Common Unix Commands

cd directoryname
Change directories. The path of the directory must be specified correctly, for example: cd /data/geoglab/g373

cp filename1 newname
Copy filename1 to newname.

du
Lists the disk usage of all files in your homespace.

du filename
Lists the disk usage of filename.

du directoryname
Lists the disk usage of directoryname.

file filename
Identifies the file format of filename.

ls
To list your files.

man commandname
Displays help for a specific command. Type "q" to exit.

mkdir directoryname
Make a new directory.

more filename
Reads a text file to the screen, page by page.

mv filename1 filename2
Move filename1 to filename2. Use this command to rename files.

pwd
Display the path to your current directory.

qcheck geogbw1
Check the print queue for the black-and-white printer in the Open Lab.

qcheck geoglab
Check the print queue for the color printer in the Open Lab.

qmod -k printjobnumber
Kills a user's print job

quota
Identifies available home space.

quota -v
Identifies available class work space.

rm filename
Remove a file.

rmdir directoryname
Remove a directory.

See the section on Printing for print commands.

Need more info? See
http://www.geog.umd.edu/openlab/ or
http://www.inform.umd.edu/CompRes/docs/WAM/start.html or http://www.inform.umd.edu/geog/homepage/courses/materials/unix/unix1. html. (Links will open in a new window).

Last updated 29 February 2000.