Unix Lab

Unix Commands

A list of Unix commands

The Unix commands that are covered in this lab are listed below with a brief explanation of their function. They are arranged in alphabetical order. You may either scroll to the command about which you want information or use the find feature of your browser (usually in the edit menu).

alias

Create a substitute name for a Unix command. Click here for more information.

apropos

Locate information related to a given keyword. Click here for more information.

cat

Copy a named text file or files to the standard output. Click here for more information.

cd

Change location to the named directory. Click here for more information.

chmod

Change the permissions for a file or directory. Click here for more information.

cp

Copy a file. Click here for more information.

diff

Compare two text files and display differences. Click here for more information.

fg

Move a process from a background or suspended status to a foreground (active) status. Click here for more information.

finger

Locate users by name. Click here for more information.

ftp

Copy files from remote Unix sites or copy files to remote Unix sites. Click here for more information.

grep

Locate files and lines within files containing certain text strings as specified by the user. Click here for more information.

head

View the first few lines of a text file. Click here for more information.

history

View the most recently issued commands. Click here for more information.

lpq

Check the print queue for a particular printer. Click here for more information.

lpr

Obtain hard-copy of a text file. Click here for more information.

lprm

Remove a job from the print queue of a particular printer. Click here for more information.

ls

List the files and subdirectories in a directory. Click here for more information.

man

Get on-line information on Unix commands. Click here for more information.

mkdir

Create a subdirectory. Click here for more information.

View output one screenful at a time. Click here for more information.

mv

Move files or rename files or directories. Click here for more information.

passwd

Change your login password. Click here for more information.

ps

View the current status of processes in the system. Click here for more information.

pwd

List the path to the current directory. Click here for more information.

rm

Remove (delete) the named files. Click here for more information.

rmdir

Remove (delete) the named directory. Click here for more information.

scp

Secure copy a file from one computer to another. Click here for more information.

source

Execute a file of Unix commands. Click here for more information.

ssh

tail

View the last few lines of a text file. Click here for more information.

telnet

vi

Start up the vi editor. Click here for more information.

These pages were developed by John Avila SJSU CS Dept.