GNU Linux Tools Summary

GNU/Linux Command−Line Tools Summary

Gareth Anderson

<somecsstudent(at)gmail.com>

Chris Karakas −

Conversion from LyX to DocBook SGML, Index generation

Revision History

Revision 1.215th April 2006Revised by: GACorrected typing errors, generated new, much smaller index (more accurate in my opinion). Updated errors indocument for TLDP.Revision 1.128th February 2006Revised by: CKCorrected typos, generated new index (9000 index entries!).Revision 1.06th February 2006Revised by: GAMajor restructuring, now in a docbook book format. Removed large chunks of content and revised other parts(removed chapters and sectioned some areas more). This is likely the final release by the author, I hope thatsomeone finds this guide useful as I do not intend to continue work on this guide.Revision 0.7.125th February 2005Revised by: CKSet special characters in math mode, produced PDF and PS with Computer Modern fonts in OT1 encodingand created correct SGML for key combinations.Revision 0.75th December 2004Revised by: GAUpdated document with new grammatical review. Re−ordered the entire Text section. Removed a fairamount of content.Revision v0.620th April 2004Revised by: GAAttempted to fix document according to TLDP criticisms. Added notes and tips more sectioning. Nowcomplying to the open group standards for the UNIXsystem trademark. Document should be ready for TLDP site.Revision v0.56th October 2003Revised by: GAFixed a variety of errors as according to the review and made some consistency improvements to thedocument.Revision v0.415th July 2003Revised by: GAMade small improvements to the document as suggested (so far) by the thorough TLDP review, improvedconsistency of document and made small content additions.Revision v0.326th June 2003Revised by: GAMinor errors fixed, updated the appendix with information for finding where a tool is from. Fixedreferencing/citation problems and improved further reading and intro sections, added an audio section.Revision v0.220th April 2003Revised by: GA

This is the initial public release. Added more code−style then before, broke text−section into moresubsections. Improved consistency of document and fixed various index entries.Revision v0.127th March 2003Revised by: GAThis is the initial draft release (the first release to be converted from LyX to DocBook SGML).This document is an attempt to provide a summary of useful command−line tools available to a GNU/Linuxbased operating system, the tools listed are designed to benefit the majority of users and have being chosen atthe authors discretion. This document is not a comprehensive list of

every

existent tool available to aGNU/Linux based system, nor does it have in−depth explanations of how things work. It is a summary whichcan be used to learn about and how to use many of the tools available to a GNU/Linux based operatingsystem.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1. Introduction......................................................................................................................................1

1.1. Who wouldwant to read this guide?.................................................................................................11.2. Who wouldnot want to read this guide?..........................................................................................21.3. Availabilityof sources......................................................................................................................21.4. Conventions used in this guide.........................................................................................................21.5. Resources used to create this document............................................................................................41.6. Feedback...........................................................................................................................................41.7. Contributors......................................................................................................................................5

Chapter 2. Legal..................................................................................................................................................7

2.1. Disclaimer.........................................................................................................................................72.2. License..............................................................................................................................................7

Chapter 3. The Unix Tools Philosophy.............................................................................................................8Chapter 4. Shell Tips..........................................................................................................................................9

4.1. General Shell Tips.............................................................................................................................94.2. The command−line history.............................................................................................................124.3. Other Key combinations.................................................................................................................134.4. Virtual Terminals and screen..........................................................................................................13

Chapter 5. Help.................................................................................................................................................15Chapter 6. Directing Input/Output.................................................................................................................17

6.1. Concept Definitions........................................................................................................................176.2. Usage...............................................................................................................................................176.3. Command Substitution...................................................................................................................196.4. Performingmore than one command..............................................................................................19

Chapter 7. Working with the file−system.......................................................................................................21

7.1. Moving around the filesystem........................................................................................................217.1.1. Finding files...........................................................................................................................237.2. Working with files and folders.......................................................................................................247.3. Mass Rename/copy/link Tools........................................................................................................29

Chapter 8. Finding information about the system.........................................................................................32

8.1. Date/Time/Calendars......................................................................................................................358.2. Finding information about partitions..............................................................................................36

Chapter 9. Controllingthe system...................................................................................................................37

9.1. Mounting and Unmounting (Floppy/ CDROM/Hard−drive Partitions)..........................................379.2. Shutting Down/Rebooting the System............................................................................................389.3. Controlling Processes.....................................................................................................................409.4. Controllingservices........................................................................................................................44

Chapter 10. Managing users............................................................................................................................45

10.1. Users/Groups.................................................................................................................................45

GNU/Linux Command−Line Tools Summaryi