UNIX Commands
This page lists some of the more commonly used UNIX commands.
About UNIX
• Commands are typed at a prompt. Most often, the prompt is a percent sign (%) or dollar sign ($) but sometimes it is the
name of the machine followed by the percent or dollar sign.
• Commands are case sensitive and are usually lower case. This means that ls and LS are completely different commands.
• Spaces are very important. There is always a space between the command and the file or directory it acts upon.
• To execute a UNIX command, press Enter at the end of the command line. If the command is accepted, the prompt and
cursor will simply appear on the next line awaiting your next command. If the command is rejected, an error message
such as "Command not found" appears. Check your spelling, spaces, etc and try to reenter the command. To negate a
command before you have pressed Enter, press CTRL + C.
• To determine your default shell, type echo $SHELL.
• To change your default shell, run /usr/local/bin/chsh and follow the prompt. Do NOT use flags on the command. This is
a custom script and not the standard chsh you might find on Linux machines. After running the command, allow 24
hours for the default shell to take effect.
• Dot files begin with a dot (.) and are used primarily to control system functions. Unless you are an advanced UNIX user,
you should not add or delete anything from a dot file.
Common UNIX Commands
Command Action
cat <file> Print contents of file in the command window
cd <directory> Change directories
cp <file> <file2> Copy the contents of file into file2
history List history of all commands issued at system prompt
ls List the files and subdirectories in a directory
ls -F List the difference between files and directories--directories have a slash (/)
ls -l List files with status/detail information
ls -lt List file information in long format, sorted by time with newest files or newly changed files
appearing first
ls -a List all the files in a directory including dot files
fs lq Lists AFS quota, space used, percentage used
fs q Lists percentage of quota used
mkdir Make a directory
<directory>
mv <file> <file2> Move file to file 2
pwd Print the pathname of the current directory
, rm <file> Remove or delete files
rmdir <directory> Remove directory
Ctrl + C To negate a command that you have entered.
Command Examples
This page lists some of the more commonly used UNIX commands.
About UNIX
• Commands are typed at a prompt. Most often, the prompt is a percent sign (%) or dollar sign ($) but sometimes it is the
name of the machine followed by the percent or dollar sign.
• Commands are case sensitive and are usually lower case. This means that ls and LS are completely different commands.
• Spaces are very important. There is always a space between the command and the file or directory it acts upon.
• To execute a UNIX command, press Enter at the end of the command line. If the command is accepted, the prompt and
cursor will simply appear on the next line awaiting your next command. If the command is rejected, an error message
such as "Command not found" appears. Check your spelling, spaces, etc and try to reenter the command. To negate a
command before you have pressed Enter, press CTRL + C.
• To determine your default shell, type echo $SHELL.
• To change your default shell, run /usr/local/bin/chsh and follow the prompt. Do NOT use flags on the command. This is
a custom script and not the standard chsh you might find on Linux machines. After running the command, allow 24
hours for the default shell to take effect.
• Dot files begin with a dot (.) and are used primarily to control system functions. Unless you are an advanced UNIX user,
you should not add or delete anything from a dot file.
Common UNIX Commands
Command Action
cat <file> Print contents of file in the command window
cd <directory> Change directories
cp <file> <file2> Copy the contents of file into file2
history List history of all commands issued at system prompt
ls List the files and subdirectories in a directory
ls -F List the difference between files and directories--directories have a slash (/)
ls -l List files with status/detail information
ls -lt List file information in long format, sorted by time with newest files or newly changed files
appearing first
ls -a List all the files in a directory including dot files
fs lq Lists AFS quota, space used, percentage used
fs q Lists percentage of quota used
mkdir Make a directory
<directory>
mv <file> <file2> Move file to file 2
pwd Print the pathname of the current directory
, rm <file> Remove or delete files
rmdir <directory> Remove directory
Ctrl + C To negate a command that you have entered.
Command Examples
