More UNIX Commands
This document provides descriptions of selected UNIX commands.
echo
The command echo MY_VARIABLE displays the current value
of environment variables. Two variables that might interest you at some
point are $PRINTER and $DISPLAY.
finger
The command finger user_name gives you information on the
user specified by user_name. The argument user_name can
be the name of someone locally (i.e. jpower) or someone at a
remote location (i.e. jpower@bcm.tmc.edu).
grep
The command grep string filename searches filename
for string. It outputs every line which contains string.
The form grep -v string filename outputs every line which
does not contain string. The argument string is read by
grep as a regular expression.
kill
The command kill my_process sends a terminate signal to the
process specified by the process id (PID) my_process. In cases
where the terminate signal does not work, the command kill -9 my_process sends a kill signal to the process. For info on getting the PID
for a process, see ps.
lpq
The command lpq outputs the current queue for the default printer (see
echo). The form lpq -Pother_printer
outputs the current queue for other_printer.
lprm
The command lprm job_number removes job_number from the
queue for the default printer (see echo). To
remove a job, you must be the owner of that job. To find
job_number to send to lprm, use the command
lpq.
The form lprm -Pother_printer job_number removes
job_number from the print queue of other_printer.
man
The command man command displays the UNIX manual page for
command. The manual pages describe usage and options for every
UNIX command.
passwd
The command passwd allows you to change the password you use to
login to the computer. The process is self-explanatory once you type the
command.
ps
The command ps lists the processes running on your machine. The
form ps gux lists only your processes. The form ps aux lists
all processes running on your machine. The second column of the listing,
the PID column, provides the information required by the kill command.
whois
The command whois lookup_string performs a directory lookup
on persons at your home institution, where lookup_string is all or
part of someone's first name, last name, or phone number.
[basic UNIX commands]
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