Unix and Linux Command Quick Reference Page

ls

Lists the contents of your working directory.

ls -a   Lists all of your files, including the "dot" files. There are a number of files that start with a . that won't normally show up with when you type ls. An example of such a file is your .newsrc file.

ls -s   Gives you a listing of your files along with their size in kilobytes.

ls -l   Gives you a "long listing," which means that your files will be shown in one vertical column and the file size and file access modes for all files will be shown.

All of these switches can be combined, so one might type ls -as to list all of one's files and find their size.

cp

Copies a file to a specified location. Can be used to copy a directory with files in it using cp –r .

Usage:   cp [ -r ] [source file(s) or directory(ies)] [destination file(s) or directory(ies)]

Examples:
cp ~/myfile ~/mydir/
cp file1.txt newfile.txt
cp –r ~/myproject/ ~/myprojectbackup/

mv

Moves (or renames) a file to a specified location. Similar to cp except that it deletes the source file (or directory, no option needed).

Usage:   mv [source file(s) or directory(ies)] [destination file or directory(ies)]

Examples:
mv ~/myoldfilename ~/mynewfilename
mv file* ~/mydirectoryoffiles/
mv ~/mydir/ ~/myotherdir/

rm

Deletes file(s) or directory trees. There is no undoing! Can be used to delete all files and subdirectories with rm –rf .

Usage:   rm [-rf] [file or directory]

Examples:
rm mytxtfile.txt
rm –rf ~/mydir/ (removes the directory and everything in it)
rm –rf ~/ (don't do this!)

pwd

Prints the working directory. This could be called your current path or view.

cd

Changes your working directory or view or where you're “in” to another specified location.

Usage:   cd [destination path]

Examples:
cd ~/ (home directory)
cd somedir/someotherdir/
cd / (root directory)
cd .. (parent directory)

mkdir

Creates a new directory. You can specify a location if you like.

Usage:   mkdir [directory path and name]

Examples:
mkdir newdir
mkdir ~/newdir
mkdir olddir/newdir

rmdir

Removes (deletes) a directory. You can only use this on empty directories.

Usage:   rmdir [directory path and name]

Examples:
rmdir ~/olddir
rmdir olddir/empty/

du -k

Lists all files and folders with their associated total sizes in KiloBytes. 

Usage:   du –k [directory path or file]

Examples:
du –k (from current directory)
du –ks ~/.mozilla (displays sum of all files' sizes in your mozilla tree)

uquota -w

Displays your current disk and print quota usage. The –w option allows you to see work directory quotas as well. 

Usage:   uquota –w

scp

See description under Remote Access. Copies files or directories from one user account to another.

chmod

Modifies the permissions of files or directories. Permissions are rules about how and which users can access the files or directories. The three switches covered here are: r -read access, w -write access, x –execute access.

Usage:   chmod [ + or - ]rwx [file(s) or directory]

Examples:
chmod +r myfile (adds read access to a myfile)
chmod –w myfile (removes write access to myfile)
chmod +x myfile (adds execute access to myfile)

ln –s

Creates a symbolic link to a file or directory. Symbolic links are analagous to windows shortcuts, and are simply pointers. You can create one in your home directory to avoid having to cd into another directory you use frequently.

Usage:   ln –s [link file] [target]

Examples:
ln -s fortunelink /usr/local/share/terminfo/f/fortune
ln –s otherlink ~/something/somethingelse

/bin/rm -rf

It's just like above, except you won't get the very data saving confirmation messages if you're deleting many files.

An alternative is to unalias rm which will use /bin/rm until you logout.

man

The man unix tool is shorthand for "manual." Most unix programs and utilities have brief documentation installed on the system. In order to access these online manuals,

Usage:   man [program name]

where [program name] is a unix utility or application such as those in this guide.

Note: Not all utilities and applications have "man" pages. Check the EWS Software guide at https://www-s.ews.uiuc.edu/software/ or ask a lab operator for more assistance.

apropos

There are many types of files that are commonly used in unix systems that may never be seen by an individual that is only familiar with Windows. The "apropos" utility is a helpful tool for finding the proper utility or application that opens a particular file type. Note that apropos may not be aware of all filetypes.

Usage:   apropos [file type]
(where [file type] is the file's extension)

Example: apropos pdf

Note: This utility currently works correctly only on linux workstations.

top

The top utility displays a list of the top ten (default number) programs running ordered by how much cpu or computing power the programs are using. A user can stop programs that they started from this screen by pressing 'k' then entering the Process ID (first column number) and pressing enter. In order to quit top simply press 'q'.

ps

The ps utility is another way to display a list of programs running on the system. Just typing ps will display a list of programs that have been started from the particular terminal window that the user is in. In order to see a more useful list of all programs running on the system,

Usage:   ps –ef

Example:   ps -ef |grep [username]
(returns all the processes that are running for [username])

kill

Use this unix utility in conjunction with ps in order to end a running program on the system by the Process ID (first column in ps's output).

Usage:   kill [PID]

Example:   kill 2458

lpr

lpr can be used to print ONLY postscript or flat text files from the command line or from within an applications print dialog.

Usage:   lpr –P[printer name]@print [file name]

If you leave out the -P... the file will be printed to the default printer for each lab.

Examples:
lpr -Pdcllas1@print myfile.ps
lpr -Pehcolor1@print mycolorfile.ps
lpr mytextfile

mpage

mpage is a tool used to print multiple pages per sheet on a PostScript printer. It has the ability to print out text or PostScript documents. mpage can be used on any text or postscript file at the command line of your xterm or within many programs' print dialogs. To print a document using mpage , simply replace [file name] with the file you wish to print and the [#] with the number of pages you wish to put on one page (i.e 2 , 4 or 8).

Usage:   mpage –[#] -P[printer name]@print [file name]

Example:   mpage -4 -Pmelas1@print

acroread

The Acrobat Reader allows users to view and print PDF files. It can be invoked by typing acroread from the command line.

Usage:   acroread

Once acrobat is running, the file to be viewed can be chosen by clicking File and Open. Scroll up and down the list to find the desired file, and click on that file to open it.

gv

GhostView is a program to view and navigate through PostScript and PDF documents on an X display, by providing a user interface for the ghostscript interpreter. GhostView can be started by typing gv at the command line.

Usage:   gv

pq

pqj

Print Queues are used to print your job after it has been spooled to the printer. pq is used when printing on the Linux or Unix computers. pqj can also be used on Linux or Unix and has the same interface as that used on the Windows computers' "Print Browser."

Usage:   pq or pqj

ssh

Secure Shell is a program to log into another computer over a network, to execute commands in a remote machine, and to move files from one machine to another. It provides strong authentication and secure communications over insecure channels.

Usage:   ssh [username]@[workstation name]
where [workstation name] is the name of the remote workstation and optional [username] is the username you wish to login with.

Examples:
ssh remsun (on the ews network using your current username)
ssh janedoe@remsun.ews.uiuc.edu (outside the ews network with netid janedoe)

For more information regarding remote access including X11 forwarding refer to http://www.ews.uiuc.edu/clrtxt/

sftp

The sftp utility is the secure version of ftp and works almost identically. Ftp is a file tranfer protocol that allows you to upload and download files to a computer running an sftp server (all EWS machines do as part of ssh access).

Usage:   sftp [workstation name] or sftp [username]@[workstation name]
(Similar to the ssh command)

For more information about ftp commands and transfering files, see this concise command reference or others.

scp

Copies a single file or a folder with multiple files using secure protocol over TCP/IP (the network) from one computer to another. This is rarely useful within the EWS environment, since your home directory is mounted on all workstations. However, it may be useful to copy to another machine on or off campus that runs an ssh server.

To copy one file from a remote workstation to your workstation
Usage:   scp [remote workstation name]:[file name] [local path]

Where [local path] is the location where you wish to save the copied file (the location . is your current location). Similarly, to copy one from your workstation to a remote workstation
Usage: scp [local file name] [remote workstation name]:[path]

To copy an entire folder as above respectively
Usage:   scp –r [workstation name]:[remote directory path] [local destination path]
Or:   scp –r [local directory path] [workstation name]:[remote destination path]

Examples:
scp . user@remotemachine.domain.org:~/myfile
scp -r ~/ name@machine:/usr/local/src/
scp -r docs/ user@machine:~/

telnet
rlogin
rsh
rcp
rdist

These remote access methods are unsupported. These methods do not use encryption and therefore are not part of EWS's commitment to using secure communication. See http://www.ews.uiuc.edu/clrtxt/ for more information.

Mozilla lock files

When mozilla exits abnormally such as when mozilla exits unexpectedly due to a programming bug, a lock file can sometimes be left behind causes the mozilla profile that was used to become unusable. In order to find this file,

Use:   find ~/.mozilla –name lock

Once you have found the file's location, use the rm command to delete the file and mozilla should work normally. See an operator for further assistance.

getskel

The getskel utility reloads the default shell and X windows configuration to your account. Use this in case changes have been made to your configuration files that are causing problems.

Use:   /usr/local/ews/getskel

Note: This will erase any customizations you have added to your startup files.

webperm

This utility is an easy way to ensure that permissions on your web space files are correct. Simply run this utlity and the permission on all files and directories in your ~/public_html folder are set correctly.

Using disks and cdroms

Before you can access your disk, you must first mount it. To do this, place the disk in the drive and from the Unix or Linux prompt type volcheck . The machine will check for any new disks and mount them appropriately. The files on the mounted disk will be found in either /floppy , /zip , or /cdrom . When you have finished using a disk, the following should be used on the appropriate disk type to eject it.

Usage:   eject-cdrom
or:   eject-floppy
or:   eject-zip