Linux commands - some basics

Dos command	Linux command	Description
File basics
copy	cp	CoPy file(s)
ren	mv	MoVe (rename) file(s)
del	rm	ReMove (delete) file(s)
dir	ls	List files / Symbols
Working on file contents
-	file	What's in a file?
type	cat	Display file contents
\| more	more	display file page by page
-	head, tail	Display start, end of file
-	diff	Report differences between files
edit	vi guidelet	Edit a file
Directory handling and navigation
cd (no params)	pwd	Present Working Directory (where am I?)
cd (with params)	cd	Change Directory
md	mkdir	MaKe DIRectory
rmdir	rmdir or rm -r	ReMove DIRectory

If you're familiar with the Windows / MSDos command line any your're moving across to / occasionally using Linux, the table above may help you.

On both DOS and Linux, you start your command line with the name of the command and then provide any parameters you need, space separated thereafter. Options to DOS commands are specified with switches of the form /x which are placed at the end of the command, whereas with Linux options are specified after the command name, and preceeded with a - sign.

Example:

dir *.*/w ... on MsDos
ls -l * ... on Linux
(written 2005-08-31, updated 2006-06-05)

Associated topics are indexed under

A101 - Web Application Deployment - Linux -An Introduction For Users
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  [2494] Making Linux Politically correct - (2009-11-06)
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  [2299] How much space does my directory take - Linux - (2009-07-20)
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  [1803] FTP passive mode - a sometimes cure for upload hangs - (2008-09-20)
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  [1651] ls command - favourite options - (2008-05-23)
  [1527] Selecting file names in a shell - one word or another - (2008-02-02)
  [1438] Copy and paste / cut and paste and other vi techniques - (2007-11-20)
  [1408] Wireless hotel tips - FTP and Skype connections failing - (2007-10-26)
  [1366] awk - a powerful data extraction and manipulation tool - (2007-09-25)
  [1288] Linux run states, shell special commands, and directory structures - (2007-08-03)
  [1287] Work and play at Well House Manor - Football and Shell Shortcuts - (2007-08-02)
  [1259] Where am I and how did I get here? - (2007-07-05)
  [1068] ls -l report, Linux / Unix - types and permssions - (2007-02-06)
  [1013] Copy multiple files - confusing error message from cp - (2006-12-30)
  [1012] Moving files between Windows / DOS and Linux / Unix - (2006-12-30)
  [984] Cardinal numbers and magic numbers - (2006-12-14)
  [749] Cottage industry or production line data handling methods - (2006-06-07)
  [711] THE home directory or MY home directory - (2006-05-06)
  [710] Linux training Glasgow, Python programming course Dundee - (2006-05-05)
  [703] Copying files and preserving ownership - (2006-04-28)
  [679] More or less on the edge of the page - (2006-04-11)
  [659] Web Application Components - (2006-03-28)
  [593] Finding where the disc space has gone - (2006-02-06)
  [431] File permissions of Linux and Unix systems - (2005-08-31)
  [249] An easy way out - (2005-03-17)
  [152] Aladdin, or careful what you wish. - (2004-12-15)
  [74] pushd and popd - (2004-10-05)
  [73] vi - full circle - (2004-10-04)

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