Shell: environment (window) which provides a place to run commands. Windows OS versions provide a shell window called a "Command Prompt", (or MS-DOS Prompt for older systems).
Prompt: The text or letters which indicate where to type commands. The default in the 320 lab is... logonid@hostname $
Command: What you type after the prompt.
The UNIX file system is arranged similar to the windows file system, with directories (folders) which can contain files and other directories.
In Windows, the file system starts at C:\. This is the root of the system. In UNIX, it starts at simply ´/´.
Path: As in Windows, a path reflects location in the file system. The path is comprised of directories separated by front ´/´ slashes, optionally ending in a filename.
Basic commands: (Brackets [], mean optional)
cd [<directoryname>] change directory - go to a named directory, cd alone goes home.
mkdir [<directoryname>] make a new directory
ls [<directoryname>] list directory - see the names of the files and directories in a location. As in Windows dir command.
mv <oldname> <newname> move - change the name of a file/directory or move it to another location. As in Windows ren command.
cp <source> <target> copy - copy a file from one place to another (or other name). As in Windows copy.
pico <filename> edit a (text) file. As in Windows edit command.
man <command name> Read the manual for the command. As in Windows help command.
lp <filename> Line printer - send a file to the printer.
Printers are named UW1-320-p1 and UW1-320-p2
chmod <permissions> <filename> Change Mode - set the permissions on a file (read the man page)..
chmod 700 <directory name> - set readable only by user
(owner)
chmod -R 755 <directory name> - set contents readable by anyone
You have a Home directory, where you will always be placed after you logon. There is where you store your working files.
~logonid - is a shortcut name for your home directory.
. ´dot´ - shortcut name for the directory you are in.
.. ´dot dot´ - shortcut name for the directory (folder)
containing the directory you are in.