Basic UNIX Skills

What is UNIX?

UNIX is the name of a computer operating system and the utility programs it provides. The first version of UNIX was developed in 1969 by AT&T Bell Labs.

UNIX is the operating system that is used on the ASPIRE and LASER computers. For this reasone, we need some basic "survival" skills in UNIX.

First thing to remember, UNIX is case sensitive!!!

Because UNIX is case sensitive, Pine is not the same command as pine. And if you name a file you must use the same case when calling for it.

C-shell

The shell is the command interpreter. Our computers use the C-shell but there are others, such as the Bourne shell and Korn shell. When you type characters at the keyboard, the command interpreter (shell) decides if these keystrokes represent a valid command; if they do, the system executes the command. If they do not, it returns an error message.

Basic UNIX Commands

Command Description

passwd Allows you to set your password to what you want it to be. The password needs to be at least six characters and must contain at least one numeric character.

man command Opens an on-line manual and gives information about the command you specify (replace command with a specific command)

mv file1 file2 Renames file1 to file2. Issuing this command results in one file named file2.

mv file1 dirname Moves file1 to the directory named dirname

cp file1 file2 Makes a copy of file1 and names the copy file2. Issuing this command results in two identical files with different names.

rm file1 Removes, or deletes, the file named file1.

mkdir dirname Creates a new directory within your current directory and names it dirname

rmdir dirname Removes, or deletes, the directory named dirname

ls Lists the files and directories in your current directory. You may specify other information by adding options to the ls command. Look at the man page for ls to see other options (type man ls)

cd Changes your current directory to your home directory

cd dirname Changes your current directory to the directory named dirname, if it resides in your current directory

cd .. Changes your current directory to the directory one level "up"

more filename Allows you to view the file named filename, pausing after each screen

cat filename Allows you to view the file named filename, but does not pause

pwd Print working directory

finger Lists current users

w Lists current users and their activity

pine Launches the Pine mail utility

talk username Allows you to type interactively with another user. This command interrupts the other user, be considerate!

write username Writes messages to the named user. Also interrupts user, be considerate!

Command	Description
passwd	Allows you to set your password to what you want it to be. The password needs to be at least six characters and must contain at least one numeric character.
man command	Opens an on-line manual and gives information about the command you specify (replace command with a specific command)
mv file1 file2	Renames file1 to file2. Issuing this command results in one file named file2.
mv file1 dirname	Moves file1 to the directory named dirname
cp file1 file2	Makes a copy of file1 and names the copy file2. Issuing this command results in two identical files with different names.
rm file1	Removes, or deletes, the file named file1.
mkdir dirname	Creates a new directory within your current directory and names it dirname
rmdir dirname	Removes, or deletes, the directory named dirname
ls	Lists the files and directories in your current directory. You may specify other information by adding options to the ls command. Look at the man page for ls to see other options (type man ls)
cd	Changes your current directory to your home directory
cd dirname	Changes your current directory to the directory named dirname, if it resides in your current directory
cd ..	Changes your current directory to the directory one level "up"
more filename	Allows you to view the file named filename, pausing after each screen
cat filename	Allows you to view the file named filename, but does not pause
pwd	Print working directory
finger	Lists current users
w	Lists current users and their activity
pine	Launches the Pine mail utility
talk username	Allows you to type interactively with another user. This command interrupts the other user, be considerate!
write username	Writes messages to the named user. Also interrupts user, be considerate!