Unix Tips for the Novice

Linux is a fully-fledged Unix multi-user system. This means that the filesystem supports multiple users, and all files must belong to someone. There is a special user, called root, who can do system stuff like override file protection and start daemons. Don't login as this unless you have to. Use the adduser command to make yourself a working account, unless you're installing system software.

A lot of system configuration is stored in the directory /etc. System startup commands in Linux are stored in /etc/rc.d. Custom configurations files for each user are stored in the users default directory with a dot prefix eg. .tcshrc . These files do not appear in an ls listing unless the -a option is used.

Common Commands

Unix      DOS       VMS                         Function
-------------------------------------------------------------
ls -la        DIR        DIR/SIZE/DATE/PROT    full directory
ls                       DIR                   short directory
rm            DEL        DELETE
rm -i                    DELETE/CONFIRM
mkdir         MKDIR      CREATE/DIR            make directory
.                        []                    current directory
..                       [-]                   parent directory
/cd/usr/doc   E:\USR\DOC DUA1:[USR.DOC]        typical path
man           HELP       HELP                  Manual pages
apropos                  HELP HINTS            relevant topics
grep                     SEARCH                search
more                     TYPE/PAGE
less          LIST       edit/readonly            
zless                                          browse gzipped doc
zgrep                                          search gzipped doc
tar                      BACKUP (tar)          Tape(file) Archive
cp            COPY       COPY
mv            REN        RENAME  
~/                       SYS$LOGIN:            login directory
alias                    :==                   define symbol
setenv x                 DEFINE                define logical x setenv                   SHOW LOGICAL          show logicals
elm                      mail                  mail utility
tin                      vnews                 newsreader
lpr           PRINT      PRINT                 print
exit                     LOGOUT                log out
passwd                   SET PASSWORD          set password
Mosaic                   MOSAIC                 

Remember, Unix is case-sensitive.