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Chapter 07. Unix File and Directory Management
Chapter 07. Unix File and Directory Management
| Command | Description | Command | Description |
| apropos | Search the whatis database for files containing specific strings. | mkdir | Make a directory. |
| bdflush | Kernel daemon that saves dirty buffers in memory to the disk. | mknod | Make a block or character special file. |
| cd | Change the current directory. With no arguments "cd" changes to the users home directory. | mktemp | Make temporary filename. |
| chmod | chmod <specification> <filename> - Effect: Change the file permissions. | mv | Move or rename a file. Syntax: mv <source> <destination> Ex: mv filename directoryname/newfilename |
| chown | chown <owner1> <filename> Effect: Change ownership of a file to owner1. | pathchk | Check whether filenames are valid or portable. |
| chgrp | chgrp <group1> <filename> Effect: Change group. | pwd | Print or list the working directory with full path (present working directory). |
| cksum | Perform a checksum and count bytes in a file. | rm | Ex: "rm .*" - Effect: Delete system files (Remove files) –i is interactive option. |
| cp | cp <source> <destination> Copy a file from one location to another. | rmdir | rmdir <directory> - Remove a directory. The directory must be empty. |
| dd | Convert and copy a file formatting according to the options. Disk or data duplication. | slocate | Provides a secure way to index files and search for them. It builds a database of files on the system. |
| dir | List directory contents. | stat(1u) | Used to print out inode information on a file. |
| dircolors | Set colors up for ls. | sum | Checksum and count the blocks in a file. |
| file | Determines file type. Also can tell type of library (a.out or ELF). | test | Check file types and compare values. |
| find | Ex: find $Home –name readme Print search for readme starting at home and output full path. | touch | Change file timestamps to the current time. Make the file if it doesn't exist. |
| install | Copy multiple files and set attributes. | update | Kernel daemon to flush dirty buffers back to disk. |
| ln | Make links between files. | vdir | List directory contents. |
| locate | File locating program that uses the slocate database. | whatis | Search the whatis database for complete words. |
| losetup | Loopback device setup. | wheris | Locate the binary, source and man page files for a command. |
| ls | List files. Option -a, lists all. | which | Show full path of commands where given commands reside. |
