UNIX Commands
Login Commands
passwd
logout
who
who am I
clear
Login Commands
Passwd
The passwd command changes passwords
for user accounts. A normal user may only
change the password for his/her own account,
while the superuser may change the
password for any account.
OPTIONS
-d, --delete
Delete a user's password (make it empty).
-e, --expire
Immediately expire an account's password.
-l, --lock
Lock the password of the named account.
Login Commands
-u, --unlock
Unlock the password of the named account.
Example :
Change your own password:
$ passwd
output:
$ passwd
Changing password for ubuntu.
(current) UNIX password:
Enter new UNIX password:
Retype new UNIX password:
passwd: password updated successfully
Login Commands
logout
logout command allows you to
programmatically logout from your session.
causes the session manager to take the
requested action immediately.
EXAMPLES
Example:
To logout from current user session:
$ logout
output:
no output on screen, current user session will
be logged out.
Login Commands
who
who - show who is logged on
OPTIONS
-l, --login
print system login processes
-q, --count
all login names and number of users logged
on
-u, --users
list users logged in
Login Commands
whoami
whoami prints the effective user ID.
This command prints the username
associated with the current effective user ID.
syntax
whoami [OPTION]
OPTIONS
--help
Display a help message, and exit.
--version
Display version information, and exit.
Login Commands
clear
clear the terminal screen.
EXAMPLE
Clear the terminal
$ clear
File & Directory
Commands
ls - list directory contents.
ls List information about the FILEs (the
current directory by default).
Options
-l
use a long listing format
--author
with –l, print the author of each file.
-C
list entries by columns
-g
like -l, but do not list owner
-G, --no-group
in a long listing, don't print group names
File & Directory
Commands
-m
fill width with a comma separated list of
entries
-S
sort by file size
-r, --reverse
reverse order while sorting
-t
sort by modification time
-x
list entries by lines instead of by columns
File & Directory
Commands
Example:
To list all files of current directory:
$ ls
output:
# ls
Commands
cat
The cat (short for “concatenate“) command is
one of the most frequently used command in
Linux/Unix like operating systems. cat
command allows us to create single or
multiple files, view contain of file,
concatenate files and redirect output in
terminal or files.
SYNTAX
cat [Options] [File]…
Example :
Create two sample files
#sample.txt
This is a sample text file
#sample1.txt
Commands
To display content of a file.
$ cat sample.txt
This is a sample text file
To display content of all txt files.
$ cat *.txt
This is a another sample text file This is a
sample text file
To concatenate two files.
$ cat sample.txt sample1.txt > sample2.txt
$ cat sample2.txt
This is a sample text file
This is a another sample text file
Commands
To display content of a file.
$ cat sample.txt
This is a sample text file
To display content of all txt files.
$ cat *.txt
This is a another sample text file This is a
sample text file
To concatenate two files.
$ cat sample.txt sample1.txt > sample2.txt
$ cat sample2.txt
This is a sample text file
This is a another sample text file
Commands
cd
To change directory - change the current
working directory to a specific Folder.
If directory is given, changes the shell's
working directory todirectory.
EXAMPLES
Move to the sample folder
$ cd /usr/local/sample
Move up one folder
$ cd ..
Get back to original location
$ cd
Commands
pwd
print name of current/working directory.
The current directory is nothing but the
directory in which you are currently operating
while using bash or ksh.
Syntax
pwd [options]
Example
To print current working directory, enter:
$ pwd
output:
/home/user
Commands
mv
The mv command allows you to move and
rename files.
Syntax
The syntax for the mv command is:
mv [options] sources target
Options
Option Description
-f Forces the move.
-i Prompt for a confirmation before
overwriting any files.
Example
mv -f tech /usr
Commands
cp
To copy one or more files to another location.
SYNTAX
cp [options]... Source Dest
EXAMPLES
Copy sample.txt to sample.bak.
$ cat sample.txt
This is a sample file
$ cp sample.txt sample.bak
$ cat sample.bak
This is a sample file
Commands
ln
creates links between files. ln creates a link
to file TARGET with the name LINKNAME.
Syntax
$ ln file1 file2
Example
$ cat target.txt
target file
$ ln target.txt link.txt
$ cat link.txt
target file
Commands
rm
rm removes each specified file. By default, it
does not remove directories.
SYNTAX
rm [OPTION]... FILE...
Example-1:
Remove the file myfile.txt. If the file is write-
protected, you will be prompted to confirm
that you really want to delete it:
$ rm myfile.txt
Example-2:
Remove the file myfile.txt. You will not be
prompted, if the file is write-protected .
$ rm -f myfile.txt
Commands
rmdir
Remove the DIRECTORY(ies), if they are
empty.
Syntax :
rmdir [OPTION]... DIRECTORY...
Example :
rmdir command will delete the empty
directories. i.e directory without any sub-
directories or files:
$ rmdir test
Commands
mkdir
Create the DIRECTORY(ies), if they do not
already exist.
Syntax :
mkdir [OPTION]... DIRECTORY...
Example :
Creates a new directory called mydir whose
parent is the current directory.
$ mkdir mydir
output:
$ls
mydir
Commands
umask
a new file's permissions may be restricted in
a specific way by applying a permissions
"mask" called the umask. The umask
command is used to set this mask, or to show
you its current value.
Syntax
$ umask [-S] [mask]
Options
-S Accept a symbolic representation
of a mask, or return one.
To view your system's current umask value,
enter the command:
Commands
which will return your system's umask as a
four-digit octal number, for example:
0002
0002 is the same as 002.
To view this as a symbolic representation, use
the -S flag:
$ umask -S
Which will return the same value
symbolically, for example:
u=rwx,g=rwx,o=rx
Commands
chmod
chmod changes the permissions of each
given file according to mode, where mode
describes the permissions to modify. Mode
can be specified with octal numbers or with
letters.
chmod [Options]... Mode
Numeric mode
A numeric mode is from one to four octal
digits (0-7), derived by adding up the bits
with values 4, 2, and 1. Permissions for the
user who owns the file: read (4), write (2),
and execute (1).
Commands
EXAMPLES
Read by owner only
$ chmod 400 sample.txt
Read by group only
$ chmod 040 sample.txt
Read by anyone
$ chmod 004 sample.txt
Write by owner only
$ chmod 200 sample.txt
Write by group only
$ chmod 020 sample.txt
Commands
Write by anyone
$ chmod 002 sample.txt
Execute by owner only
$ chmod 100 sample.txt
Execute by group only
$ chmod 010 sample.txt
Execute by anyone
$ chmod 001 sample.txt
Allow read permission to owner and group
and anyone.
$ chmod 444 sample.txt
Allow everyone to read, write, and execute
file.
Commands
chown
To change owner, change the user and/or
group ownership of each given File to a new
Owner.
chown [Options]... NewOwner File...
EXAMPLES
Change the owner of file.
$ chown user sample.txt
Change the group of file.
$ chown :mygroup file.txt
Change both the owner and group of file in
single command.
Commands
chgrp
To change group ownership. 'chgrp' command
changes the group ownership of each given
File to Group (which can be either a group
name or a numeric group id).
chgrp [Options]... {Group} File...
EXAMPLES
To Make oracleadmin the owner of the
database directory
$ chgrp oracleadmin /usr/database
Commands
find
The find command in UNIX is a command line
utility for walking a file hierarchy. It can be
used to find files and directories and perform
subsequent operations on them. It supports
searching by file, folder, name, creation date,
modification date, owner and permissions.
To find a single file by name pass the -name
option to find along with the name of the file
you are looking for.
Suppose the following directory structure
exists shown here as the output of the tree
command.
user
├── abc
Commands
The file user.txt can be located with the find
by using the -name option.
find ./user -name user.txt
./user/mydir/user.txt
How to find and delete a file
To find and delete a file pass the --delete
option to find. This will delete the file with no
undo so be careful.
find ./user -name user.txt --delete
How to find a directory
To find a directory specify the option -type d
with find.
Commands
pg
Pg is a pager: it allows you to view text files
one page at a time. pg displays a text file on
a CRT one screenful at once. After each page,
a prompt is displayed. The user may then
either press the newline key to view the next
page or one of the keys described below.
pg [options] [file...]
Options
-number : The number of lines per page.
Usually, this is the number of CRT lines minus
one.
-c : Clear the screen before a page is
displayed, if the terminfo entry for the
Commands
Example
$ pg myfile.txt
Displays the first screenful of the contents of
text file myfile.txt, and a prompt (":").
Pressing the Return key displays the next
page.
Commands
more
more is a filter for paging through text one
screen at a time. The RETURN key displays
the next line of the file. The spacebar displays
the next screen of the file.
Syntax
more [options] [files]
Options
-c : Page through the file by clearing
the
window. (not scrolling).
-d : Displays "Press space to continue,
'q' to quit“
-w : Waits for a user to press a key
Commands
examples
more +3 myfile.txt
Display the contents of file myfile.txt,
beginning at line 3.
more +/"hope" myfile.txt
Display the contents of file myfile.txt,
beginning at the first line containing the string
"hope".
ls | more
List the contents of the current directory with
ls, using more to display the list one screen
at a time.
Commands
less
This command is used to see the information
of the document page wise. This command
work just like more command and it is older
version.
Syntax
$less File Name Press q to exit
Example
$less abc.txt
Commands
Navigation of less Command
f or spacebar To move page
forward
b To move back one
page
Enter or j One line forward
k One line back
p Beginning of file
G End of file
Commands
head
head command help in viewing lines at the
beginning of the file respectively.
Syntax:
$head –Line Number File Name
Unless otherwise specified the head
command assumes that you want to display
first 10 lines in the file. Should you decide to
view first fifteen lines you simply have to say.
$head -15 myfile
Here with head command we can
specify the number of lines if we decide to
override this default value.
Commands
tail
tail command help in viewing lines at the
ending of the file respectively.
Syntax:
$tail –Line Number File
Unless
Name
Unless
otherwise specified the tail command
assumes that you want to display last 10 lines
in the file. Should you decide to view last
fifteen lines you simply have to say.
$tail -15 myfile
Here with tail command we can specify
the number of lines if we decide to override
this default value.
Commands
wc (Word Count)
This command is used to count number of
characters, words and lines in an given input
file. If file is not given, it takes input from
standard input.
Syntax
$wc [Option] File Name
Options
-l Counts number of lines
-w Counts number of words
-c Counts number of
characters
Commands
Example
A file abc.txt having following data
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
$ wc abc.txt
Output
2 20 42 abc.txt
Note: Spacebar and Enter also known as
on character
Commands
touch (Changing the time stamp)
This command is used to change the
time stamp.
Syntax
$touch File Name
Timestamp Description
Access time The last time the file was
read. - atime
Modification The last time the contents of
the file were modified. -
mtime
Change time The last time the file's
Commands
With no options, touch will change the atime,
mtime, and ctime of file to the current system
time.
Examples
$ touch file.txt
$ touch -c file.txt
Redirection & Piping
Redirection is a feature in Linux such that
when executing a command, you can change
the standard input/output devices. The basic
workflow of any Linux command is that it
takes an input and give an output.
The standard input (stdin) device is the
keyboard.
The standard output (stdout) device is the
screen.
Output Redirection
The '>' symbol is used for output (STDOUT)
redirection.
Example:
Redirection & Piping
>> : Does the same as >, except that if the
target file exists, the new data are appended.
command >> out.txt
If out.txt exists, the output of command will
be appended to it, after whatever is already in
it. If it does not exist it will be created.
Input redirection
The '<' symbol is used for input(STDIN)
redirection.
Example: The mail program in Linux can help
you send emails from the Terminal.
Redirection & Piping
You can type the contents of the email using
the standard device keyboard. But if you want
to attach a File to email you can use the input
re-direction operator in the following format.
Mail -s "Subject" to-address < Filename
<< : A here document. It is often used to print
multi-line strings.
command << WORD Text WORD Here,
command will take everything until it finds the
next occurrence of WORD, Text in the example
above, as input .
Redirection & Piping
Pipe operator
|
The pipe operator, it passes the output of one
command as input to another. A command
built from the pipe operator is called a
pipeline.
command1 | command2
Any output printed by command1 is passed as
input to command2.
Finding Pattern in Files
grep, fgrep, egrep
grep (globally search a regular expression
and print)
This command can be used to search a
pattern in one or more files directly from the
command line.
SYNTAX
grep [OPTIONS] PATTERN [FILE...]
EXAMPLE
$ grep "Linux" input.txt
Welcome to Linux.
In the output above, the line in the file
Finding Pattern in Files
The pattern matching done by grep command
is case sensitive. For example, if the argument
to grep command is "LINUX" (instead of
"Linux") then grep will not match the lines
containing string "Linux".
$ grep "LINUX" input.txt
$
If it is desired that grep command should
ignore the case sensitiveness then the option
-i can be used.
$ grep -i "LINUX" input.txt
Welcome to Linux.
Finding Pattern in Files
If more than one file is supplied in argument
list then grep searches for the pattern or
string in all the files.
For example :
$ grep "Linux" input.txt output.txt
input.txt:Welcome to Linux.
output.txt:I hope you enjoyed working on
Linux.
The grep command also allows the usage of
regular expressions in pattern matching.
# grep -r ".*Linux" output.txt output1.txt
output.txt: I hope you enjoyed working on
Linux. output1.txt:Welcome to Linux.
Finding Pattern in Files
fgrep
fgrep searches for fixed-character strings in a
file or files. fgrep is useful when you need to
search for strings which contain lots of regular
expression metacharacters, such as "$", "^",
etc.
Syntex:
$fgrep [options] string [files]
Running fgrep is the same as running grep
with the -F option.
example
$ fgrep "support" myfile.txt
Finding Pattern in Files
egrep
Search for a pattern using extended regular
expressions. A regular expression is a pattern
that describes a set of strings.
egrep is essentially the same as running
grep with the -E option.
syntax
egrep [options] PATTERN [FILE...]
Example 1
$ egrep "support|help|windows" myfile.txt
Search for patterns of support help and
windows in the file myfile.txt.
Finding Pattern in Files
Example 2
$ egrep '^[a-zA-Z]+$' myfile.txt
Match any lines in myfile.txt which begin a
line with an alphabetic word which also ends
the line.
Example 3
$ egrep -c '^begin|end$' myfile.txt
Count the number of lines in myfile.txt which
begin with the word 'begin' or end with the
word 'end'.
fields
Cut – Removes sections from each line of
files.
Prints selected parts of lines from each file to
standard output.
Options
-f Extract a set of specified fields.
-d Used with the -f option. Use a specified
delimiter rather than default tab.
Imagine we’ve got a file numbers.txt, which
consist of three columns:
col_1 col_2 col_3
one two three
four five six
fields
In the following example cut will return only
column (col_2) :
$ cut -f2 numbers.txt
col_2
two
Five
in the next example cut will return columns 2
and 3:
$ cut -f1,3 numbers.txt
col_1 col_3
one three
four six
fields
We’ve got the following file:
fileone.txt
01234:567;89
ABCD:EFGH;IJ
display everything in first
column before delimiter “;”
$ cut -d ";" -f1 fileone.txt
01234:567
ABCDE:FGH
