https://www.slackwiki.com/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Common_CommandsCommon Commands - Revision history2026-04-08T01:02:07ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.40.0https://www.slackwiki.com/index.php?title=Common_Commands&diff=81&oldid=prevErik: Copy from old2009-06-02T03:22:38Z<p>Copy from old</p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>Here is a list of common commands and some descriptions:<br />
<br />
cd <br />
: Changes the directory. Example: <code>cd /</code><br />
rm <i>options filename</i><br />
: Removes Files. Example: <code>rm <i>filename</i></code><br />
::Options: -R - Removes all files and subdirectories (very dangerous). Example: <code>rm -R /home/bill/public_html/</code><br />
rmdir <i>directory</i><br />
: Removes an Empty Directory. Example: <code>rmdir /home/bill/emptydir</code><br />
mount <br />
: Mounts filesystems and partitions, etc<br />
::Example: <code>mount /mnt/cdrom</code> <--Only useable if <code>/mnt/cdrom</code> is listed in [[Fstab|/etc/fstab]]<br />
::Example: <code>mount -t iso9660 /dev/hdc /mnt/cdrom</code><br />
ls <i>options optional_directory_path</i> (if no directory path is given, the current directory is listed)<br />
: Lists files and directories. Example: <code>ls</code><br />
::Options:<br />
:::-a - Lists ALL files and directories, even hidden ones. Example: <code>ls -a</code><br />
:::-l - Lists files and directories with details (e.g. permissions) Example: <code>ls -l /home/bill/</code><br />
:::-la - Lists ALL files and directories, even hidden ones with details. Example: <code>ls -la </code><br />
gunzip <i>filename</i><br />
: Uncompresses gzip'd files. Example: <code>gunzip somefile.tar.gz</code><br />
tar <i>options filename</i><br />
: Extracts files from .tar files.<br />
::Options<br />
::: -xvf - extract file.tar <code>tar -xvf file.tar</code><br />
::: -zxvf - uncompress and extract from a gzip'd tar archive (*.tar.gz or *.tgz) <code>tar -zxvf kernel-2.6.7.tar.gz</code><br />
::: -jxvf - uncompress and extract from a bzip2'd tar archive (*.tar.bz2) <code>tar jxvf kernel-2.6.7.tar.bz2</code><br />
mc<br />
: Console File manager<br />
pico <br />
: Easy console text editor. NOTE: Pico is in the PINE package. If you didn't install Pine, you won't have pico. (You CAN install pico as a stand-alone binary). An alternative to Pico is [http://www.nano-editor.org/ GNU Nano]. It has many features, including syntax highlighting.<br />
vi, vim, elvis<br />
: Console text editors - depending on your setup, one of these is accessed as 'vi'. Vim & Elvis are Vi clones (with a few more features). Between Vim and Elvis, Vim is more featureful, but elvis is in /a and installed by default. You can install vim (or xvim/gvim, gui-enabled versions) instead of, or in addition to elvis.<br />
find<br />
: Program to find files. Example: <code>find / -name lilo.conf</code><br />
cat<br />
: Shows what is currently in a text file. Example: <code>cat /proc/cpuinfo</code><br />
grep<br />
: Searches for strings. Example: <code>grep "model name" /proc/cpuinfo</code> Add the option '-i' if you don't want your search to be case-insensitive<br />
less<br />
: You can control using arrow keys what is displayed in a text file. Example: <code>less /etc/lilo.conf</code><br />
man<br />
: Manual pages for commands. Example: <code>man bash</code><br />
apropos<br />
: Searches a whatis type database. Example: <code>apropos ftp</code><br />
which<br />
: Shows the first match of a program in your path. Example: <code>which bash</code><br />
whereis<br />
: Shows man pages, binaries, etc of a program. Example: <code>whereis bash</code><br />
file<br />
: Determines the file type. Example: <code>file /usr/bin/bash</code><br />
dmesg<br />
: Displays the kernel ring buffer information<br />
route<br />
: Configures the IP routing (used for setting the default gateway, etc.).<br />
ifconfig<br />
: Network interface configuration tool (used to bring the NIC up and down and set the IP).<br />
ssh<br />
: Secure SHell, allows you to login to remote machines.<br />
startx<br />
: A simple script to start X-Windows<br />
iwconfig<br />
: This is for configuring wireless cards<br />
chmod<br />
: Edits permissions on a file or directory (see [[Permissions and Umasks]])<br />
netconfig<br />
: A tool to help you configure a network card on Slackware<br />
df<br />
: Shows the free space on your partitions. Example: <code>df -h</code><br />
du<br />
: Calculates disk usage. Example: <code>du -hc</code><br />
bunzip2<br />
: Uncompresses .bz2 files. Example: <code>bunzip2 file.bz2</code><br />
sort<br />
: Sorts data. A very useful option is '-f', which makes the sort case-insensitive (i.e. AaBbCc rather than ABCabc). Another useful option is '-n', which sorts by numbers. Try <code>du | sort</code> and then <code>du | sort -n</code> to see the difference.<br />
<br />
<h1>Piping</h1><br />
<br />
You can mix commands to do certain things. <br />
<br />
dmesg | grep hd<br />
<br />
That will search dmesg and try to find the string "hd". Now piping is extremely useful. Another example of a pipe:<br />
<br />
dmesg | less<br />
<br />
Now this command you can see the dmesg fully and is easier to read. <br />
<br />
Redirection:<br />
<br />
This will save the dmesg information in your home directory in the file log.txt<br />
<br />
dmesg > ~/log.txt<br />
<br />
You can also redirect only the [[standard output|stdout]] by using '1>' or only the [[error messages|stderr]] by using '2>'.<br />
<br />
For instance, if you want to run a command that gives a lot of junk as output, and you just want to see any errors, you can redirect the output to the null device (<code>/dev/null</code>):<br />
<br />
mplayer /path/to/movie.avi 1> /dev/null<br />
<br />
<br />
<hr><br />
<i>Section on piping moved to [[Piping]]. --sinope</i><br />
<br />
[[Category:Tips]]</div>Erik