File and Directory Handling Commands
- ls: Lists your files
- ls –l: Lists your files in ‘long format’, which information such as the exact size of the file, who owns the file, who has the right to look at it, and when was it last modified.
- ls –a: List all the files, including the ones whose filenames begin in a dot, which you do not always want to see.
- mv file1 file2: Moves a file into a different directory, or renames the file.
- cp file1 file2: Copies a file
- rm filename: Removes a file. Preferably use rm –i which will ask you for confirmation before deleting the file
- wc filename: Tells you how many lines, words, and characters there are in a file
- chmod option file: Lets you change the read, write, and execute permissions on your files. chmod o+r filename will make the file readable for everyone, and chmod o-r filename will make it unreadable for others.
mkdir dirname: Make a new directory
- cd dirname: Change directory. You can basically go to another directory and can view the files in that directory
- pwd: Tells you which directory you are currently browsing.
Printing Commands
- lpr filename: Print. Use the –P command to specify for the printer name. For printing in TAMU CS Department, please refer below.
- lpq: Check out the printer queue. This can be used to get the number needed for removal, or to see how many other files will be printed before yours can come out
- lprm jobnumber: Remove a job from the printer queue. As mentioned above, you can find the job number using lpq.
To print Duplex: type
- ppr-Pps210 -twosided filename
About Yourself and Other People
- whoami: Returns your username. This command can be used to find out if someone is already logged on and had forgotten to log out.
- ps –u yourusername: Lists your processes. Contains information such as the process ID, which you might need to kill a particular process which would be creating difficulties on your computer
kill processID: Ends the process, whose process ID you typed in.
- quota –v OR zquota: Show what your disk quota is, how much you’re using, and incase you have exceeded your quota.
du filename: Shows the disk usage of the files and the directories in filename, du –sk will give a total of all files and directories on the disk
last yourusername: Lists your last logins.
finger username: Gives you lots of information about that user, e.g. when they last read their mail and whether they’re logged in.
- w: Tells you who’s logged in, and what they’re doing.
- who: Tells you who’s logged on, and which computer they are logged on to..
- last –1 username: Tells you when the user last logged on and off and from where.
- talk username: Lets you have a typed conversation with another user (primitive chat service)
- write username: Lets you exchange one line messages with another user (primitive chat service)
Mail and Connection Commands
- mail: By typing this into your Unix shell prompt it will give you a list of mail on your account. All you need to do is type in the mail number on the mail prompt and it will open up
- pine: Basically the same function as the mail command, but with a better user interface
- rlogin hostname: Lets you connect to a remote host
- telnet hostname: Lets you connect to a remote host. Use rlogin whenever possible
- ftp hostname: Lets you download files from a remote host which is set up as an ftp-server
The commands mail and pine(see pine handout) are programs that run to check your mail and thus they will have their own commands and ways to maneuver inside. A hostname will look something like a web address.