DIL/NetPC – User Information

BusyBox Command Descriptions

addgroup
addgroup [-g GID] group_name [user_name]
Adds a group to the system
Options:
-g GID specify gid

-------------------------------
adduser
adduser [OPTIONS] user_name
Adds a user to the system
Options:
-h DIR Assign home directory DIR

-g GECOS Assign gecos field GECOS

-s SHELL Assign login shell SHELL

-G Add the user to existing group GROUP

-S create a system user (ignored)

-D Do not assign a password (logins still possible via

ssh)

-H Do not create the home directory

-------------------------------
adjtimex
adjtimex [-q] [-o offset] [-f frequency] [-p timeconstant] [-t tick]
Reads and optionally sets system timebase parameters. See adjtimex(2).
Options:
-q quiet mode - do not print

-o offset time offset, microseconds

-f frequency frequency adjust, integer kernel units (65536 is

1ppm)

(positive values make the system clock run fast)

-t tick microseconds per tick, usually 10000

-p timeconstant

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-------------------------------
ar
ar [-o] [-v] [-p] [-t] [-x] ARCHIVE FILES
Extract or list FILES from an ar archive.
Options:
-o preserve original dates

-p extract to stdout

-t list

-x extract

-v verbosely list files processed

-------------------------------
arping
arping [-fqbDUA] [-c count] [-w timeout] [-I device] [-s sender] target
Ping hosts by ARP requests/replies.
Options:
-f Quit on first ARP reply

-q Be quiet

-b Keep broadcasting, don't go unicast

-D Duplicated address detection mode

-U Unsolicited ARP mode, update your neighbours

-A ARP answer mode, update your neighbours

-c count Stop after sending count ARP request packets

-w timeout Time to wait for ARP reply, in seconds

-I device Outgoing interface name, default is eth0

-s sender Set specific sender IP address

target Target IP address of ARP request

-------------------------------
ash
ash [FILE]... or: ash -c command [args]...
The ash shell (command interpreter)
-------------------------------

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awk
awk [OPTION]... [program-text] [FILE ...]
Options:
-v var=val assign value 'val' to variable 'var'

-F sep use 'sep' as field separator

-f progname read program source from file 'progname'

-------------------------------
basename
basename FILE [SUFFIX]
Strips directory path and suffixes from FILE. If specified, also removes any trailing SUFFIX.
Example:
$ basename /usr/local/bin/foo

foo

$ basename /usr/local/bin/

bin

$ basename /foo/bar.txt .txt

bar

-------------------------------
bunzip2
bunzip2 [OPTION]... [FILE]
Uncompress FILE (or standard input if FILE is '-' or omitted).
Options:
-c Write output to standard output

-f Force

-------------------------------
bzcat
bzcat FILE
Uncompress to stdout.
-------------------------------
cal

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cal [-jy] [[month] year]

Display a calendar.
Options:
-j Use julian dates.

-y Display the entire year.

-------------------------------
cat
cat [-u] [FILE]...

Concatenates FILE(s) and prints them to stdout.

Options:
-u ignored since unbuffered i/o is always used

Example:
$ cat /proc/uptime

110716.72 17.67

-------------------------------
chgrp
chgrp [OPTION]... GROUP FILE...
Change the group membership of each FILE to GROUP.
Options:
-R Changes files and directories recursively.

Example:
$ ls -l /tmp/foo

-r--r--r-- 1 andersen andersen 0 Apr 12 18:25 /tmp/foo

$ chgrp root /tmp/foo

$ ls -l /tmp/foo

-r--r--r-- 1 andersen root 0 Apr 12 18:25 /tmp/foo

-------------------------------
chmod
chmod [-R] MODE[,MODE]... FILE...
Each MODE is one or more of the letters ugoa, one of the symbols +-= and one or more of the
letters rwxst.

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Options:
-R Changes files and directories recursively.

Example:
$ ls -l /tmp/foo

-rw-rw-r-- 1 root root 0 Apr 12 18:25 /tmp/foo

$ chmod u+x /tmp/foo

$ ls -l /tmp/foo

-rwxrw-r-- 1 root root 0 Apr 12 18:25 /tmp/foo*

$ chmod 444 /tmp/foo

$ ls -l /tmp/foo

-r--r--r-- 1 root root 0 Apr 12 18:25 /tmp/foo

-------------------------------
chown
chown [ -Rh ]... OWNER[<.|:>[GROUP]] FILE...
Change the owner and/or group of each FILE to OWNER and/or GROUP.
Options:
-R Changes files and directories recursively.

-h Do not dereference symbolic links.

Example:
$ ls -l /tmp/foo

-r--r--r-- 1 andersen andersen 0 Apr 12 18:25 /tmp/foo

$ chown root /tmp/foo

$ ls -l /tmp/foo

-r--r--r-- 1 root andersen 0 Apr 12 18:25 /tmp/foo

$ chown root.root /tmp/foo

ls -l /tmp/foo

-r--r--r-- 1 root root 0 Apr 12 18:25 /tmp/foo

-------------------------------
chroot
chroot NEWROOT [COMMAND...]
Run COMMAND with root directory set to NEWROOT.

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Example:
$ ls -l /bin/ls

lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 12 Apr 13 00:46 /bin/ls ->

/BusyBox

# mount /dev/hdc1 /mnt -t minix

# chroot /mnt

# ls -l /bin/ls

-rwxr-xr-x 1 root root 40816 Feb 5 07:45 /bin/ls*

-------------------------------
chvt
chvt N
Changes the foreground virtual terminal to /dev/ttyN
-------------------------------
clear
clear
Clear screen.
-------------------------------
cmp
cmp [-l] [-s] FILE1 [FILE2]
Compare files. Compares FILE1 vs stdin if FILE2 is not specified.
Options:
-l Write the byte numbers (decimal) and values (octal)

for all differing bytes.

-s quiet mode - do not print

-------------------------------
cp
cp [OPTION]... SOURCE DEST

Copies SOURCE to DEST, or multiple SOURCE(s) to DIRECTORY.

-a Same as -dpR

-d Preserves links

-p Preserves file attributes if possible

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-f force (implied; ignored) - always set

-i interactive, prompt before overwrite

-R,-r Copies directories recursively

-------------------------------
cpio
cpio -[dimtuv][F cpiofile]
Extract or list files from a cpio archive Main operation mode:
d make leading directories

i extract

m preserve mtime

t list

v verbose

u unconditional overwrite

F input from file

-------------------------------
crond
crond -d[#] -c <crondir> -f -b
-d [#] -l [#] -S -L logfile -f -b -c dir

-d num debug level

-l num log level (8 - default)

-S log to syslogd (default)

-L file log to file

-f run in fordeground

-b run in background (default)

-c dir working dir

-------------------------------
crontab
crontab [-c dir] {file|-}|[-u|-l|-e|-d user]
file <opts> replace crontab from file

- <opts> replace crontab from stdin

-u user specify user

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-l [user] list crontab for user

-e [user] edit crontab for user

-d [user] delete crontab for user

-c dir specify crontab directory

-------------------------------
cut
cut [OPTION]... [FILE]...
Prints selected fields from each input FILE to standard output.
Options:
-b LIST Output only bytes from LIST

-c LIST Output only characters from LIST

-d CHAR Use CHAR instead of tab as the field delimiter

-s Output only the lines containing delimiter

-f N Print only these fields

-n Ignored

Example:
$ echo "Hello world" | cut -f 1 -d ' '

Hello

$ echo "Hello world" | cut -f 2 -d ' '

world

-------------------------------
date
date [OPTION]... [MMDDhhmm[[CC]YY][.ss]] [+FORMAT]
Displays the current time in the given FORMAT, or sets the system date.
Options:
-R Outputs RFC-822 compliant date string

-d STRING Displays time described by STRING, not `now'

-I[TIMESPEC] Outputs an ISO-8601 compliant date/time string.

TIMESPEC=`date' (or missing) for date only,

`hours', `minutes', or `seconds' for date and,

time to the indicated precision.

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-s Sets time described by STRING

-r FILE Displays the last modification time of FILE

-u Prints or sets Coordinated Universal Time

Example:
$ date

Wed Apr 12 18:52:41 MDT 2000

-------------------------------
dc
dc expression ...
This is a Tiny RPN calculator that understands the following operations: +, add, -, sub, *, mul,
/, div, %, mod, **, exp, and, or, not, eor. For example: 'dc 2 2 add' -> 4, and 'dc 8 8 \* 2 2 + /' -
> 16.
Options: p - Prints the value on the top of the stack, without altering the stack. f - Prints the
entire contents of the stack without altering anything. o - Pops the value off the top of the stack
and uses it to set the output radix.
Only 10 and 16 are supported.

Example:
$ dc 2 2 + p

$ dc 8 8 \* 2 2 + / p

16

$ dc 0 1 and p

$ dc 0 1 or p

$ echo 72 9 div 8 mul p | dc

64

-------------------------------
dd

dd [if=FILE] [of=FILE] [bs=N] [count=N] [skip=N]

[seek=N] [conv=notrunc|noerror|sync]

Copy a file, converting and formatting according to options

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if=FILE read from FILE instead of stdin

of=FILE write to FILE instead of stdout

bs=N read and write N bytes at a time

count=N copy only N input blocks

skip=N skip N input blocks

seek=N skip N output blocks

conv=notrunc don't truncate output file

conv=noerror continue after read errors

conv=sync pad blocks with zeros

Numbers may be suffixed by c (x1), w (x2), b (x512), kD (x1000), k (x1024), MD (x1000000),

M (x1048576), GD (x1000000000) or G (x1073741824).
Example:
$ dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/ram1 bs=1M count=4

4+0 records in

4+0 records out

-------------------------------
deallocvt
deallocvt [N]
Deallocate unused virtual terminal /dev/ttyN
-------------------------------
delgroup
delgroup GROUP
Deletes group GROUP from the system
-------------------------------
deluser
deluser USER
Deletes user USER from the system
-------------------------------
devfsd
devfsd mntpnt [-v][-fg][-np]
Optional daemon for managing devfs permissions and old device name symlinks.

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Options:
mntpnt The mount point where devfs is mounted.

-v Print the protocol version numbers for devfsd

and the kernel-side protocol version and exits.

-fg Run the daemon in the foreground.

-np Exit after parsing the configuration file

and processing synthetic REGISTER events.

Do not poll for events.

-------------------------------
df
df [-hmk] [FILESYSTEM ...]
Print the filesystem space used and space available.
Options:
-h print sizes in human readable format (e.g., 1K 243M 2G )

-m print sizes in megabytes

-k print sizes in kilobytes(default)

Example:
$ df

Filesystem 1k-blocks Used Available Use% Mounted on

/dev/sda3 8690864 8553540 137324 98% /

/dev/sda1 64216 36364 27852 57% /boot

$ df /dev/sda3

Filesystem 1k-blocks Used Available Use% Mounted on

/dev/sda3 8690864 8553540 137324 98% /

-------------------------------
dirname
dirname FILENAME
Strips non-directory suffix from FILENAME
Example:
$ dirname /tmp/foo

/tmp

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$ dirname /tmp/foo/

/tmp

-------------------------------
dmesg
dmesg [-c] [-n LEVEL] [-s SIZE]
Prints or controls the kernel ring buffer
Options:
-c Clears the ring buffer's contents after printing

-n LEVEL Sets console logging level

-s SIZE Use a buffer of size SIZE

-------------------------------
dos2unix
dos2unix [option] [FILE]
Converts FILE from dos format to unix format. When no option is given, the input is converted
to the opposite output format. When no file is given, uses stdin for input and stdout for output.
Options:
-u output will be in UNIX format

-d output will be in DOS format

-------------------------------
dpkg
dpkg [-ilCPru] [-F option] package_name
dpkg is a utility to install, remove and manage Debian packages.
Options:
-i Install the package

-l List of installed packages

-C Configure an unpackaged package

-F depends Ignore depency problems

-P Purge all files of a package

-r Remove all but the configuration files for a package

-u Unpack a package, but don't configure it

-------------------------------

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dpkg-deb
dpkg-deb [-cefxX] FILE [argument]
Perform actions on Debian packages (.debs)
Options:
-c List contents of filesystem tree

-e Extract control files to [argument] directory

-f Display control field name starting with [argument]

-x Extract packages filesystem tree to directory

-X Verbose extract

Example:
$ dpkg-deb -X ./busybox_0.48-1_i386.deb /tmp

-------------------------------
du
du [-aHLdclsxhmk] [FILE]...
Summarizes disk space used for each FILE and/or directory. Disk space is printed in units of
1024 bytes.
Options:
-a show sizes of files in addition to directories

-H follow symbolic links that are FILE command line args

-L follow all symbolic links encountered

-d N limit output to directories (and files with -a) of depth < N

-c output a grand total

-l count sizes many times if hard linked

-s display only a total for each argument

-x skip directories on different filesystems

-h print sizes in human readable format (e.g., 1K 243M 2G )

-m print sizes in megabytes

-k print sizes in kilobytes(default)

Example:
$ du

16 ./CVS

12 ./kernel-patches/CVS

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80 ./kernel-patches

12 ./tests/CVS

36 ./tests

12 ./scripts/CVS

16 ./scripts

12 ./docs/CVS

104 ./docs

2417 .

-------------------------------
dumpkmap
dumpkmap > keymap
Prints out a binary keyboard translation table to standard output.
Example:
$ dumpkmap > keymap

-------------------------------
dumpleases
dumpleases [-r|-a] [-f LEASEFILE]
Displays the DHCP leases granted by udhcpd.
Options:
-f, --file=FILENAME Leases file to load

-r, --remaining Interpret lease times as time remaing

-a, --absolute Interpret lease times as expire time

-------------------------------
echo
echo [-neE] [ARG ...]
Prints the specified ARGs to stdout
Options:
-n suppress trailing newline

-e interpret backslash-escaped characters (i.e., \t=tab)

-E disable interpretation of backslash-escaped characters

Example:

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$ echo "Erik is cool"

Erik is cool

$ echo -e "Erik\nis\ncool"

Erik

is

cool

$ echo "Erik\nis\ncool"

Erik\nis\ncool

-------------------------------
env
env [-iu] [-] [name=value]... [command]
Prints the current environment or runs a program after setting up the specified environment.
Options:
-, -i start with an empty environment

-u remove variable from the environment

-------------------------------
expr
expr EXPRESSION
Prints the value of EXPRESSION to standard output.
EXPRESSION may be:
ARG1 | ARG2 ARG1 if it is neither null nor 0, otherwise ARG2

ARG1 & ARG2 ARG1 if neither argument is null or 0, otherwise 0

ARG1 < ARG2 ARG1 is less than ARG2

ARG1 <= ARG2 ARG1 is less than or equal to ARG2

ARG1 = ARG2 ARG1 is equal to ARG2

ARG1 != ARG2 ARG1 is unequal to ARG2

ARG1 >= ARG2 ARG1 is greater than or equal to ARG2

ARG1 > ARG2 ARG1 is greater than ARG2

ARG1 + ARG2 arithmetic sum of ARG1 and ARG2

ARG1 - ARG2 arithmetic difference of ARG1 and ARG2

ARG1 * ARG2 arithmetic product of ARG1 and ARG2

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ARG1 / ARG2 arithmetic quotient of ARG1 divided by ARG2

ARG1 % ARG2 arithmetic remainder of ARG1 divided by ARG2

STRING : REGEXP anchored pattern match of REGEXP in

STRING

match STRING REGEXP same as STRING : REGEXP

substr STRING POS LENGTH substring of STRING, POS counted from 1

index STRING CHARS index in STRING where any CHARS is

found,

or 0

length STRING length of STRING

quote TOKEN interpret TOKEN as a string, even if

it is a keyword like `match' or an

operator like `/'

( EXPRESSION ) value of EXPRESSION

Beware that many operators need to be escaped or quoted for shells. Comparisons are
arithmetic if both ARGs are numbers, else lexicographical. Pattern matches return the string
matched between \( and \) or null; if \( and \) are not used, they return the number of characters
matched or 0.
-------------------------------
false
false
Return an exit code of FALSE (1).
Example:
$ false

$ echo $?

-------------------------------
fbset
fbset [options] [mode]
Show and modify frame buffer settings
Example:
$ fbset

mode "1024x768-76"

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# D: 78.653 MHz, H: 59.949 kHz, V: 75.694 Hz

geometry 1024 768 1024 768 16

timings 12714 128 32 16 4 128 4

accel false

rgba 5/11,6/5,5/0,0/0

endmode

-------------------------------
fdflush
fdflush DEVICE
Forces floppy disk drive to detect disk change
-------------------------------
fdformat
fdformat [-n] DEVICE
Low-level formats a floppy disk
Options:
-n Don't verify after format

-------------------------------
fdisk
fdisk [-luv] [-C CYLINDERS] [-H HEADS] [-S SECTORS] [-b SSZ] DISK
Change partition table Options:
-l List partition table(s)

-u Give Start and End in sector (instead of cylinder) units

-s PARTITION Give partition size(s) in blocks

-b 2048: (for certain MO disks) use 2048-byte sectors

-C CYLINDERS Set the number of cylinders

-H HEADS Set the number of heads

-S SECTORS Set the number of sectors

-v Give fdisk version

-------------------------------
find
find [PATH...] [EXPRESSION]

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Search for files in a directory hierarchy. The default PATH is the current directory; default
EXPRESSION is '-print'
EXPRESSION may consist of:
-follow Dereference symbolic links.

-name PATTERN File name (leading directories removed) matches

PATTERN.

-print Print (default and assumed).

-type X Filetype matches X (where X is one of:

f,d,l,b,c,...)

-perm PERMS Permissions match any of (+NNN); all of (-NNN);

or exactly (NNN)

-mtime TIME Modified time is greater than (+N); less than (-N);

or exactly (N) days

-newer FILE Modified time is more recent than FILE's

-inum N File has inode number N

Example:
$ find / -name passwd

/etc/passwd

-------------------------------
fold
fold [-bsw] [FILE]
Wrap input lines in each FILE (standard input by default), writing to standard output.
Options:
-b count bytes rather than columns

-s break at spaces

-w use WIDTH columns instead of 80

-------------------------------
free
free
Displays the amount of free and used system memory
Example:
$ free

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total used free shared

buffers

Mem: 257628 248724 8904 59644

93124

Swap: 128516 8404 120112

Total: 386144 257128 129016

-------------------------------
freeramdisk
freeramdisk DEVICE
Frees all memory used by the specified ramdisk.
Example:
$ freeramdisk /dev/ram2

-------------------------------
fsck.minix
fsck.minix [-larvsmf] /dev/name
Performs a consistency check for MINIX filesystems.
Options:
-l Lists all filenames

-r Perform interactive repairs

-a Perform automatic repairs

-v verbose

-s Outputs super-block information

-m Activates MINIX-like "mode not cleared" warnings

-f Force file system check.

-------------------------------
ftpget
ftpget [options] remote-host local-file remote-file
Retrieve a remote file via FTP.
Options:
-c, --continue Continue a previous transfer

-v, --verbose Verbose

-u, --username Username to be used

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-p, --password Password to be used

-P, --port Port number to be used

-------------------------------
ftpput
ftpput [options] remote-host remote-file local-file
Store a local file on a remote machine via FTP.
Options:
-v, --verbose Verbose

-u, --username Username to be used

-p, --password Password to be used

-P, --port Port number to be used

-------------------------------
getopt
getopt [OPTIONS]...
Parse command options
-a, --alternative Allow long options starting with
single -

-l, --longoptions=longopts Long options to be recognized

-n, --name=progname The name under which errors are

reported

-o, --options=optstring Short options to be recognized

-q, --quiet Disable error reporting by getopt(3)

-Q, --quiet-output No normal output

-s, --shell=shell Set shell quoting conventions

-T, --test Test for getopt(1) version

-u, --unquoted Do not quote the output

Example:
$ cat getopt.test

#!/bin/sh

GETOPT=`getopt -o ab:c:: --long a-long,b-long:,c-long:: \

-n 'example.busybox' -- "$@"`

if [ $? != 0 ] ; then exit 1 ; fi

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eval set -- "$GETOPT"

while true ; do

case $1 in

-a|--a-long) echo "Option a" ; shift ;;

-b|--b-long) echo "Option b, argument `$2'" ; shift 2 ;;

-c|--c-long)

case "$2" in

"") echo "Option c, no argument"; shift 2 ;;

*) echo "Option c, argument `$2'" ; shift 2 ;;

esac ;;

--) shift ; break ;;

*) echo "Internal error!" ; exit 1 ;;

esac

done

-------------------------------
getty
getty [OPTIONS]... baud_rate,... line [termtype]
Opens a tty, prompts for a login name, then invokes /bin/login
Options:
-h Enable hardware (RTS/CTS) flow control.

-i Do not display /etc/issue before running login.

-L Local line, so do not do carrier detect.

-m Get baud rate from modem's CONNECT status message.

-w Wait for a CR or LF before sending /etc/issue.

-n Do not prompt the user for a login name.

-f issue_file Display issue_file instead of /etc/issue.

-l login_app Invoke login_app instead of /bin/login.

-t timeout Terminate after timeout if no username is read.

-I initstring Sets the init string to send before anything else.

-H login_host Log login_host into the utmp file as the hostname.

-------------------------------
grep

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grep [-ihHnqvs] PATTERN [FILEs...]

Search for PATTERN in each FILE or standard input.
Options:
-H prefix output lines with filename where match was found

-h suppress the prefixing filename on output

-i ignore case distinctions

-l list names of files that match

-n print line number with output lines

-q be quiet. Returns 0 if result was found, 1 otherwise

-v select non-matching lines

-s suppress file open/read error messages

Example:
$ grep root /etc/passwd

root:x:0:0:root:/root:/bin/bash

$ grep ^[rR]oo. /etc/passwd

root:x:0:0:root:/root:/bin/bash

-------------------------------
gunzip
gunzip [OPTION]... FILE
Uncompress FILE (or standard input if FILE is '-').
Options:
-c Write output to standard output

-f Force read when source is a terminal

-t Test compressed file integrity

Example:
$ ls -la /tmp/BusyBox*

-rw-rw-r-- 1 andersen andersen 557009 Apr 11 10:55

/tmp/BusyBox-0.43.tar.gz

$ gunzip /tmp/BusyBox-0.43.tar.gz

$ ls -la /tmp/BusyBox*

-rw-rw-r-- 1 andersen andersen 1761280 Apr 14 17:47

/tmp/BusyBox-0.43.tar

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-------------------------------
gzip
gzip [OPTION]... [FILE]...

Compress FILE(s) with maximum compression. When FILE is '-' or unspecified, reads
standard input. Implies -c.
Options:
-c Write output to standard output instead of FILE.gz

-d Decompress

-f Force write when destination is a terminal

Example:
$ ls -la /tmp/busybox*

-rw-rw-r-- 1 andersen andersen 1761280 Apr 14 17:47

/tmp/busybox.tar

$ gzip /tmp/busybox.tar

$ ls -la /tmp/busybox*

-rw-rw-r-- 1 andersen andersen 554058 Apr 14 17:49

/tmp/busybox.tar.gz

-------------------------------
halt
halt [-d<delay>]
Halt the system. Options:
-d delay interval for halting.

-------------------------------
hdparm
hdparm [options] [device] ..
Options: -a get/set fs readahead
-A set drive read-lookahead flag (0/1)

-b get/set bus state (0 == off, 1 == on, 2 == tristate)

-B set Advanced Power Management setting (1-255)

-c get/set IDE 32-bit IO setting

-C check IDE power mode status

-d get/set using_dma flag

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-D enable/disable drive defect-mgmt

-f flush buffer cache for device on exit

-g display drive geometry

-h display terse usage information

-i display drive identification

-I detailed/current information directly from drive

-Istdin similar to -I, but wants /proc/ide/*/hd?/identify as input

-k get/set keep_settings_over_reset flag (0/1)

-K set drive keep_features_over_reset flag (0/1)

-L set drive doorlock (0/1) (removable harddisks only)

-m get/set multiple sector count

-n get/set ignore-write-errors flag (0/1)

-p set PIO mode on IDE interface chipset (0,1,2,3,4,...)

-P set drive prefetch count

-q change next setting quietly

-Q get/set DMA tagged-queuing depth (if supported)

-r get/set readonly flag (DANGEROUS to set)

-R register an IDE interface (DANGEROUS)

-S set standby (spindown) timeout

-t perform device read timings

-T perform cache read timings

-u get/set unmaskirq flag (0/1)

-U un-register an IDE interface (DANGEROUS)

-v defaults; same as -mcudkrag for IDE drives

-V display program version and exit immediately

-w perform device reset (DANGEROUS)

-W set drive write-caching flag (0/1) (DANGEROUS)

-x tristate device for hotswap (0/1) (DANGEROUS)

-X set IDE xfer mode (DANGEROUS)

-y put IDE drive in standby mode

-Y put IDE drive to sleep

-Z disable Seagate auto-powersaving mode

-z re-read partition table

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-------------------------------
head
head [OPTION]... [FILE]...
Print first 10 lines of each FILE to standard output. With more than one FILE, precede each
with a header giving the file name. With no FILE, or when FILE is -, read standard input.
Options:
-n NUM Print first NUM lines instead of first 10

-c NUM output the first NUM bytes

-q never output headers giving file names

-v always output headers giving file names

Example:
$ head -n 2 /etc/passwd

root:x:0:0:root:/root:/bin/bash

daemon:x:1:1:daemon:/usr/sbin:/bin/sh

-------------------------------
hexdump
hexdump [-[bcdefnosvx]] [OPTION] FILE
The hexdump utility is a filter which displays the specified files, or the standard input, if no
files are specified, in a user specified format
-b One-byte octal display

-c One-byte character display

-d Two-byte decimal display

-e FORMAT STRING

-f FORMAT FILE

-n LENGTH Interpret only length bytes of input

-o Two-byte octal display

-s OFFSET Skip offset byte

-v display all input data

-x Two-byte hexadecimal display

-------------------------------
hostid
hostid

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Print out a unique 32-bit identifier for the machine.

-------------------------------
hostname
hostname [OPTION] {hostname | -F FILE}
Get or set the hostname or DNS domain name. If a hostname is given (or FILE with the -F
parameter), the host name will be set.
Options:
-s Short

-i Addresses for the hostname

-d DNS domain name

-f Fully qualified domain name

-F FILE Use the contents of FILE to specify the hostname

Example:
$ hostname

sage

-------------------------------
httpd
httpd [-c <conf file>] [-p <port>] [-u user] [-r <realm>] [-m pass] [-h home] [-d/-e <string>]
Listens for incoming http server requests.
Options:
-c FILE Specifies configuration file. (default httpd.conf)

-p PORT Server port (default 80)

-u USER Set uid to USER after listening privileges port

-r REALM Authentication Realm for Basic Authentication

-m PASS Crypt PASS with md5 algorithm

-h HOME Specifies http HOME directory (default ./)

-e STRING Html encode STRING

-d STRING URL decode STRING

-------------------------------
hwclock
hwclock [-r|--show] [-s|--hctosys] [-w|--systohc] [-l|--localtime] [-u|--utc]

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Query and set the hardware clock (RTC)

Options:
-r read hardware clock and print result

-s set the system time from the hardware clock

-w set the hardware clock to the current system time

-u the hardware clock is kept in coordinated universal time

-l the hardware clock is kept in local time

-------------------------------
id
id [OPTIONS]... [USERNAME]
Print information for USERNAME or the current user
Options:
-c prints only the security context

-g prints only the group ID

-u prints only the user ID

-n print a name instead of a number

-r prints the real user ID instead of the effective ID

Example:
$ id

uid=1000(andersen) gid=1000(andersen)

-------------------------------
ifconfig
ifconfig [-a] <interface> [<address>]
configure a network interface
Options: [add <address>[/<prefixlen>]] [del <address>[/<prefixlen>]]
[[-]broadcast [<address>]] [[-]pointopoint [<address>]]

[netmask <address>] [dstaddr <address>]

[outfill <NN>] [keepalive <NN>]

[hw ether <address>] [metric <NN>] [mtu <NN>]

[[-]trailers] [[-]arp] [[-]allmulti]

[multicast] [[-]promisc] [txqueuelen <NN>] [[-]dynamic]

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[mem_start <NN>] [io_addr <NN>] [irq <NN>]

[up|down] ...

-------------------------------
ifdown
ifdown <-ahinv> <ifaces...>
ifdown <options> <ifaces...>
Options:
-h this help

-a de/configure all interfaces automatically

-i FILE use FILE for interface definitions

-n print out what would happen, but don't do it

(note that this option doesn't disable mappings)

-v print out what would happen before doing it

-m don't run any mappings

-f force de/configuration

-------------------------------
ifup
ifup <-ahinv> <ifaces...>
ifup <options> <ifaces...>
Options:
-h this help

-a de/configure all interfaces automatically

-i FILE use FILE for interface definitions

-n print out what would happen, but don't do it

(note that this option doesn't disable mappings)

-v print out what would happen before doing it

-m don't run any mappings

-f force de/configuration

-------------------------------
inetd
inetd [-q len] [conf]

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Listens for network connections and launches programs

Option:
-q Sets the size of the socket listen queue to

the specified value. Default is 128.

-------------------------------
init
init
Init is the parent of all processes.
This version of init is designed to be run only by the kernel.
BusyBox init doesn't support multiple runlevels. The runlevels field of the /etc/inittab file is
completely ignored by BusyBox init. If you want runlevels, use sysvinit.
BusyBox init works just fine without an inittab. If no inittab is found, it has the following
default behavior:
::sysinit:/etc/init.d/rcS

::askfirst:/bin/sh

::ctrlaltdel:/sbin/reboot

::shutdown:/sbin/swapoff -a

::shutdown:/bin/umount -a -r

::restart:/sbin/init

if it detects that /dev/console is _not_ a serial console, it will also run:

tty2::askfirst:/bin/sh

tty3::askfirst:/bin/sh

tty4::askfirst:/bin/sh

If you choose to use an /etc/inittab file, the inittab entry format is as follows:
<id>:<runlevels>:<action>:<process>

<id>:

WARNING: This field has a non-traditional meaning for

BusyBox init!

The id field is used by BusyBox init to specify the

controlling tty for

the specified process to run on. The contents of this field

are

appended to "/dev/" and used as-is. There is no need for

this field to

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be unique, although if it isn't you may have strange

results. If this

field is left blank, the controlling tty is set to the

console. Also

note that if BusyBox detects that a serial console is in

use, then only

entries whose controlling tty is either the serial console

or /dev/null

will be run. BusyBox init does nothing with utmp. We don't

need no

stinkin' utmp.

<runlevels>:

The runlevels field is completely ignored.

<action>:

Valid actions include: sysinit, respawn, askfirst, wait,

once, restart, ctrlaltdel, and shutdown.

The available actions can be classified into two groups:

actions

that are run only once, and actions that are re-run when the
specified

process exits.

Run only-once actions:

'sysinit' is the first item run on boot. init waits

until all

sysinit actions are completed before continuing.

Following the

completion of all sysinit actions, all 'wait'

actions are run.

'wait' actions, like 'sysinit' actions, cause init

to wait until

the specified task completes. 'once' actions are

asynchronous,

therefore, init does not wait for them to complete.

'restart' is

the action taken to restart the init process. By

default this should

simply run /sbin/init, but can be a script which

runs pivot_root or it

can do all sorts of other interesting things. The

'ctrlaltdel' init

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actions are run when the system detects that someone

on the system

console has pressed the CTRL-ALT-DEL key combination.

Typically one

wants to run 'reboot' at this point to cause the

system to reboot.

Finally the 'shutdown' action specifies the actions

to taken when

init is told to reboot. Unmounting filesystems and

disabling swap

is a very good here

Run repeatedly actions:

'respawn' actions are run after the 'once' actions.

When a process

started with a 'respawn' action exits, init

automatically restarts

it. Unlike sysvinit, BusyBox init does not stop

processes from

respawning out of control. The 'askfirst' actions

acts just like

respawn, except that before running the specified

process it

displays the line "Please press Enter to activate

this console."

and then waits for the user to press enter before

starting the

specified process.

Unrecognized actions (like initdefault) will cause init to

emit an

error message, and then go along with its business. All

actions are

run in the order they appear in /etc/inittab.

<process>:

Specifies the process to be executed and its command line.

Example /etc/inittab file:

# This is run first except when booting in single-user mode.

::sysinit:/etc/init.d/rcS

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# /bin/sh invocations on selected ttys

# Start an "askfirst" shell on the console (whatever that may be)

::askfirst:-/bin/sh

# Start an "askfirst" shell on /dev/tty2-4

tty2::askfirst:-/bin/sh

tty3::askfirst:-/bin/sh

tty4::askfirst:-/bin/sh

# /sbin/getty invocations for selected ttys

tty4::respawn:/sbin/getty 38400 tty4

tty5::respawn:/sbin/getty 38400 tty5

# Example of how to put a getty on a serial line (for a terminal)

#::respawn:/sbin/getty -L ttyS0 9600 vt100

#::respawn:/sbin/getty -L ttyS1 9600 vt100

# Example how to put a getty on a modem line.

#::respawn:/sbin/getty 57600 ttyS2

# Stuff to do when restarting the init process

::restart:/sbin/init

# Stuff to do before rebooting

::ctrlaltdel:/sbin/reboot

::shutdown:/bin/umount -a -r

::shutdown:/sbin/swapoff -a

-------------------------------
insmod

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insmod [OPTION]... MODULE [symbol=value]...

Loads the specified kernel modules into the kernel.
Options:
-f Force module to load into the wrong kernel version.

-k Make module autoclean-able.

-v verbose output

-q quiet output

-L Lock to prevent simultaneous loads of a module

-m Output load map to stdout

-o NAME Set internal module name to NAME

-x do not export externs

-------------------------------
install
install [-cgmops] [sources] <dest|directory>
Copies files and set attributes
Options:
-c copy the file, default

-d create directories

-g set group ownership

-m set permission modes

-o set ownership

-p preserve date

-s strip symbol tables

-------------------------------
ip
ip [ OPTIONS ] { address | link | route | tunnel } { COMMAND | help }
ip [ OPTIONS ] OBJECT { COMMAND | help } where OBJECT := { link | addr | route |
tunnel } OPTIONS := { -f[amily] { inet | inet6 | link } | -o[neline] }
-------------------------------
ipaddr

ipaddr { {add|del} IFADDR dev STRING | {show|flush}

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[ dev STRING ] [ to PREFIX ] }

ipaddr {add|del} IFADDR dev STRING ipaddr {show|flush} [ dev STRING ] [ scope SCOPE-
ID ]
[ to PREFIX ] [ label PATTERN ]

IFADDR := PREFIX | ADDR peer PREFIX

[ broadcast ADDR ] [ anycast ADDR ]

[ label STRING ] [ scope SCOPE-ID ]

SCOPE-ID := [ host | link | global | NUMBER ]

-------------------------------
ipcalc
ipcalc [OPTION]... <ADDRESS>[[/]<NETMASK>] [NETMASK]
Calculate IP network settings from a IP address
Options:
-b --broadcast Display calculated broadcast address.

-n --network Display calculated network address.

-m --netmask Display default netmask for IP. X

-p --prefix Display the prefix for IP/NETMASK. -h

--hostname Display first resolved host name.

-s --silent Don't ever display error messages.

-------------------------------
iplink
iplink
iplink set DEVICE { up | down | arp { on | off } |
dynamic { on | off } |

mtu MTU }

iplink show [ DEVICE ]

-------------------------------
iproute

iproute { list | flush | { add | del | change | append |

replace | monitor } ROUTE }

iproute { list | flush } SELECTOR iproute get ADDRESS [ from ADDRESS iif STRING ]

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[ oif STRING ] [ tos TOS ]

iproute { add | del | change | append | replace | monitor } ROUTE

SELECTOR := [ root PREFIX ] [ match PREFIX ] [ proto

RTPROTO ]

ROUTE := [ TYPE ] PREFIX [ tos TOS ] [ proto RTPROTO

]

-------------------------------
iptunnel

iptunnel { add | change | del | show } [ NAME ]

[ mode { ipip | gre | sit } ]

[ remote ADDR ] [ local ADDR ] [ ttl TTL ]

iptunnel { add | change | del | show } [ NAME ]

[ mode { ipip | gre | sit } ] [ remote ADDR ] [
local ADDR ]

[ [i|o]seq ] [ [i|o]key KEY ] [ [i|o]csum ]

[ ttl TTL ] [ tos TOS ] [ [no]pmtudisc ] [ dev

PHYS_DEV ]

-------------------------------
kill
kill [-signal] process-id [process-id ...]
Send a signal (default is SIGTERM) to the specified process(es).
Options:
-l List all signal names and numbers.

Example:
$ ps | grep apache

252 root root S [apache]

263 www-data www-data S [apache]

264 www-data www-data S [apache]

265 www-data www-data S [apache]

266 www-data www-data S [apache]

267 www-data www-data S [apache]

$ kill 252

-------------------------------

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killall
killall [-q] [-signal] process-name [process-name ...]
Send a signal (default is SIGTERM) to the specified process(es).
Options:
-l List all signal names and numbers.

-q Do not complain if no processes were killed.

Example:
$ killall apache

-------------------------------
klogd
klogd [-c n] [-n]
Kernel logger. Options:
-c n Sets the default log level of console messages to n.

-n Run as a foreground process.

-------------------------------
lash
lash [FILE]... or: sh -c command [args]...
The BusyBox LAme SHell (command interpreter)
This command does not yet have proper documentation.
Use lash just as you would use any other shell. It properly handles pipes, redirects, job control,
can be used as the shell for scripts, and has a sufficient set of builtins to do what is needed. It
does not (yet) support Bourne Shell syntax. If you need things like ``if-then-else'', ``while'', and
such use ash or bash. If you just need a very simple and extremely small shell, this will do the
job.
-------------------------------
last
last
Shows listing of the last users that logged into the system
-------------------------------
length
length STRING

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Prints out the length of the specified STRING.

Example:
$ length Hello

-------------------------------
ln
ln [OPTION] TARGET... LINK_NAME|DIRECTORY
Create a link named LINK_NAME or DIRECTORY to the specified TARGET
You may use '--' to indicate that all following arguments are non-options.
Options:
-s make symbolic links instead of hard links

-f remove existing destination files

-n no dereference symlinks - treat like normal file

Example:
$ ln -s BusyBox /tmp/ls

$ ls -l /tmp/ls

lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 7 Apr 12 18:39 ls ->

BusyBox*

-------------------------------
loadfont
loadfont < font
Loads a console font from standard input.
Example:
$ loadfont < /etc/i18n/fontname

-------------------------------
loadkmap
loadkmap < keymap
Loads a binary keyboard translation table from standard input.
Example:
$ loadkmap < /etc/i18n/lang-keymap

-------------------------------

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logger
logger [OPTION]... [MESSAGE]
Write MESSAGE to the system log. If MESSAGE is omitted, log stdin.
Options:
-s Log to stderr as well as the system log.

-t TAG Log using the specified tag (defaults to user name).

-p PRIORITY Enter the message with the specified priority.

This may be numerical or a ``facility.level'' pair.

Example:
$ logger "hello"

-------------------------------
login
login [OPTION]... [username] [ENV=VAR ...]
Begin a new session on the system
Options:
-f Do not authenticate (user already authenticated)

-h Name of the remote host for this login.

-p Preserve environment.

-------------------------------
logname
logname
Print the name of the current user.
Example:
$ logname

root

-------------------------------
logread
logread [OPTION]...
Shows the messages from syslogd (using circular buffer).
Options:

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-f output data as the log grows

-------------------------------
losetup
losetup [OPTION]... LOOPDEVICE FILE or: losetup [OPTION]... -d LOOPDEVICE
Associate LOOPDEVICE with FILE.
Options:
-d Disassociate LOOPDEVICE.

-o OFFSET Start OFFSET bytes into FILE.

-------------------------------
ls
ls [-1AacCdeFilnpLRrSsTtuvwxXhkK] [filenames...]
List directory contents
Options:
-1 list files in a single column

-A do not list implied . and ..

-a do not hide entries starting with .

-C list entries by columns

-c with -l: show ctime

-d list directory entries instead of contents

-e list both full date and full time

-F append indicator (one of */=@|) to entries

-i list the i-node for each file

-l use a long listing format

-n list numeric UIDs and GIDs instead of names

-p append indicator (one of /=@|) to entries

-L list entries pointed to by symbolic links

-R list subdirectories recursively

-r sort the listing in reverse order

-S sort the listing by file size

-s list the size of each file, in blocks

-T NUM assume Tabstop every NUM columns

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-t with -l: show modification time

-u with -l: show access time

-v sort the listing by version

-w NUM assume the terminal is NUM columns wide

-x list entries by lines instead of by columns

-X sort the listing by extension

-h print sizes in human readable format (e.g., 1K 243M 2G )

-k print security context

-K print security context in long format

-------------------------------
lsmod
lsmod
List the currently loaded kernel modules.
-------------------------------
makedevs
makedevs NAME TYPE MAJOR MINOR FIRST LAST [s]
Creates a range of block or character special files
TYPEs include:
b: Make a block (buffered) device.

c or u: Make a character (un-buffered) device.

p: Make a named pipe. MAJOR and MINOR are ignored for named
pipes.

FIRST specifies the number appended to NAME to create the first device. LAST specifies the
number of the last item that should be created. If 's' is the last argument, the base device is
created as well.
For example:
makedevs /dev/ttyS c 4 66 2 63 -> ttyS2-ttyS63

makedevs /dev/hda b 3 0 0 8 s -> hda,hda1-hda8

Example:
# makedevs /dev/ttyS c 4 66 2 63

[creates ttyS2-ttyS63]

# makedevs /dev/hda b 3 0 0 8 s

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[creates hda,hda1-hda8]

-------------------------------
md5sum
md5sum [OPTION] [FILEs...] or: md5sum [OPTION] -c [FILE]
Print or check MD5 checksums.
Options: With no FILE, or when FILE is -, read standard input.
-c check MD5 sums against given list

The following two options are useful only when verifying checksums:
-s don't output anything, status code shows success

-w warn about improperly formated MD5 checksum lines

Example:
$ md5sum < busybox

6fd11e98b98a58f64ff3398d7b324003

$ md5sum busybox

6fd11e98b98a58f64ff3398d7b324003 busybox

$ md5sum -c -

6fd11e98b98a58f64ff3398d7b324003 busybox

busybox: OK

^D

-------------------------------
mesg
mesg [y|n]
mesg controls write access to your terminal
y Allow write access to your terminal.

n Disallow write access to your terminal.

-------------------------------
mkdir
mkdir [OPTION] DIRECTORY...

Create the DIRECTORY(ies) if they do not already exist

Options:
-m set permission mode (as in chmod), not rwxrwxrwx - umask

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-p no error if existing, make parent directories as needed

Example:
$ mkdir /tmp/foo

$ mkdir /tmp/foo

/tmp/foo: File exists

$ mkdir /tmp/foo/bar/baz

/tmp/foo/bar/baz: No such file or directory

$ mkdir -p /tmp/foo/bar/baz

-------------------------------
mkfifo
mkfifo [OPTIONS] name
Creates a named pipe (identical to 'mknod name p')
Options:
-m create the pipe using the specified mode (default a=rw)

-------------------------------
mkfs.minix
mkfs.minix [-c | -l filename] [-nXX] [-iXX] /dev/name [blocks]
Make a MINIX filesystem.
Options:
-c Check the device for bad blocks

-n [14|30] Specify the maximum length of filenames

-i INODES Specify the number of inodes for the filesystem

-l FILENAME Read the bad blocks list from FILENAME

-v Make a Minix version 2 filesystem

-------------------------------
mknod
mknod [OPTIONS] NAME TYPE MAJOR MINOR
Create a special file (block, character, or pipe).
Options:
-m create the special file using the specified mode (default
a=rw)

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TYPEs include:
b: Make a block (buffered) device.

c or u: Make a character (un-buffered) device.

p: Make a named pipe. MAJOR and MINOR are ignored for named
pipes.

Example:
$ mknod /dev/fd0 b 2 0

$ mknod -m 644 /tmp/pipe p

-------------------------------
mkswap
mkswap [-c] [-v0|-v1] device [block-count]
Prepare a disk partition to be used as a swap partition.
Options:
-c Check for read-ability.

-v0 Make version 0 swap [max 128 Megs].

-v1 Make version 1 swap [big!] (default for kernels >

2.1.117).

block-count Number of block to use (default is entire

partition).

-------------------------------
mktemp
mktemp [-dq] TEMPLATE
Creates a temporary file with its name based on TEMPLATE. TEMPLATE is any name with
six `Xs' (i.e., /tmp/temp.XXXXXX).
Options:
-d Make a directory instead of a file

-q Fail silently if an error occurs

Example:
$ mktemp /tmp/temp.XXXXXX

/tmp/temp.mWiLjM

$ ls -la /tmp/temp.mWiLjM

-rw------- 1 andersen andersen 0 Apr 25 17:10

/tmp/temp.mWiLjM

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-------------------------------
modprobe
modprobe [-knqrsv] [MODULE ...]
Used for high level module loading and unloading.
Options:
-k Make module autoclean-able.

-n Just show what would be done.

-q Quiet output.

-r Remove module (stacks) or do autoclean.

-s Report via syslog instead of stderr.

-v Verbose output.

Example:
$ modprobe cdrom

-------------------------------
more
more [FILE ...]
More is a filter for viewing FILE one screenful at a time.
Example:
$ dmesg | more

-------------------------------
mount
mount [flags] DEVICE NODE [-o options,more-options]
Mount a filesystem. Autodetection of filesystem type requires the /proc filesystem be already
mounted.
Flags:
-a: Mount all filesystems in fstab.

-f: "Fake" Add entry to mount table but don't mount it.

-n: Don't write a mount table entry.

-o option: One of many filesystem options, listed below.

-r: Mount the filesystem read-only.

-t fs-type: Specify the filesystem type.

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-w: Mount for reading and writing (default).

Options for use with the ``-o'' flag:

async/sync: Writes are asynchronous / synchronous.

atime/noatime: Enable / disable updates to inode access times.

dev/nodev: Allow use of special device files / disallow them.

exec/noexec: Allow use of executable files / disallow them.

loop: Mounts a file via loop device.

suid/nosuid: Allow set-user-id-root programs / disallow them.

remount: Re-mount a mounted filesystem, changing its flags.

ro/rw: Mount for read-only / read-write.

bind: Use the linux 2.4.x "bind" feature.

There are EVEN MORE flags that are specific to each filesystem. You'll have to see the written
documentation for those filesystems.
Example:
$ mount

/dev/hda3 on / type minix (rw)

proc on /proc type proc (rw)

devpts on /dev/pts type devpts (rw)

$ mount /dev/fd0 /mnt -t msdos -o ro

$ mount /tmp/diskimage /opt -t ext2 -o loop

-------------------------------
mt
mt [-f device] opcode value
Control magnetic tape drive operation
Available Opcodes:
bsf bsfm bsr bss datacompression drvbuffer eof eom erase fsf fsfm fsr fss load lock mkpart nop
offline ras1 ras2 ras3 reset retension rewind rewoffline seek setblk setdensity setpart tell unload
unlock weof wset
-------------------------------
mv
mv [OPTION]... SOURCE DEST or: mv [OPTION]... SOURCE... DIRECTORY

Rename SOURCE to DEST, or move SOURCE(s) to DIRECTORY.

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Options:
-f don't prompt before overwriting

-i interactive, prompt before overwrite

Example:
$ mv /tmp/foo /bin/bar

-------------------------------
nameif
nameif [-s] [-c FILE] [{IFNAME MACADDR}]
Nameif renaming network interface while it in the down state.
Options:
-c FILE Use configuration file (default is /etc/mactab)

-s Use syslog (LOCAL0 facility).

IFNAME MACADDR new_interface_name interface_mac_address

Example:
$ nameif -s dmz0 00:A0:C9:8C:F6:3F

or

$ nameif -c /etc/my_mactab_file

-------------------------------
nc
nc [OPTIONS] [IP] [port]
Netcat opens a pipe to IP:port
Options:
-l listen mode, for inbound connects

-p PORT local port number

-i SECS delay interval for lines sent

-e PROG program to exec after connect (dangerous!)

Example:
$ nc foobar.somedomain.com 25

220 foobar ESMTP Exim 3.12 #1 Sat, 15 Apr 2000 00:03:02 -0600

help

214-Commands supported:

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214- HELO EHLO MAIL RCPT DATA AUTH

214 NOOP QUIT RSET HELP

quit

221 foobar closing connection

-------------------------------
netstat
netstat [-laenrtuwx]
Netstat displays Linux networking information.
Options:
-l display listening server sockets

-a display all sockets (default: connected)

-e display other/more information

-n don't resolve names

-r display routing table

-t tcp sockets

-u udp sockets

-w raw sockets

-x unix sockets

-------------------------------
nslookup
nslookup [HOST] [SERVER]
Queries the nameserver for the IP address of the given HOST optionally using a specified DNS
server
Example:
$ nslookup localhost

Server: default

Address: default

Name: debian

Address: 127.0.0.1

-------------------------------
od

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od [-aBbcDdeFfHhIiLlOovXx] [FILE]
Write an unambiguous representation, octal bytes by default, of FILE to standard output. With
no FILE, or when FILE is -, read standard input.
-------------------------------
openvt
openvt <vtnum> <COMMAND> [ARGS...]
Start a command on a new virtual terminal
Example:
openvt 2 /bin/ash

-------------------------------
passwd
passwd [OPTION] [name]
Change a user password. If no name is specified, changes the password for the current user.
Options:
-a Define which algorithm shall be used for the password.

(Choices: des, md5 PASSWORD_ALG_TYPES(", sha1")

)

-d Delete the password for the specified user account.

-l Locks (disables) the specified user account.

-u Unlocks (re-enables) the specified user account.

-------------------------------
patch
patch [-p<num>]
[-p<num>]
Example:
$ patch -p1 <example.diff

-------------------------------
pidof
pidof process-name [OPTION] [process-name ...]
Lists the PIDs of all processes with names that match the names on the command line. Options:
-s display only a single PID.

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Example:
$ pidof init

-------------------------------
ping
ping [OPTION]... host
Send ICMP ECHO_REQUEST packets to network hosts.
Options:
-c COUNT Send only COUNT pings.

-s SIZE Send SIZE data bytes in packets (default=56).

-q Quiet mode, only displays output at start

and when finished.

Example:
$ ping localhost

PING slag (127.0.0.1): 56 data bytes

64 bytes from 127.0.0.1: icmp_seq=0 ttl=255 time=20.1 ms

--- debian ping statistics ---

1 packets transmitted, 1 packets received, 0% packet loss

round-trip min/avg/max = 20.1/20.1/20.1 ms

-------------------------------
ping6
ping6 [OPTION]... host
Send ICMP ECHO_REQUEST packets to network hosts.
Options:
-c COUNT Send only COUNT pings.

-s SIZE Send SIZE data bytes in packets (default=56).

-q Quiet mode, only displays output at start

and when finished.

Example:
$ ping6 ip6-localhost

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PING ip6-localhost (::1): 56 data bytes

64 bytes from ::1: icmp6_seq=0 ttl=64 time=20.1 ms

--- ip6-localhost ping statistics ---

1 packets transmitted, 1 packets received, 0% packet loss

round-trip min/avg/max = 20.1/20.1/20.1 ms

-------------------------------
pivot_root
pivot_root NEW_ROOT PUT_OLD
Move the current root file system to PUT_OLD and make NEW_ROOT the new root file
system.
-------------------------------
poweroff
poweroff [-d<delay>]
Halt the system and request that the kernel shut off the power. Options:
-d delay interval for shutting off.

-------------------------------
printf
printf FORMAT [ARGUMENT...]

Formats and prints ARGUMENT(s) according to FORMAT, Where FORMAT controls the output
exactly as in C printf.
Example:
$ printf "Val=%d\n" 5

Val=5

-------------------------------
ps
ps
Report process status
This version of ps accepts no options.

Options:

-c show SE Linux context

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Example:
$ ps

PID Uid Gid State Command

1 root root S init

2 root root S [kflushd]

3 root root S [kupdate]

4 root root S [kpiod]

5 root root S [kswapd]

742 andersen andersen S [bash]

743 andersen andersen S -bash

745 root root S [getty]

2990 andersen andersen R ps

-------------------------------
pwd
pwd
Print the full filename of the current working directory.
Example:
$ pwd

/root

-------------------------------
rdate
rdate [-sp] HOST
Get and possibly set the system date and time from a remote HOST.
Options:
-s Set the system date and time (default).

-p Print the date and time.

-------------------------------
readlink
readlink
Displays the value of a symbolic link.
-------------------------------

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realpath
realpath pathname ...
Returns the absolute pathnames of given argument.
-------------------------------
reboot
reboot [-d<delay>]
Reboot the system. Options:
-d delay interval for rebooting.

-------------------------------
renice
renice priority pid [pid ...]
Changes priority of running processes. Allowed priorities range from 20 (the process runs only
when nothing else is running) to 0 (default priority) to -20 (almost nothing else ever gets to
run).
-------------------------------
reset
reset
Resets the screen.
-------------------------------
rm
rm [OPTION]... FILE...
Remove (unlink) the FILE(s). You may use '--' to indicate that all following arguments are non-
options.
Options:
-i always prompt before removing each destination

-f remove existing destinations, never prompt

-r or -R remove the contents of directories recursively

Example:
$ rm -rf /tmp/foo

-------------------------------
rmdir

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rmdir [OPTION]... DIRECTORY...

Remove the DIRECTORY(ies), if they are empty.
Example:
# rmdir /tmp/foo

-------------------------------
rmmod
rmmod [OPTION]... [MODULE]...
Unloads the specified kernel modules from the kernel.
Options:
-a Remove all unused modules (recursively)

Example:
$ rmmod tulip

-------------------------------
route
route [{add|del|delete}]
Edit the kernel's routing tables.
Options:
-n Dont resolve names.

-e Display other/more information.

-A inet{6} Select address family.

-------------------------------
rpm
rpm -i -q[ildc]p package.rpm
Manipulates RPM packages
Options:
-i Install package

-q Query package

-p Query uninstalled package

-i Show information

-l List contents

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-d List documents

-c List config files

-------------------------------
rpm2cpio
rpm2cpio package.rpm
Outputs a cpio archive of the rpm file.
-------------------------------
run-parts
run-parts [-t] [-a ARG] [-u MASK] DIRECTORY
Run a bunch of scripts in a directory.
Options:
-t Prints what would be run, but does not actually run
anything.

-a ARG Pass ARG as an argument for every program invoked.

-u MASK Set the umask to MASK before executing every program.

-------------------------------
rx
rx FILE
Receive a file using the xmodem protocol.
Example:
$ rx /tmp/foo

-------------------------------
sed
sed [-efinr] pattern [files...]
Options:
-e script add the script to the commands to be executed

-f scriptfile add script-file contents to the

commands to be executed

-i edit files in-place

-n suppress automatic printing of pattern space

-r use extended regular expression syntax

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If no -e or -f is given, the first non-option argument is taken as the sed script to interpret. All
remaining arguments are names of input files; if no input files are specified, then the standard
input is read. Source files will not be modified unless -i option is given.
Example:
$ echo "foo" | sed -e 's/f[a-zA-Z]o/bar/g'

bar

-------------------------------
seq
seq [first [increment]] last
Print numbers from FIRST to LAST, in steps of INCREMENT. FIRST, INCREMENT default
to 1 Arguments:
LAST

FIRST LAST

FIRST INCREMENT LAST

-------------------------------
setkeycodes
setkeycodes SCANCODE KEYCODE ...
Set entries into the kernel's scancode-to-keycode map, allowing unusual keyboards to generate
usable keycodes.
SCANCODE may be either xx or e0xx (hexadecimal), and KEYCODE is given in decimal
Example:
$ setkeycodes e030 127

-------------------------------
sha1sum
sha1sum [OPTION] [FILEs...] or: sha1sum [OPTION] -c [FILE]
Print or check SHA1 checksums.
Options: With no FILE, or when FILE is -, read standard input.
-c check SHA1 sums against given list

The following two options are useful only when verifying checksums:
-s don't output anything, status code shows success

-w warn about improperly formated SHA1 checksum lines

-------------------------------

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sleep
sleep [N]...
Pause for a time equal to the total of the args given,
where each arg can

have an optional suffix of (s)econds, (m)inutes, (h)ours, or

(d)ays.

Example:
$ sleep 2

[2 second delay results]

$ sleep 1d 3h 22m 8s

[98528 second delay results]

-------------------------------
sort
sort [-nru] [FILE]...
Sorts lines of text in the specified files
Options:
-u suppress duplicate lines

-r sort in reverse order

-n sort numerics

Example:
$ echo -e "e\nf\nb\nd\nc\na" | sort

-------------------------------
start-stop-daemon
start-stop-daemon [OPTIONS] [--start|--stop] ... [-- arguments...]
Program to start and stop services.
Options:

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-S|--start start

-K|--stop stop

-a|--startas <pathname> starts process specified by pathname

-b|--background force process into background

-u|--user <username>|<uid> stop this user's processes

-x|--exec <executable> program to either start or check

-m|--make-pidfile <filename> create the -p file and enter pid in

it

-n|--name <process-name> stop processes with this name

-p|--pidfile <pid-file> save or load pid using a pid-file

-q|--quiet be quiet

-s|--signal <signal> signal to send (default TERM)

-------------------------------
strings
strings [-afo] [-n length] [file ... ]
Display printable strings in a binary file.
Options:
-a Scan the whole files (this is the default).

-f Precede each string with the name of the file where it was
found.

-n N Specifies that at least N characters forms a sequence

(default 4)

-o Each string is preceded by its decimal offset in the file.

-------------------------------
stty
stty [-a|g] [-F DEVICE] [SETTING]...
Without arguments, prints baud rate, line discipline, and deviations from stty sane.
Options:
-F DEVICE open device instead of stdin

-a print all current settings in human-readable form

-g print in stty-readable form

[SETTING] see manpage

-------------------------------

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su
su [OPTION]... [-] [username]
Change user id or become root. Options:
-p Preserve environment

-------------------------------
sulogin
sulogin [OPTION]... [tty-device]
Single user login Options:
-f Do not authenticate (user already authenticated)

-h Name of the remote host for this login.

-p Preserve environment.

-------------------------------
swapoff
swapoff [OPTION] [DEVICE]
Stop swapping virtual memory pages on DEVICE.
Options:
-a Stop swapping on all swap devices

-------------------------------
swapon
swapon [OPTION] [DEVICE]
Start swapping virtual memory pages on DEVICE.
Options:
-a Start swapping on all swap devices

-------------------------------
sync
sync
Write all buffered filesystem blocks to disk.
-------------------------------
sysctl
sysctl [OPTIONS]... [VALUE]...

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sysctl - configure kernel parameters at runtime

Options:
-n Use this option to disable printing of the key name when
printing values.

-w Use this option when you want to change a sysctl setting.

-p Load in sysctl settings from the file specified or

/etc/sysctl.conf if none given.

-a Display all values currently available.

-A Display all values currently available in table form.

Example:
sysctl [-n] variable ...

sysctl [-n] -w variable=value ...

sysctl [-n] -a

sysctl [-n] -p <file> (default /etc/sysctl.conf)

sysctl [-n] -A

-------------------------------
syslogd
syslogd [OPTION]...
Linux system and kernel logging utility. Note that this version of syslogd ignores
/etc/syslog.conf.
Options:
-m MIN Minutes between MARK lines (default=20, 0=off)

-n Run as a foreground process

-O FILE Use an alternate log file

(default=/var/log/messages)

-S Make logging output smaller.

-s SIZE Max size (KB) before rotate (default=200KB, 0=off)

-b NUM Number of rotated logs to keep (default=1, max=99,

0=purge)

-R HOST[:PORT] Log to IP or hostname on PORT (default PORT=514/UDP)

-L Log locally and via network logging (default is

network only)

-C [size(KiB)] Log to a circular buffer (read the buffer using

logread)

Example:

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$ syslogd -R masterlog:514

$ syslogd -R 192.168.1.1:601

-------------------------------
tail
tail [OPTION]... [FILE]...
Print last 10 lines of each FILE to standard output. With more than one FILE, precede each
with a header giving the file name. With no FILE, or when FILE is -, read standard input.
Options:
-c N[kbm] output the last N bytes

-n N[kbm] print last N lines instead of last 10

-f output data as the file grows

-q never output headers giving file names

-s SEC wait SEC seconds between reads with -f

-v always output headers giving file names

If the first character of N (bytes or lines) is a '+', output begins with the Nth item from the start
of each file, otherwise, print the last N items in the file. N bytes may be suffixed by k (x1024),
b (x512), or m (1024^2).
Example:
$ tail -n 1 /etc/resolv.conf

nameserver 10.0.0.1

-------------------------------
tar
tar -[czjZxtvO] [-X FILE][-f TARFILE] [-C DIR] [FILE(s)] ...
Create, extract, or list files from a tar file.
Options:
c create

x extract

t list

Archive format selection:

z Filter the archive through gzip

j Filter the archive through bzip2

Z Filter the archive through compress

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File selection:
f name of TARFILE or "-" for stdin

O extract to stdout

exclude file to exclude

X file with names to exclude

C change to directory DIR before operation

v verbosely list files processed

Example:
$ zcat /tmp/tarball.tar.gz | tar -xf -

$ tar -cf /tmp/tarball.tar /usr/local

-------------------------------
tee
tee [OPTION]... [FILE]...
Copy standard input to each FILE, and also to standard output.
Options:
-a append to the given FILEs, do not overwrite

-i ignore interrupt signals (SIGINT)

Example:
$ echo "Hello" | tee /tmp/foo

$ cat /tmp/foo

Hello

-------------------------------
telnet
telnet HOST [PORT]
Telnet is used to establish interactive communication with another computer over a network
using the TELNET protocol.
-------------------------------
telnetd
telnetd [OPTION]
Telnetd listens for incoming TELNET connections on PORT. Options:
-p PORT listen for connections on PORT (default 23)

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-l LOGIN exec LOGIN on connect (default /bin/sh)

-f issue_file Display issue_file instead of /etc/issue.

-------------------------------
test
test EXPRESSION or [ EXPRESSION ]
Checks file types and compares values returning an exit code determined by the value of
EXPRESSION.
Example:
$ test 1 -eq 2

$ echo $?

$ test 1 -eq 1

$ echo $?

$ [ -d /etc ]

$ echo $?

$ [ -d /junk ]

$ echo $?

-------------------------------
tftp
tftp [OPTION]... HOST [PORT]
Transfers a file from/to a tftp server using ``octet'' mode.
Options:
-l FILE Local FILE.

-r FILE Remote FILE.

-g Get file.

-p Put file.

-b SIZE Transfer blocks of SIZE octets.

-------------------------------
time

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time [OPTION]... COMMAND [ARGS...]

Runs the program COMMAND with arguments ARGS. When COMMAND finishes,
COMMAND's resource usage information is displayed
Options:
-v Displays verbose resource usage information.

-------------------------------
top
top [-d <seconds>]
top provides an view of processor activity in real time. This utility reads the status for all
processes in /proc each <seconds> and shows the status for however many processes will fit on
the screen. This utility will not show processes that are started after program startup, but it will
show the EXIT status for and PIDs that exit while it is running.
-------------------------------
touch
touch [-c] FILE [FILE ...]
Update the last-modified date on the given FILE[s].
Options:
-c Do not create any files

Example:
$ ls -l /tmp/foo

/bin/ls: /tmp/foo: No such file or directory

$ touch /tmp/foo

$ ls -l /tmp/foo

-rw-rw-r-- 1 andersen andersen 0 Apr 15 01:11 /tmp/foo

-------------------------------
tr
tr [-cds] STRING1 [STRING2]
Translate, squeeze, and/or delete characters from standard input, writing to standard output.
Options:
-c take complement of STRING1

-d delete input characters coded STRING1

-s squeeze multiple output characters of STRING2 into one

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character

Example:
$ echo "gdkkn vnqkc" | tr [a-y] [b-z]

hello world

-------------------------------
traceroute

traceroute [-dnrv] [-m max_ttl] [-p port#] [-q

nqueries]

[-s src_addr] [-t tos] [-w wait] host [data

size]

trace the route ip packets follow going to ``host'' Options:

-d set SO_DEBUG options to socket

-n Print hop addresses numerically rather than symbolically

-r Bypass the normal routing tables and send directly to a host

-v Verbose output

-m max_ttl Set the max time-to-live (max number of hops)

-p port# Set the base UDP port number used in probes

(default is 33434)

-q nqueries Set the number of probes per ``ttl'' to nqueries

(default is 3)

-s src_addr Use the following IP address as the source address

-t tos Set the type-of-service in probe packets to the following

value

(default 0)

-w wait Set the time (in seconds) to wait for a response to a probe

(default 3 sec.).

-------------------------------
true
true
Return an exit code of TRUE (0).
Example:
$ true

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$ echo $?

-------------------------------
tty
tty
Print the file name of the terminal connected to standard input.
Options:
-s print nothing, only return an exit status

Example:
$ tty

/dev/tty2

-------------------------------
udhcpc
udhcpc [-fbnqv] [-c CLIENTID] [-H HOSTNAME] [-i INTERFACE] [-p pidfile] [-r IP] [-s
script]
-c, --clientid=CLIENTID Client identifier

-H, --hostname=HOSTNAME Client hostname

-h, Alias for -H

-f, --foreground Do not fork after getting lease

-b, --background Fork to background if lease cannot be

immediately negotiated.

-i, --interface=INTERFACE Interface to use (default: eth0)

-n, --now Exit with failure if lease cannot be immediately

negotiated.

-p, --pidfile=file Store process ID of daemon in file

-q, --quit Quit after obtaining lease

-r, --request=IP IP address to request (default: none)

-s, --script=file Run file at dhcp events (default:

/usr/share/udhcpc/default.script)

-v, --version Display version

-------------------------------
udhcpd
udhcpd [configfile]

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-------------------------------
umount
umount [flags] FILESYSTEM|DIRECTORY
Unmount file systems
Flags:
-a Unmount all file systems in /etc/mtab

-n Don't erase /etc/mtab entries

-r Try to remount devices as read-only if mount is busy

-f Force umount (i.e., unreachable NFS server)

-l Do not free loop device (if a loop device has been used)

Example:
$ umount /dev/hdc1

-------------------------------
uname
uname [OPTION]...
Print certain system information. With no OPTION, same as -s.
Options:
-a print all information

-m the machine (hardware) type

-n print the machine's network node hostname

-r print the operating system release

-s print the operating system name

-p print the host processor type

-v print the operating system version

Example:
$ uname -a

Linux debian 2.4.23 #2 Tue Dec 23 17:09:10 MST 2003 i686 GNU/Linux

-------------------------------
uncompress
uncompress [-c] [-f] [ name ... ]
Uncompress .Z file[s] Options:

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-c extract to stdout

-f force overwrite an existing file

-------------------------------
uniq
uniq [OPTION]... [INPUT [OUTPUT]]
Discard all but one of successive identical lines from INPUT (or standard input), writing to
OUTPUT (or standard output).
Options:
-c prefix lines by the number of occurrences

-d only print duplicate lines

-u only print unique lines

-f N skip the first N fields

-s N skip the first N chars (after any skipped fields)

Example:
$ echo -e "a\na\nb\nc\nc\na" | sort | uniq

-------------------------------
unix2dos
unix2dos [option] [FILE]
Converts FILE from unix format to dos format. When no option is given, the input is converted
to the opposite output format. When no file is given, uses stdin for input and stdout for output.
Options:
-u output will be in UNIX format

-d output will be in DOS format

-------------------------------
unzip
unzip [-opts[modifiers]] file[.zip] [list] [-x xlist] [-d exdir]
Extracts files from ZIP archives.
Options:
-l list archive contents (short form)

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-n never overwrite existing files (default)

-o overwrite files without prompting

-p send output to stdout

-q be quiet

-x exclude these files

-d extract files into this directory

-------------------------------
uptime
uptime
Display the time since the last boot.
Example:
$ uptime

1:55pm up 2:30, load average: 0.09, 0.04, 0.00

-------------------------------
usleep
usleep N
Pause for N microseconds.
Example:
$ usleep 1000000

[pauses for 1 second]

-------------------------------
uudecode
uudecode [FILE]...
Uudecode a file that is uuencoded.
Options:
-o FILE direct output to FILE

Example:
$ uudecode -o busybox busybox.uu

$ ls -l busybox

-rwxr-xr-x 1 ams ams 245264 Jun 7 21:35 busybox

-------------------------------

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uuencode
uuencode [OPTION] [INFILE] REMOTEFILE
Uuencode a file.
Options:
-m use base64 encoding per RFC1521

Example:
$ uuencode busybox busybox

begin 755 busybox

<encoded file snipped>

$ uudecode busybox busybox > busybox.uu

-------------------------------
vconfig
vconfig COMMAND [OPTIONS] ...
vconfig lets you create and remove virtual ethernet devices.
Options:
add [interface-name] [vlan_id]

rem [vlan-name]

set_flag [interface-name] [flag-num] [0 | 1]

set_egress_map [vlan-name] [skb_priority] [vlan_qos]

set_ingress_map [vlan-name] [skb_priority] [vlan_qos]

set_name_type [name-type]

-------------------------------
vi
vi [OPTION] [FILE]...
edit FILE.
Options:
-R Read-only- do not write to the file.

-------------------------------
vlock

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vlock [OPTIONS]
Lock a virtual terminal. A password is required to unlock Options:
-a Lock all VTs

-------------------------------
watch
watch [-n <seconds>] COMMAND...
Executes a program periodically. Options:
-n Loop period in seconds - default is 2.

Example:
$ watch date

Mon Dec 17 10:31:40 GMT 2000

Mon Dec 17 10:31:42 GMT 2000

Mon Dec 17 10:31:44 GMT 2000

-------------------------------
watchdog
watchdog [-t <seconds>] DEV
Periodically write to watchdog device DEV. Options:
-t Timer period in seconds - default is 30.

-------------------------------
wc
wc [OPTION]... [FILE]...
Print line, word, and byte counts for each FILE, and a total line if more than one FILE is
specified. With no FILE, read standard input.
Options:
-c print the byte counts

-l print the newline counts

-L print the length of the longest line

-w print the word counts

Example:
$ wc /etc/passwd

31 46 1365 /etc/passwd

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-------------------------------
wget

wget [-c|--continue] [-q|--quiet] [-O|--output-

document file]

[--header 'header: value'] [-Y|--proxy on/off]

[-P DIR] url

wget retrieves files via HTTP or FTP

Options:
-c continue retrieval of aborted transfers

-q quiet mode - do not print

-P Set directory prefix to DIR

-O save to filename ('-' for stdout)

-Y use proxy ('on' or 'off')

-------------------------------
which
which [COMMAND ...]
Locates a COMMAND.
Example:
$ which login

/bin/login

-------------------------------
who
who
Prints the current user names and related information
-------------------------------
whoami
whoami
Prints the user name associated with the current effective user id.
-------------------------------
xargs
xargs [COMMAND] [OPTIONS] [ARGS...]

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Executes COMMAND on every item given by standard input.

Options:
-p Prompt the user about whether to run each command

-r Do not run command for empty readed lines

-x Exit if the size is exceeded

-0 Input filenames are terminated by a null character

-t Print the command line on stderr before executing it.

Example:
$ ls | xargs gzip

$ find . -name '*.c' -print | xargs rm

-------------------------------
yes
yes [OPTION]... [STRING]...
Repeatedly outputs a line with all specified STRING(s), or 'y'.
-------------------------------
zcat
zcat FILE
Uncompress to stdout.
-------------------------------
Please note: The Linux of a DIL/NetPC offers only a subset of all BusyBox commands. Please check
the details with the busybox command. For more information’s about BusyBox and to the current
version please visit the website at http://www.busybox.net/.

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