Linux Command Quick Reference Page

File Management
ls

Lists the contents of your working directory.

Lists all of your files, including the "dot" files. There are a number
of files that start with a . that won't normally show up with when you type
ls. An example of such a file is your .newsrc file.
ls -a

ls -s

Gives you a listing of your files along with their size in kilobytes.

Gives you a "long listing," which means that your files will be
shown in one vertical column and the file size and file access modes for all
files will be shown.
ls -l

All of these switches can be combined, so one might type ls -as to list all
of one's files and find their size.

cp

Copies a file to a specified location. Can be used to copy a directory with

files in it using cp r .
Usage: cp [ -r ] [source file(s) or directory(ies)] [destination file(s) or
directory(ies)]
Examples:
cp ~/myfile ~/mydir/
cp file1.txt newfile.txt
cp r ~/myproject/ ~/myprojectbackup/

mv

Moves (or renames) a file to a specified location. Similar to cp except that it

deletes the source file (or directory, no option needed).
Usage: mv [source file(s) or directory(ies)] [destination file or
directory(ies)]

Examples:
mv ~/myoldfilename ~/mynewfilename
mv file* ~/mydirectoryoffiles/
mv ~/mydir/ ~/myotherdir/

rm

Deletes file(s) or directory trees. There is no undoing! Can be used to delete

all files and subdirectories with rm rf .
Usage: rm [-rf] [file or directory]
Examples:

rm mytxtfile.txt
rm rf ~/mydir/ (removes
rm rf ~/ (don't do this!)

the directory and everything in it)

pwd

Prints the working directory. This could be called your current path or view.

cd

Changes your working directory or view or where you're in to another

specified location.
Usage: cd [destination path]
Examples:
cd ~/ (home directory)
cd somedir/someotherdir/
cd / (root directory)
cd .. (parent directory)

mkdir

Creates a new directory. You can specify a location if you like.

Usage: mkdir [directory path and name]
Examples:
mkdir newdir
mkdir ~/newdir
mkdir olddir/newdir

rmdir

Removes (deletes) a directory. You can only use this on empty directories.
Usage: rmdir [directory path and name]
Examples:

rmdir ~/olddir
rmdir olddir/empty/

du -k

Lists all files and folders with their associated total sizes in KiloBytes.
Usage: du k [directory path or file]
Examples:
du k (from current directory)
du ks ~/.mozilla (displays sum of all files' sizes in your mozilla tree)

uquota -w

Displays your current disk and print quota usage. The w option allows you
to see work directory quotas as well.
Usage: uquota w

scp

See description under Remote Access. Copies files or directories from one
user account to another.

chmod

Modifies the permissions of files or directories. Permissions are rules about

how and which users can access the files or directories. The three switches
covered here are: r -read access, w -write access, x execute access.
Usage: chmod [ + or - ]rwx [file(s) or directory]
Examples:
chmod +r myfile
chmod w myfile
chmod +x myfile

ln s

(adds read access to a myfile)

(removes write access to myfile)
(adds execute access to myfile)

Creates a symbolic link to a file or directory. Symbolic links are analagous to

windows shortcuts, and are simply pointers. You can create one in your home
directory to avoid having to cd into another directory you use frequently.
Usage: ln s [link file] [target]
Examples:
ln -s fortunelink /usr/local/share/terminfo/f/fortune
ln s otherlink ~/something/somethingelse

/bin/rm
-rf

It's just like above, except you won't get the very data saving confirmation
messages if you're deleting many files.
An alternative is to unalias rm which will use /bin/rm until you logout.

Program Management
man

The man Linux tool is shorthand for "manual." Most Linux programs and
utilities have brief documentation installed on the system. In order to access
these online manuals,

Usage: man [program name]

where [program name] is a Linux utility or application such as those in this
guide.
Note: Not all utilities and applications have "man" pages. Check the EWS
Software guide at https://www-s.ews.uiuc.edu/software/ or ask a lab operator
for more assistance.

apropos

There are many types of files that are commonly used in Linux systems that
may never be seen by an individual that is only familiar with Windows. The
"apropos" utility is a helpful tool for finding the proper utility or application
that opens a particular file type. Note that apropos may not be aware of all
filetypes.
Usage: apropos [file type]
(where [file type] is the file's extension)
Example: apropos pdf
Note: This utility currently works correctly only on linux workstations.

top

The top utility displays a list of the top ten (default number) programs
running ordered by how much cpu or computing power the programs are
using. A user can stop programs that they started from this screen by pressing
'k' then entering the Process ID (first column number) and pressing enter. In
order to quit top simply press 'q'.

ps

The ps utility is another way to display a list of programs running on the

system. Just typing ps will display a list of programs that have been started
from the particular terminal window that the user is in. In order to see a more
useful list of all programs running on the system,
Usage: ps ef
Example: ps -ef |grep [username]

(returns all the processes that are running for [username])

kill

Use this Linux utility in conjunction with ps in order to end a running

program on the system by the Process ID (first column in ps's output).
Usage: kill [PID]
Example: kill 2458

Printing
lpr

can be used to print ONLY postscript or flat text files from the command
line or from within an applications print dialog.
lpr

Usage: lpr P[printer name]@print [file name]

If you leave out the -P... the file will be printed to the default printer for each
lab.
To override the default double sided printing and pring single-sided, use lpr
-o sides=one-sided

Examples:
lpr
lpr
lpr
lpr

mpage

-Pdcllas1@print myfile.ps
-Pel252-bwd1@print myfile.ps
-o sides=one-sided myfile.ps
mytextfile

is a tool used to print multiple pages per sheet on a PostScript printer.

It has the ability to print out text or PostScript documents. mpage can be used
on any text or postscript file at the command line of your xterm or within
many programs' print dialogs. To print a document using mpage , simply
replace [file name] with the file you wish to print and the [#] with the
mpage

number of pages you wish to put on one page (i.e 2 , 4 or 8).

Usage: mpage [#] -P[printer name]@print [file name]
Example: mpage -4 -Pmelas1@print

acroread

The Acrobat Reader allows users to view and print PDF files. It can be
invoked by typing acroread from the command line.
Usage: acroread
Once acrobat is running, the file to be viewed can be chosen by clicking File
and Open. Scroll up and down the list to find the desired file, and click on
that file to open it.

gv

GhostView is a program to view and navigate through PostScript and PDF

documents on an X display, by providing a user interface for the ghostscript
interpreter. GhostView can be started by typing gv at the command line.
Usage: gv

pq

Print Queues are used to print your job after it has been spooled to the
printer. pq is used when printing on the Linux computers.
Usage: pq

Remote Access
ssh

Secure Shell is a program to log into another computer over a network, to

execute commands in a remote machine, and to move files from one machine
to another. It provides strong authentication and secure communications over
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insecure channels.
Usage: ssh [username]@[workstation name]
where [workstation name] is the name of the remote workstation and
optional [username] is the username you wish to login with.
Examples:
ssh remsun (on the ews network using your current username)
ssh janedoe@remsun.ews.uiuc.edu (outside the ews network

with netid

janedoe)
For more information regarding remote access including X11 forwarding
refer to http://www.ews.uiuc.edu/clrtxt/

sftp

The sftp utility is the secure version of ftp and works almost identically. Ftp
is a file tranfer protocol that allows you to upload and download files to a
computer running an sftp server (all EWS machines do as part of ssh access).
Usage: sftp [workstation name] or sftp [username]@[workstation name]
(Similar to the ssh command)
For more information about ftp commands and transfering files, see this
concise command reference or others.

scp

Copies a single file or a folder with multiple files using secure protocol over
TCP/IP (the network) from one computer to another. This is rarely useful
within the EWS environment, since your home directory is mounted on all
workstations. However, it may be useful to copy to another machine on or
off campus that runs an ssh server.
To copy one file from a remote workstation to your workstation
Usage: scp [remote workstation name]:[file name] [local path]
Where [local path] is the location where you wish to save the copied file (the
location . is your current location). Similarly, to copy one from your
workstation to a remote workstation
Usage: scp [local file name] [remote workstation name]:[path]
To copy an entire folder as above respectively
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Usage: scp r [workstation name]:[remote directory path] [local

destination path]
Or: scp r [local directory path] [workstation name]:[remote destination
path]
Examples:
scp . user@remotemachine.domain.org:~/myfile
scp -r ~/ name@machine:/usr/local/src/
scp -r docs/ user@machine:~/

telnet
rlogin
rsh
rcp
rdist

These remote access methods are unsupported. These methods do not use
encryption and therefore are not part of EWS's commitment to using secure
communication. See http://www.ews.uiuc.edu/clrtxt/ for more information.

Common Tasks
Mozilla
FireFox
lock files

When mozilla firefox exits abnormally such as when mozilla firefox exits
unexpectedly due to a programming bug, a lock file can sometimes be left
behind causes the mozilla firefox profile that was used to become unusable.
Run this command to remove any lock or .parentlock files:
Use: ews-reset-firefox
Running a second time will delete the entire firefox profile including any
bookmarks, etc.

getskel

The getskel utility reloads the default shell and X windows configuration
to your account. Use this in case changes have been made to your
configuration files that are causing problems.
Use:

/usr/local/ews/getskel

Note: This will erase any customizations you have added to your startup
files.

webperm

This utility is an easy way to ensure that permissions on your web space files
are correct. Simply run this utlity and the permission on all files and
directories in your ~/public_html folder are set correctly.

Using disks
and cdroms

Before you can access your disk, you must first mount it. To do this, place
the disk in the drive and from the Linux prompt type volcheck . The machine
will check for any new disks and mount them appropriately. The files on the
mounted disk will be found in either /floppy , /zip , or /cdrom . When
you have finished using a disk, the following should be used on the
appropriate disk type to eject it.
Usage: eject-cdrom
or: eject-floppy
or: eject-zip

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