMAND
Compile a FORTRAN program f77, f90
Link a program f77, f90, ld
Compile a C program cc
Compile a C++ program g++
Execute a program program name
Debugging program dbx
Create or manipulate a library ar, ld
User procedures c shell script
User procedures k shell script
Executing procedures script name,source
Defining aliases alias
Local variables set var=string
Global variables setenv
Check processes ps
Batch submission program-name &
Stopping processes kill

 

Table 3. UNIX Commands for Networks

Purpose

UNIX COMMAND
Read News tin, xrn
Connect to host telnet, rlogin
Network file transfer cd
List files ftp, rcp
Mail mail, elm, pine
Talk to others talk, write
Disable messaging mesg n, biff n
Printing lpr
Check print queue lpq

 

Table 4. Miscellaneous UNIX Commands

Purpose

UNIX COMMAND
Logging out logout,CTRL-D
Changing Passwords passwd
Users logged in who, finger
Help man
Terminal characteristics stty, setenv
Date date


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Revised October 08, 1997. Copyright © 1996-1997 Washington State University.
URL: http://www.wsu.edu/UNIX_Systems