GNU/Linux Command-Line Tools Summary

Gareth Anderson

             

Chris Karakas - Conversion from LyX to DocBook SGML, Index generation

Revision History
Revision 1.215th April 2006Revised by: GA
Corrected typing errors, generated new, much smaller index (more accurate in my opinion). Updated errors in document for TLDP.
Revision 1.128th February 2006Revised by: CK
Corrected typos, generated new index (9000 index entries!).
Revision 1.06th February 2006Revised by: GA
Major restructuring, now in a docbook book format. Removed large chunks of content and revised other parts (removed chapters and sectioned some areas more). This is likely the final release by the author, I hope that someone finds this guide useful as I do not intend to continue work on this guide.
Revision 0.7.125th February 2005Revised by: CK
Set special characters in math mode, produced PDF and PS with Computer Modern fonts in OT1 encoding and created correct SGML for key combinations.
Revision 0.75th December 2004Revised by: GA
Updated document with new grammatical review. Re-ordered the entire Text section. Removed a fair amount of content.
Revision v0.620th April 2004Revised by: GA
Attempted to fix document according to TLDP criticisms. Added notes and tips more sectioning. Now complying to the open group standards for the UNIX
system trademark. Document should be ready for TLDP site.
Revision v0.56th October 2003Revised by: GA
Fixed a variety of errors as according to the review and made some consistency improvements to the document.
Revision v0.415th July 2003Revised by: GA
Made small improvements to the document as suggested (so far) by the thorough TLDP review, improved consistency of document and made small content additions.
Revision v0.326th June 2003Revised by: GA
Minor errors fixed, updated the appendix with information for finding where a tool is from. Fixed referencing/citation problems and improved further reading and intro sections, added an audio section.
Revision v0.220th April 2003Revised by: GA
This is the initial public release. Added more code-style then before, broke text-section into more subsections. Improved consistency of document and fixed various index entries.
Revision v0.127th March 2003Revised by: GA
This is the initial draft release (the first release to be converted from LyX to DocBook SGML).

This document is an attempt to provide a summary of useful command-line tools available to a GNU/Linux based operating system, the tools listed are designed to benefit the majority of users and have being chosen at the authors discretion. This document is not a comprehensive list of every existent tool available to a GNU/Linux based system, nor does it have in-depth explanations of how things work. It is a summary which can be used to learn about and how to use many of the tools available to a GNU/Linux based operating system.


Table of Contents
1. Introduction
1.1. Who would want to read this guide?
1.2. Who would not want to read this guide?
1.3. Availability of sources
1.4. Conventions used in this guide
1.5. Resources used to create this document
1.6. Feedback
1.7. Contributors
2. Legal
2.1. Disclaimer
2.2. License
3. The Unix Tools Philosophy
4. Shell Tips
4.1. General Shell Tips
4.2. The command-line history
4.3. Other Key combinations
4.4. Virtual Terminals and screen
5. Help
6. Directing Input/Output
6.1. Concept Definitions
6.2. Usage
6.3. Command Substitution
6.4. Performing more than one command
7. Working with the file-system
7.1. Moving around the filesystem
7.2. Working with files and folders
7.3. Mass Rename/copy/link Tools
8. Finding information about the system
8.1. Date/Time/Calendars
8.2. Finding information about partitions
9. Controlling the system
9.1. Mounting and Unmounting (Floppy/CDROM/Hard-drive Partitions)
9.2. Shutting Down/Rebooting the System
9.3. Controlling Processes
9.4. Controlling services
10. Managing users
10.1. Users/Groups
11. Text Related Tools
11.1. Text Editors
11.2. Text Viewing Tools
11.3. Text Information Tools
11.4. Text manipulation tools
11.5. Text Conversion/Filter Tools
11.6. Finding Text Within Files
12. Mathematical tools
13. Network Commands
13.1. Network Configuration
13.2. Internet Specific Commands
13.3. Remote Administration Related
14. Security
14.1. Some basic Security Tools
14.2. File Permissions
15. Archiving Files
15.1. tar (tape archiver)
15.2. rsync
15.3. Compression
16. Graphics tools (command line based)
17. Working with MS-DOS files
18. Scheduling Commands to run in the background
19. Miscellaneous
20. Mini-Guides
20.1. RPM: Redhat Package Management System
20.2. Checking the Hard Disk for errors
20.3. Duplicating disks
20.4. Wildcards
A. Appendix
A.1. Finding Packages/Tools
A.2. Further Reading
A.3. GNU Free Documentation License
Bibliography
Index