Common Linux Commands

The Linux Shell Rebooting, Shutting Down the System Operators

Shell Prompt: Shutdown the system: To issue more than one command at a time:
# = user root shutdown -h now <cmd1>;<cmd2>;<cmd3>;etc.<enter>
$ = normal user Reboot the system: To pipe output from one command to another:
Common Shells: shutdown -r now <cmd>|<cmd receiving output>
bash = Bash Login as another user (in the middle of a session):
sh = Bourne su -l <username> * = matches any number of characters
csh =C To logout: ? = matches any single character
Determining your Shell: logout [] = matches on any single character found within the brackets
echo $SHELL exit [-] = matches on any single character that is within the range in the brackets
How many shells are open? [Ctrl]D \! = is equal to not
ps Enter single-user mode: > = output redirector
Opening another shell: telinit 1 >> = append output redirector
Type in csh, sh or bash < = input redirector
To close a shell: <command/program>& = run command/program in background
Type exit or press [Ctrl]D

Help / Man Commands

Log Files, special directories, etc. To see help on any command:
Startup messages = /var/log/messages man <cmd>
GRUB settings = /etc/grub.conf To get a one-line description of a command:
LILO settings = /etc/lilo.conf.anaconda man -f <cmd>
Default shell settings = /etc/passwd To see commands with a phrase in their one-line description:
Config Script: .bash_profile (runs only when you login) man –k <phrase>
.bashrc (another script file that’s run from the .bash_profile script) Generic help for almost all Linux commands:
.bash_logout (run when you logout) <cmd> -help
vi Settings: .exrc (in the user’s home directory) Standard location for HOWTO documents:
/usr/share/doc

Date / Time Commands Misc. Commands

Display a calendar: Clear the screen: Virtual Terminals
cal –m –j –y [month] [year] clear Switching between virtual terminals:
Display the date: [Alt]F1, [Alt]F2, etc.
date To get system info and the system name: [Ctrl][right-arrow] AND [Ctrl][left-arrow]
Display the date (UTC): uname -a Display device name or filename for terminal:
date –u tty

File System Commands Permissions

Low-level format a disk: To mount a filesystem: r = read (# = 4)
fdformat mount w = write (# = 2)
Set device type & size: To unmount a filesystem: x = execute (# = 1)
setfdprm umount
To format a disk: To eject a CD-ROM: Modify permissions:
mkfs eject /dev/cdrom chmod [ugo] [+-] [rwx] <file> OR
File which specifies which filesystems are chmod <number> <file>
automatically mounted at boot-up: u = user (1st #), g = group (2nd #), o = other (3rd #), none = everyone
/etc/fstab + = add, - = remove
To check the filesystem:
fsck Modify default permissions:
umask <number> (specifies which settings to clear from the def settings – effective until system
restart)
Common Linux Commands
Searching & Manipulating Files
Directory Administration To find a file:
List contents of a directory: whereis (locate a binary or man page file)OR locate (all file types)
ls [directory] find <search locations> <search criteria> <action>
-l = long directory listing where <action> can be
-la = long w/regular & hidden files (files starting with a period) -name = filename
Print working directory (current dir): -type = file (f), directory (d)
pwd -user = user name
Change directory: -group = group name
cd <pathname> -print = print to screen
To create a directory: -exec = execute a command
mkdir <dirpath> -ok = execute a command interactively
To copy a directory: -atime<arg> = find files accessed within a certain time period
cp [options] <source> <destination> where <arg> can be
-r = recursive (copy all contents of directory) exact number of days ago, +<num> = more than # days, -<num>
-i = interactive = within # days
Rename / move directory: -mtime<arg> = find files modified within a certain time period (same as atime args).
mv [options] <source> <destination> Find <search locations> <search criteria> -exec <command> {<params>} \; = execute a
-i = interactive command after finding a file.
To remove a directory:
rmdir OR rm -r <directory> Another way to find files:
Home directory shortcut: locate
cd ~ OR cd $HOME OR cd To build locate’s database:
slocate
Sorting file contents:
sort <filename>
-n = sorts numerically (instead of by text value)
Removing adjacent duplicate lines from a file:
uniq
File Administration Send to file:
To view contents of a file: tee <filename> (puts input into file – use with pipe)
cat <filename>
To view the first 10 lines of a file:
head <filename> Jobs Processes
To view the last 10 lines of a file: Job Table = specific to each shell Process Table = system-wide
tail <filename> To view background jobs: To view the process table:
To view a file screen by screen: jobs ps
less <filename> (type b to move backward through the file) To kill (stop) a background job: To kill a process:
more <filename> (only moves forward) kill %<job #> kill <process #>
To see the file type: To suspend a background job: To unconditionally terminate a process:
file <filename> bring to foreground, press [Ctrl]Z kill -9 <process #>
To concatenate multiple files into one file: To restart a background job:
cat <in file1> <in file2> > <output file> bg %<job #> Delayed Job = run at some time after you
To see the # of words, lines, etc. in a file: To bring a job to the foreground: issue the cmd
wc <filename> fg %<job #> Detached Job = run after you logout
To copy a file: To move a job from foreground to
cp [options] <source> <destination> background: To start a delayed job/process:
-r = recursive (copy all contents of directory) suspend the job, then place it in the sleep <# secs> <cmd>
-i = interactive background To start a detached job (best run in
Rename / move file: To suspend a foreground job: background):
mv [options] <source> <destination> [Ctrl]Z nohub <cmd> &
-i = interactive To kill (terminate) a foreground job:
[Ctrl]C
Common Linux Commands
User Administration Variables
To add another user: To see exported variables:
adduser env
useradd See local variables:
userconf set
To delete a user: To set a local variable:
userdel set <var name>=<value>
To delete a user and the user’s home directory and contents: if value contains spaces or metachars, place <value> between single quotes (‘)
userdel -r if you have variables that you’d like expanded inside of the <value>, use double
User accounts (uids, username, etc.) are stored in: quotes (“) and any variables listed will have their value (expanded)
/etc/passwd To export local variables:
User account passwords stored in: export
/etc/shadow To view the contents of a variable:
To change your password: echo $<var name>
passwd To remove a variable:
To change the password of another user: unset <var name>
passwd <username>
To set a standard environment for all users when they’re created:
/etc/skel directory contains files that will be placed into the user’s home directory. Aliases
To convert cleartext passwords to shadow passwords: To define an alias:
pwconv alias <alias name>=<value>
To convert passwords from shadow to cleartext passwords: if options are to be used within value, use single quotes (‘)
pwunconv To have aliases defined each time you login:
To verify the password file integrity: define them in the .bashrc file
pwck To make aliases permanent in all shells:
use the ENV variable in the .bash_profile file, define ENV=<file containing alias commands>
To remove an alias:
\<alias name> OR unalias <alias name>
Monitoring System Access (user logins)
Display who’s you’re logged in as:
who am I Functions
whoami To define a function:
Display who’s logged into the system: <function name>() { <command list>; }
who To accept command-line arguments:
Display user ID and group ID: $*
id <username> To define functions for future shells:
Display user information: define them in the set area in the .bashrc file.
finger <username>
To see detailed user login info:
finger
Display how many users are logged in: Shell Scripts
who -q ./ = look in current directory instead of /bin for script

User Group Administration M Commands

Groups are stored in: mattrib mtype
/etc/groups mdel mcopy
Verify integrity of groups file: mlabel mformat
grpck mren mrd
Change group ownership of files/directories: mdeltree mmove
chgrp mcd mmount (mount dos disk)
to include all files under a directory, use -R mdir mdu (see disk usage)
mmd mshowfat (show file’s FAT entries)
Common Linux Commands
vi Editor Compressed Files – tar, compress, gzip & RPM
Modes: Using tar (.tar):
i = insert (to left of cursor) To create a tar file:
a = append (to right of cursor) tar –cf <dest> <src>
I = insert (at beg of line) To append data to a tar file:
A = append (at end of line) tar –r <dest> <src>
[esc] = leave input mode and return to command mode To list contents of tar file:
[Insert] = toggle between insert and overwrite mode tar –tvf <tar filename>
To restore (expand) a tar file:
:w <filename> = write (save) to file tar –xvf <tar file>
u = undo change To restore (expand) a part of a tar file:
:q = quit tar –xvf <tar file> <path>/<dest>
:q! = quit without saving changes To see if tar file is readable:
:wq = write, then quit tar –tvf <tar filename>
^ = move to beg of line Using cpio:
$ = move to end of line Copy-out (create archive) mode:
:1 = move to 1st line in file <source> | cpio –cBv > <archive filename>
:$ = move to last line in file Copy-in (extract from archive) mode:
:<#> = move to line # specified cpio –icdv < <archive filename>
o = open new line below current line Using compress (.Z files):
O = open new line above current line To compress:
r = replace single char compress
R = replaces characters until you press [esc] To see percentage of space (compressed):
cw OR ce = deletes portion of word from cursor to end of word and puts you in insert use -v option
cb = deletes portion of word from cursor to beg of word To see the contents of the archive:
c$ OR U = deletes rest of line zcat <archive>
x = deletes one char To uncompress (expand):
yy = copies current line to buffer uncompress
dd = copies current line to buffer then deletes it Using gzip (.gz files):
p = inserts copied line into file below the cursor is on To compress files:
P = inserts copied line into file above the cursor is on gzip
:set number = turn on line numbers To uncompress files:
:set nonumber = turn off line numbers gunzip
/<pattern> = search for <pattern> in file To view files in archive:
n = move to next occurrence of search within file zcat
. = repeat last command RPM files & distributions:
:s/<pattern1>/<pattern2> = substitute (replace) pattern1 with pattern2 To view all RPMs installed:
:<line #1>,<line #2>s/<pattern1>/<pattern2> = sub pattern1 w/pattern2 between line #1 & line #2 rpm -qa
:1,$s<pattern1>/<pattern2> = global sub To query a single installed package:
add /c at the end of any of the sub commands to choose to replace or not rpm -q <package name>
To see detailed info on a package:
RPM Sources & Support Info rpm -qi <package name>
RPM Sources: To search for a specific installed package:
rpmfind.net/linux/RPM rpm -qa | grep <package name>
rpm.redhat.com To get a detailed list of a package that’s not installed (just the RPM file):
rpm -qip <rpm file>
Support, errata, etc.: To get a list of files for a package that’s not installed:
www.redhat.com/support/errata/index.html rpm -qlp <rpm file>
To remove a RPM installation:
rpm -e <package name>
Email To verify an installed package:
Popular email client: rpm -V <package name>
pine (uses pico editor) To freshen a package:
Another popular email client: rpm -Fvh <packagename>
mail (Elm email client)
To compose a new email:
mail <user / email>
When done editing the content, press [Ctrl]D