Some useful UNIX Commands for newbies to get a start in UNIX

Part 1: Working with files and rights
cp <source> <dest> --- Copies the source file to dest
mv <source> <dest> --- Moves source to dest (if a directory,
else it renames source to dest)

cd <directory> --- Changes the current directory
pwd --- Shows the current directory
mkdir <directory> --- Creates a directory
rm <directory> --- Deletes a directory, if empty
rm -R <directory> --- Deletes a whole directory with subdirectories
(like DELTREE <directory>)
rm <file> --- Deletes a file

chmod userMODErights --- Changes the mode of a file
user=(u)ser (current user)
(g)roup (group of current user)
(o)ther (all, except user&group)
(a)ll (all )
MODE=(+) add rights
(-) remove rights
rights=(r)eadable
(w)ritable
e(x)ecutable

df --- Shows free disk space
find / -name "<file>" --- Searches the whole tree for a file (>
DIR <FILE> /S)
whereis <file> --- Searches the path for a file
grep -l "<Text>" <files> --- Shows all files, which contain the
given <Text>
cmp <file1> <file2> --- Compares <file1> with <file2>
diff <file1> <file2> --- Compares <file1> with <file2> and show
the difference
between them
head <file> --- Shows the first 10 lines of the file
tail <file> --- Shows the last 10 lines of the file
nl <file> --- Shows the lines of the file numbered
sort <file> --- Shows the lines of the file in sorted order
strings <file> --- Shows only the readable strings of a
file
wc <file> --- Shows lines, words, bytes of a file

file <file> --- Gives information about a file
touch <file> -a -m -c -t MMDDhhmmCCYY --- Changes the timestamp of a file
-a (Change Access-time)
-m (Change Modification-time)
-c (Don't create files, that don't exist)

pico [file] --- An easy to use ASCII-Editor.
script <file> --- Copies the text, that is entered
between this command
and the "exit"-command in <file>

lpr <file> --- Prints a file
lprm <file> --- Removes file from Printing Queue

sudo <file> --- Executes file with SuperUser-Rights (Only
when
user is in SUID-List, else it will be
reported
to root)

Part 2: Working with archives
tar -cvf <archive.tar> <files> --- Creates <archive.tar> and stores
the files (uncompressed)
in this archive
tar -xpvf <archive.tar> <files> --- Extracts the files from the
archive
tar -tf <archive.tar> | less --- Shows the contents of an archive

gzip <file> --- Compresses the <file>
gzip can only compress one file, so you'll
have to
archive the files with tar and then gzip
them.
This will give you a file.tar.gz
tar -zxf <file.tar.gz> --- Decompresses and Extracts the files


tar -M -cvf /dev/fd0h1440 <files> --- Creates a Multi-Volume-Archive (for
floppy discs)
tar -M -xpvf /dev/fd0h1440 --- Extracts a Multi-Volume-Archive

Part 3: Working with filesystems
Formatting a Floppy Disc.
Step 1 -- Format the disc

fdformat /dev/fd0H1440

Step 2 -- Create a Filesystem on the disc

mkfs -t <fs> -c /dev/fd0H1440

<fs> stands for the filesystem. This can be ext2/minix/msdos (for floppys
normal is minix)


To use a floppy disc or a cd-rom, you'll have to mount them before.

mount <device> <directory>

Floppy: mount /dev/fd0 /floppy (you can use any directory, but floppy
would be normal,
I think.)
CD-ROM: mount /dev/hdc /cdrom


Part 4: Working in Networks
Connect to a remote machine, and execute programs on it.

telnet remote.host.org --- Connect to a remote machine
You can then execute programs on the remote
machine in the
terminal.

uname -a --- Gives information about the current system

w --- Shows who is currently logged in and what he
is running
finger --- Shows who is logged in.
With "finger <user>" you can get more
information about
specific users

passwd --- Change User Password

write <user> [<tty>] --- Write a message to <user>.
If <user> is logged on more than one
terminal, you can
specify it in <tty>. To answer you, the
<user> must
also start "write"
chsh --- Changes the login shell

Part 5: Programming
cc -o <Output file> <Source file> --- compiles the Source file into Output
file
gcc -o <Output file> <Source file> --- same

gcc -o <Output file> -l<libname> --- links the library <libname> to the file

The C functions are declared in manual 3 ==> man 3 <function>

Part 6: Doing jobs in the background
------------------------------------
If you add an & at the end of a command, it will start in the background.
Exmpl: fdformat /dev/fd0h1440 &

ps -a --- Shows all current processes
kill <PID> --- End process
kill -9 <PID> --- Forces the process to end

You can stop the processes on two ways and make them to jobs.

CTRL-C --- Stop process
CTRL-Z --- Stop process temporarily

bg <job> --- Brings a job into background
fg <job> --- Brings a job into foreground
kill <%job> --- End job

jobs --- Shows all current jobs


Part 7: Escape Sequences
\a Bell
\b backspace
\f feed
\n linefeed
\r carriage return
\t tab horizontal
\v tab vertical


Ending
------

This text should just provide some basic skills, so that you can start using
UN*X. I know it isn't
declared very much, but i like short tables, being able to lookup a certain
command. If you need to
know more specific switches you can always consult the manuals with: man
<command>.