Unix Commands



General Commands

  • ls – (List Schema) This command will list the contents of your current directory. It only returns files that are not (.) "dot" files.
  • mkdir - (Make Directory). With this command will create a subdirectory in your home directory.
  • cd - (Change Directory) With this command you can move from your current working directory to a new directory.
  • pwd - (Print Working Directory). The pwd command, when evoked, will display the absolute pathname for the directory you are currently in..
  • cp – (copy). This command will copy a file from one directory to another.
  • mv – (Move) this allows you to move a file from one place to another
  • rm - (Remove) This command is used to delete a file.
  • rmdir – (Remove Directory) This command is used to delete directories.
  • clear - Clear the terminal window.
  • cat – (Concatenate) Can be used to display the contents of a file on the screen.
  • more – The more command is used to view files just like cat except that the more command lets you view the information 1 page at a time.
  • head – The head command writes the first 10 lines of a file to the screen.
  • tail - The tail command writes the last ten lines of a file to the screen.
  • grep – The grep command will search a file for specified words or patterns and prints out each line in which the word or pattern occurs.
  • wc – (Word Count) this gives a word count for a specific filename.
  • Ping – allows to determine if a hosts Ethernet configuration is good.
  • Traceroute – allows you see the path that a packet must travel to get to its destination.
  • Ns lookup - allows you to invoke DNS to lookup a host or IP address.
  • Whois – Script that Queries the InterNic Database for information on a particular host.
  • chmod – Change access modes on files.
  • csplit - Break files at specific locations.
  • file – Determine a files type.
  • install – Set up system files.
  • ln – Create filename aliases.
  • rcp – Copy files to a remote system.
  • split – Splits files evenly.
  • banner – Make posters from words.
  • pc – Precision Calculator.
  • cal – Display Calendar.
  • calendar – Check for reminders.
  • kill – Terminate a running command.
  • nice – Reduce a jobs priority.
  • nohup – Preserve a job after logging out.
  • passwd – Set a password.
  • script – produce a transcript of your login session.
  • spell – report misspelled words.
  • su – Become a superuser.

Printing

  • cancel – Cancel a printer request.
  • lp – Send to the printer.
  • lpstat – Get printer status.
  • pr – Format and paginate for printing.

Searching

  • egrep – Extended version of grep.
  • fgrep – Search files for literal words.
  • find - Search the systems for filenames.
  • locate - GNU command used to find a file on the system.
  • grep - Search files for text patterns.
  • strings – Search binary files for text patterns.

Shell Programming

  • echo – Repeat input on the output.
  • expr – Perform arithmetic and comparisons.
  • line – Read a line of input.
  • sleep – Pause during processing.
  • test – Test a condition.

Storage

  • compress – Compress files to free up space.
  • cpio – Copy archives in or out.
  • pack – Pack files to free up space.
  • pcat – Display contents of packed files.
  • tar – Tape archiver.
  • uncompress – Expand compressed (.Z) files.
  • unpack – Expand packed (.z) files.
  • zcat – Display contents of compressed files.

System Status

  • at – Execute commands later.
  • chgrp – Change file group.
  • chown – Chang file owner.
  • crontab – Automate commands.
  • date – Display or set date.
  • df – Show free disk space.
  • du – Show disk usage.
  • env – Show environmental variables.
  • finger – Point out information about users.
  • ps – Show processes.
  • ruptime- Show loads on working systems.
  • shutdown – Revert to single-user mode.
  • stty – Set or display terminal settings.
  • who – Show who is logged on.

Text Processing

  • cut – Select columns for display.
  • ex – Line-editor underlying vi.
  • fmt – produce roughly uniform lines.
  • fold – Produce exactly uniform line lengths.
  • join – Merge different columns into a database.
  • nawk – New version of awk.
  • paste – Merge columns of switch order.
  • sed – Noninte4active text editor.
  • sort – Sort or merge files.
  • tr – Translate characters.
  • uniq – Find repeated or unique lines in a file.
  • vi – Visual editor.
  • xargs - Process many arguments in a manageable portions.