More notes on a Red Hat class my employer sent me to.
The first installment (http://stutefish.joeuser.com/index.asp?AID=75620)
Unit 2
Running Commands
+ Syntax: command [options] [arguments]
+ Each syntax item is space-delimited
+ Options modify the command's behavior (e.g., "ls -l", "ls -a")
+ Full-word options usually preceded by "--"
+ Single-letter options usually preceded by "-" (e.g., "-a, -b, -c" or "-abc")
+ Arguments are additional info like filenames that the command requires (e.g., "ls -l /bin", where "/bin" is a path argument)
Note that options and arguments are command-specific. Refer to the man pages for specifications.
Insert some wankery with "cal" here.
Getting Help
+ Don't try to memorize everything! Use some helps.
+ whatis Run makewhatis to activate the whatis application
+ --help Not as thorough as man, but waaay easier to read.
+ man and info
+ /usr/share/doc
+ The Red Hat documentation
The whatis Command
+ Displays short descriptions of commands.
+ Uses a database that is updated periodically.
+ Usually not available until you build the whatis database (by running makewhatis).
[root@station10 ~]# whatis cal
cal (1) - displays a calendar
The --help Option
+ Displays usage summary and argument list.
+ Used by most--but not all!--commands.
Reading Usage Summaries
+ Printed by --help, man and others.
+ Used to describe command syntax.
+ Arguments in "[]" are optional.
+ Arguments in CAPS or "<>" are variables.
+ Text followed by "..." represents a list.
+ "x|y|z" means "x or y or z".
+ "-abc" means "any mix of -a, -b, or -c".
The man Command
+ Full documentation for commands.
+ Pages are grouped into chapters.
+ Usage: man []
man has all sorts of functionality. Check it out!
Navigating man Pages
+ Arrow keys, pgUp, pgDown
+ / Search for text.
+ "n" or "N": Next/Previous match
+ "q": Quit viewing page
The info Command
+ More in-depth than man.
+ info pages are web-based.
+ Usage: info []
Navigating info Pages
+ arrows, pgUp, pgDown
+ TAB for the next (web) link
+ ENTER to follow the selected link.
+ "n", "p", and "u": View next/previous/up-one node.
+ "s []": searches for text
Extended Documentation
+ The /usr/share/doc directory
+ Example config files
+ HTML/pdf/ps format documents
+ License details
+ &c.
NOW WE DO SOME LABS.