Introduction to UNIX

© 1988-1997
Academic Computing and Instructional Technology Services
The University of Texas at Austin
Austin, Texas 78712-1110

CCUG-1, Revised, November 1997

This manual is for new users of the ACITS UNIX Timesharing System (UTS), CCWF UNIX system (CCWF), and the Academic Data Server (ADS). Each computer system runs under a different version of the UNIX operating system: UTS runs Digital UNIX, CCWF runs Solaris, and ADS runs AIX. Although UNIX functions essentially the same way on all these, the systems will be referred to in this manual as UTS, CCWF, and ADS whenever there is a need to distinguish among them.

The reader of this manual is assumed to have some prior experience with computers, but not necessarily with UNIX. This manual does not attempt to teach any programming language, but it does explain how to:

• Connect to a UNIX system, log in, and log out.
• Change your password.
• Set up your terminal or workstation to communicate with a UNIX system.
• Display online help resources and get printed copies of online documents.
• Create and maintain files and directories of files.
• Use an editing program to alter files.
• Print files and move them to and from other computer systems.
• Compile and run programs you have written.
• Send mail to other users and read messages they send to you.
• Do elementary shell programming.

If you want to learn only enough UNIX to publish a Web page from a UNIX server, see

   www.utexas.edu/learn/pub/

1. Introduction
2. Getting Access to the UNIX Systems
3. Getting Help While on the System
4. The Shell and Command Processing
5. Directories and Files
6. Creating and Altering Files
7. Receiving and Sending Mail
8. Running Programs on UNIX
9. Other Useful Commands
10. Some Basics of Shell Programming
11. UNIX Command Summary