The Command and Shell User's Guide introduces users to the basic use of commands and shells in Compaq Tru64TM UNIX® (formerly DIGITAL UNIX). This book also documents how to communicate with other network users.
This preface covers the following topics:
Audience
New and Changed Features
Scope
Organization
Related Documents
Conventions
This book is written for those who do not have extensive knowledge of
UNIX compatible operating systems.
This book explains important concepts,
provides tutorials, and is organized according to task.
New and Changed Features
The following features are new or changed in this book:
The POSIX shell facilities are included in the descriptions of shell capabilities.
The description of the
passwd
file is changed
to include the general user information structure.
A revised description of login processing to reflect the use
of the
.cshrc
file is provided.
The
gonext
variable is added to
Table D-1.
The term i-number is replaced with file serial number to be consistent with the Single UNIX Specification.
The
ps
command examples are updated to
be consistent with the Single UNIX Specification.
This book introduces you to the use of commands and shells. After reading this book, you should be able to:
Gain access to your system and issue commands
Understand file and directory concepts
Manage files and directories
Control access to your files and directories
Manage processes
Understand and manage your shell environment
Use the
vi
and
ed
text
editors
Use network applications to communicate with network users and access remote systems and processes
This book discusses the entry and execution of commands from the command
line.
There are numerous graphical user interfaces (GUIs) available to perform
many of these functions, or to perform additional tasks.
See the users instructions
that accompany your window manager, the particular application, or your system
administrator.
Organization
This book is organized into 14 chapters and 6 appendices:
Shows how to log in and out of your system, enter commands, set your password, and obtain online help.
Provides an overview of the file system, consisting of the
files and directories that are used to store text, programs, and other data.
This chapter also introduces you to the
vi
text editor,
a program that lets you create and modify files.
Shows how to manage files. You will learn how to list, display, copy, move, link, and remove them.
Explains how to manage directories. You will learn how to create, change, display, copy, rename, and remove them.
Shows how to control access to your files and directories by setting appropriate permissions. It also describes standard password and group security issues as well as provides an overview of additional security considerations.
Describes how the operating system creates and keeps track of processes. This chapter explains how to redirect process input, output, and error information, run processes simultaneously, display process information, and cancel processes.
Introduces features common to the shells available with the operating system: the C, Bourne, Korn, and POSIX shells. You learn how to change your shell, use command entry aids, understand some features of your shell environment (login scripts, environment and shell variables), set and clear variables, write logout scripts, and write and run basic shell procedures.
Provides detailed reference information about the C, Bourne, Korn, and POSIX shells, comparing their features. It details the commands and environment variables of each program and shows how to set up your login script.
Shows how to access the System V habitat, a subset of commands, subroutines, and system calls that conforms to the System V Interface Definition (SVID).
Provides information on how to get information about other users and remote hosts on the network.
Provides information about how to send a message to another user.
Provides information about how to copy files to or between remote hosts.
Provides information about how to log in to or execute commands at a remote host.
Provides information about the UNIX-to-UNIX Copy Program (UUCP) for performing communication tasks concurrently on both a local and remote host.
The appendices in this book provide the following information:
Teaches you how to use the basic features of the
vi
text editor.
Teaches you how to use the
ed
text editor.
Detailed information about
ed
is provided because all
systems have this editor, and
ed
can be used in critical
system management situations when no other editor can be used.
Describes the internationalization features that allow users to process data and interact with the system in a manner appropriate to their native language, customs, and geographic region.
Provides a list of variables that can be used in the
.mailrc
file to customize a
mailx
session.
Provides a list of escape commands that can be used to perform
certain tasks from within a
mailx
session.
Provides a list of commands that can be used to send, read,
delete, or save messages using
mailx.
The following Tru64 UNIX user documents are available in HTML format on your CD-ROM and optionally in hardcopy:
Reference Pages Section 1
Reference Pages Sections 8 and 1m
ULTRIX to DIGITAL UNIX Migration Guide
Quick Reference Card
Icons on Tru64 UNIX Printed Books
The printed version of the Tru64 UNIX documentation uses letter icons on the spines of the books to help specific audiences quickly find the books that meet their needs. (You can order the printed documentation from Compaq.) The following list describes this convention:
| G | Books for general users |
| S | Books for system and network administrators |
| P | Books for programmers |
| D | Books for device driver writers |
| R | Books for reference page users |
Some books in the documentation help meet the needs of several audiences. For example, the information in some system books is also used by programmers. Keep this in mind when searching for information on specific topics.
The
Documentation Overview
provides
information on all of the books in the Tru64 UNIX documentation set.
Reader's Comments
Compaq welcomes any comments and suggestions you have on this and other Tru64 UNIX manuals.
You can send your comments in the following ways:
Fax: 603-884-0120 Attn: UBPG Publications, ZKO3-3/Y32
Internet electronic mail:
readers_comment@zk3.dec.com
A Reader's Comment form is located on your system in the following location:
/usr/doc/readers_comment.txt
Mail:
Compaq Computer Corporation
UBPG Publications Manager
ZKO3-3/Y32
110 Spit Brook Road
Nashua, NH 03062-2698
A Reader's Comment form is located in the back of each printed manual. The form is postage paid if you mail it in the United States.
Please include the following information along with your comments:
The full title of the book and the order number. (The order number is printed on the title page of this book and on its back cover.)
The section numbers and page numbers of the information on which you are commenting.
The version of Tru64 UNIX that you are using.
If known, the type of processor that is running the Tru64 UNIX software.
The Tru64 UNIX Publications group cannot respond to system problems or
technical support inquiries.
Please address technical questions to your
local system vendor or to the appropriate Compaq technical support office.
Information provided with the software media explains how to send problem
reports to Compaq.
Conventions
The following conventions are used in this book:
%$A percent sign represents the C shell system prompt. A dollar sign represents the system prompt for the Bourne, Korn, and POSIX shells.
#A number sign represents the superuser prompt.
% catBoldface type in interactive examples indicates typed user input.
Italic (slanted) type indicates variable values, placeholders, and function argument names.
In syntax definitions, brackets indicate items that are optional and braces indicate items that are required. Vertical bars separating items inside brackets or braces indicate that you choose one item from among those listed.
coloredtext
In syntax definitions, literal elements are colored green. Variable values, placeholders, and function argument names are colored red. No special colored text is used outside of syntax descriptions.
In syntax definitions, a horizontal ellipsis indicates that the preceding item can be repeated one or more times.
cat(1)A cross-reference to a reference page includes the appropriate section
number in parentheses.
For example,
cat(1)
indicates that you can find information on the
cat
command in Section 1 of the reference pages.
This symbol indicates that you hold down the first named key while pressing the key or mouse button that follows the slash. In examples, this key combination is enclosed in a box (for example, [Ctrl/C] ).