Simple Linux Command Reference

(Last modified: 18Feb2003)

This document (10056341) is provided subject to the disclaimer at the end of this document.

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Novell ZENworks for Desktops 3.0

Novell ZENworks Imaging

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The following are simple Linux Commands for Reference when using the ZENworks for Desktops 3 Imaging Solution (See ZFD3 Image Engine Command-line parameters and Troubleshooting Tips for further information):

Linux - DOS - Description

cat /dir/file - type \dir\file - Concatenate or Show Contents
cp /here/file /there/file - copy \here\file \there\file - Copy File
ls - dir/w - Simple Directory
ls -al - dir - Detailed Directory List
mkdir /here/new - md \here\new or mkdir \here\new - Create new directory
mv /here/this /there/this - move \here\this \there\this - Move File
mv /here/this /here/that - ren \here\this \here\that - Rename File
pwd - cd - Show current directory
rm filename - del filename - Delete a file
type - - None - - Show the location of an executable file (if in your path)
runme.s - autoexec.bat - Boot file

Advanced Linux Command Reference

cat - Concatenate two or more files together, or display the contents of one or more files.

        Example:        cat /bin/lilo.s <-- Shows the contents of lilo.s
                        cat /bin/*.s <-- Shows the contents of all files ending with .s
                        cat /etc/rc.0 /etc/rc.6 | temp.txt <-- Puts the contents of the two files into temp.txt
        DOS Equivalent:        type
        Help:                   cat --help
        Location:        /sbin/cat

cat /proc/meminfo - Show memory information

        Example:        cat /proc/meminfo <-- Show memory info
        DOS Equivalent: mem and chkdsk
        Help:                - None -
        Location:        /proc/meminfo

cat /proc/version - Show version of linux kernel

        Example:        cat /proc/version <-- Shows version of kernel (Version 2.2.14 with ZfD3 Imaging)
        DOS Equivalent: ver
        Help:                - None -
        Location:        /proc/version

cp - Copy files and directories

        Example:        cp file1.txt file2.txt <-- Copy file1.txt to file2.txt
                        cp -iv file1.txt file2.txt <-- Copy file1.txt to file2.txt (Verbose with confirmation on overwrites)
                        cp -R dir1 dir2 <-- Copy directory one and its contents to directory two
        DOS Equivalent: copy and xcopy
        Help:                cp --help
        Location:        /sbin/cp

export - Export, store, and list variables

        Example:        export <-- Show currently defined system variables
        DOS Equivalent:        set
        Help:                - None -
        Location:        Built into shell

gzip - Compress and Uncompress files

        Example:        gzip file file.gz <-- Compress file to file.gz
                        gzip -d file.gz <-- Decompress file.gz to file
        DOS Equivalent:        pkzip and pkunzip
        Help:                gzip --help
        Location:        /sbin/gzip

ifconfig - Shows configuration of network devices

        Example:         ifconfig <-- Shows ethernet statistics about your NIC including the MAC address and its IP address.
        DOS Equivalent:        - None -
        Help:                ifconfig --help
        Location:         /sbin/ifconfig

ls - List files and directories

        Example:        ls <-- Simple directory listing
                        ls -a <-- Simple directory listing showing all files, including those starting with . (hidden files)
                        ls -al <-- Detailed directory listing showing all files
                        ls -alt <-- Detailed directory listing showing all files in date order (newest first)
        DOS Equivalent:        dir
        Help:                ls --help
        Location:        /sbin/ls

mkdir - Make Directory

        Example:        mkdir directory1 <-- Make Directory directory1
        DOS Equivalent:        mkdir
        Help:                mkdir --help
        Location:        /sbin/mkdir

more - Show file contents with page / line breaks

        Example:        more file.txt <-- Displays file.txt and pauses at each screen full
                        cat file1 file2 | more <-- Displays contents of file1 and file2 with pauses at each screen full
        DOS Equivalent:        more
        Help:                more --help
        Location:        /sbin/more

mv - Move or Rename files or directories

        Example:        mv file1 file2 <-- Rename file1 to file2
                        mv -i file1 file2 <-- Rename file1 to file2 (prompt for overwrite)
                        mv directory1/file1 directory2/file1 <-- Move file1 from directory1 to directory2
        DOS Equivalent:        move and rename
        Help:                mv --help
        Location:        /sbin/mv

pwd - Print Working Directory

        Example:        pwd
        DOS Equivalent        cd
        Help:                None
        Location:        Built into shell

rm - Remove files or directories

        Example:        rm file <-- Delete file.txt
                        rm -i file <-- Ask for approval for deletion
                        rm -r directory <-- Delete directory (be very careful)
                        rm -vr directory <-- Delete directory and show what is being deleted
        DOS Equivalent:        del, erase, rmdir, and deltree
        Help:                 rm --help
        Location:        /sbin/rm

shutdown - Shutdown or Reboot the system

        Example:        shutdown -r now <-- Reboot the machine immediately
                        shutdown -h now <-- Shutdown the machine immediately
        DOS Equivalent: Ctrl-Alt-Del
        Help:                shutdown --help
        Location:        /sbin/shutdown

tar - Tape archive utility (used to combine many files into one file)

        Example:        tar cvf file.tar file* <-- Create file.tar from all files starting with file
                        tar xvf file.tar <-- Extract the contents of file.tar into the current directory
        DOS Equivalent: - None -
        Help:                tar --help
        Location        /sbin/tar

touch - Update the date and timestamp on a file. This makes a file look like it has been edited or created recently.

        Example:        touch /bin/runme.s
        DOS Equivalent: - None -
        Help:                   touch --help
        Location:        /sbin/touch

type - Show location of executable file (if in path)

        Example:        type shutdown (Gives the location of the shutdown program)
        DOS Equivalent:        - None -
        Help:                type --help
        Location:        Built into shell

chmod - Change Mode

        Syntax:          chmod nnn filename
        Example:        chmod 777 runme.s  - sets all attributes to on
                               The numbers correspond to the hex value 111 111 111 in the attributes of a file when you do a ls -al and they show. So determine what rights you want and set the number accordingly.

document

Document Title:	Simple Linux Command Reference
Document ID:	10056341
Solution ID:	NOVL24336
Creation Date:	28Aug2000
Modified Date:	18Feb2003
Novell Product Class:	Management Products

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