A Sysadmin's Unixersal Translator (ROSETTA STONE) OR   What do they call that in this world?
Contributions and corrections gratefully accepted. Please help us fill in the blanks. New "tasks" are welcome, too!
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Framed version.
OS versions in parentheses; e.g. 10+ means version 10 and greater; 9- means version 9 and previous. $=extra cost
If not specified, commands are in one of the following directories: /usr/bin, /usr/sbin, /sbin, /bin
Files referenced may be either commands, configuration files, or directly-referenced text files. Use the man command to read the man pages for details such as command options.
Categories:
hardware, firmware, devices disks kernel, boot, swap files, volumes
networking security, backup software, patching, tracing, logging references
TASK \ OS  AIX FreeBSD HP-UX Linux
 		 OpenBSD Solaris
OS notes By IBM, with input from System V, BSD, etc. etc. Runs mainly on IBM RS/6000 and related hardware. Derived from 4.4BSD-Lite and 386BSD. This table does not include external packages from /usr/ports. Hewlett-Packard. (rh) = Red Hat,
Mandrake, Suse,...
(deb) = Debian, Libranet,...
(mand) = Mandrake
(SuSE) = SuSE		 Forked from NetBSD in 1995. Security emphasis. This table does not include external packages from /usr/ports. Solaris 2.0-2.6, 7, 8, 9
(SunOS 5.*)
SVR4-based
administrative GUI smit
smitty
wsm 		/stand/sysinstall
pw
adduser rmuser
vipw
chpass 		sam (rh) redhat-config*
linuxconf (obsolete)
(SuSE) yast2
(deb) dpkg-reconfigure
(mand) drakconf		 ? solstice
admintool
smc (8 01/01+)
managing users lsuser
mkuser
chuser
rmuser		 adduser
rmuser
pw
vipw 		useradd
userdel
usermod 		useradd
userdel
adduser		 useradd
userdel
adduser (interactive)		 useradd
userdel
usermod
/usr/sadm/bin/smuser (9+)
groupadd
TASK \ OS  AIX FreeBSD HP-UX Linux
 		 OpenBSD Solaris
list hardware configuration
 		 prtconf
lscfg
lsattr
lsdev 		dmesg
cat /var/run/dmesg.boot
pciconf -l
eeprom (SPARC only)
 		 ioscan
dmesg (if you're lucky)
adb
model
stm (from the SupportPlus CDROM)
bdf (like most vendors' df)
getconf
machinfo 		dmesg (if you're lucky)
/proc/*
lshw
dmidecode
lspci
lspnp
lsusb
lsmod
(SuSE) hwinfo		 dmesg
cat /var/run/dmesg.boot		 prtconf -v
/usr/platform/`uname -i`/
sbin/prtdiag -v (sun4u and sun4d only)
arch -k
psrinfo -v
isainfo -v
dmesg
iostat -En
prtfru
cfgadm -l
/etc/path_to_inst
show/set
EEPROM/NVRAM
values		 bootlist -o -m normal
 		 ? setboot
stm		 /dev/nvram (if you have it)
hwclock
nvsetenv 		openprom (on
OpenFirmware
architectures)		 eeprom
add device without reboot cfgmgr -v camcontrol
atacontrol
kldload 		ioscan -fnCdevtype;
insf -Cdevtype		 modprobe
kerneld
insmod
hotplug
cardctl
 		 ? devfsadm. pre-Solaris 7 HW 11/99, use:
drvconfig; devlinks; {disks, tapes, ports}
tape device /dev/rmt0 /dev/rsa0 /dev/rmt/0m /dev/st0 /dev/st0 /dev/rmt/0
X kvm config ? xf86config itemap xf86config
XFree86 -configure
redhat-config-xfree86
/etc/X11/?dm 		? kdmconfig (x86)
fbconfig; m64config; (etc.)
TASK \ OS  AIX FreeBSD HP-UX Linux
 		 OpenBSD Solaris
read a disk label  lspv -l disklabel -r diskinfo
pvdisplay 		fdisk -l fdisk -r OR disklabel -rl prtvtoc
whole disk in partition  N/A c ? ? c 2
label a disk  mkvg fdisk
disklabel -wr
sysinstall 		pvcreate cfdisk
fdisk
e2label 		disklabel -wr format
prtvtoc
partition a disk  mklv fdisk
sysinstall 		lvcreate
sam 		parted (if you have it)
fdisk
pdisk (on a MAC)
(deb) mac-fdisk (on a MAC)
(mand) diskdrake		 fdisk -e OR disklabel -E format
fmthard
TASK \ OS  AIX FreeBSD HP-UX Linux
 		 OpenBSD Solaris
kernel /unix /kernel
/boot/kernel/kernel		 /hpux (9)
/stand/vmunix (10+)		 /boot/vmlinuz*
/boot/bootlx

(see /etc/lilo.conf or /boot/grub/menu.lst)

 /bsd /kernel/genunix
/platform/`uname -m`/
 kernel/unix
/platform/`uname -m`/
 kernel/sparcv9/unix (7+)
show/set kernel parameters /usr/samples/kernel/vmtune
(installed with the bos
adt.samples fileset)
/usr/sbin/no (network-related)
 		 /boot/kernel.conf
/boot/loader.conf
sysctl
/etc/sysctl.conf 		sam
sysdef
kmtune (11+)
getconf		 /proc/*
/proc/sys/*
sysctl
/etc/sysctl.conf 		sysctl
/etc/sysctl.conf		 sysdef
getconf
cat /etc/system
ndd
adb -k
make disk bootable bosboot -a boot0cfg
disklabel 		mkboot (rh) mkbootdisk
(deb) fdisk -A
(and lilo to manipulate mbr)		 ? installboot /usr/platform/
`uname -m`
/lib/fs/ufs/bootblk raw_device_file
startup scripts  /etc/rc* /etc/rc* (4-)
/etc/rc.d/* (5+)
/usr/local/etc/rc.d/*		 /etc/rc* (9)

/etc/rc.config.d (preferred)
/sbin/rc* (10+)
/sbin/init.d/

 /etc/rc* (but may vary)
/etc/init.d/ 		 
/etc/rc*		 /etc/rc*
/etc/init.d/
run levels 1
*=normal states
for more detail
see
www.phildev.net/runlevels.html		 2: multiuser
6: reboot		 -1*: permanently insecure
0: insecure
1: secure
2: highly secure
3: network secure		 0: shut down
s,S: single-user
1: sys admin
2: multiuser
3*: share NFS
4*: start GUI
5: user-defined
6: user-defined		 (set in /etc/inittab)
0: halt
s,S,1: vendor-dependent
1: single-user
2-5*: multiuser
6: reboot		 -1: permanently
insecure
0*: insecure
1*: secure
2: highly secure		 0: firmware monitor
s,S: single-user
1: sys admin
2: multiuser
3*: share NFS
4*: user-defined
5: power-down if possible
6: reboot
show runlevel 1 who -r sysctl kern.securelevel who -r /sbin/runlevel sysctl kern.securelevel who -r
time zone info /etc/environment ($TZ) /etc/localtime
/usr/share/zoneinfo 		/usr/lib/tztab /usr/share/zoneinfo/ /usr/share/zoneinfo/
/etc/localtime 		/usr/share/lib/zoneinfo/
check swap space  lsps -a swapinfo
pstat -s		 swapinfo swapon -s
cat /proc/meminfo
cat /proc/swaps
free 		swapctl swap -s
swap -l
TASK \ OS  AIX FreeBSD HP-UX Linux
 		 OpenBSD Solaris
"normal" filesystem  jfs ufs/ffs/ufs2 (5+)
ext2		 hfs
vxfs (11.0+)		 ext2
ext3
ReiserFS 		ffs (was ufs) ufs
volume-based filesystem  jfs ccd
vinum
geom (5+) 		jfs (vxfs)
LVM
VxVM ($)		 LVM, LVM2
EVMS
VxVM ($)
ccd
raid 		Solstice DiskSuite
VxVM ($)
file system
description		 /etc/filesystems /etc/fstab /etc/checklist
(9) 
/etc/fstab
(10+)		  /etc/fstab /etc/fstab /etc/vfstab (local)
volume manipulation smitty vg
smitty lvm
smitty jfs
mkvg; chvg; rmvg
mklv; chlv; rmlv
mkfs; crfs; rmfs		 vinum
ccdconfig
geom (5.3+)
gstripe (5.3+)
gmirror (5.3+)
graid3 (5.3+)		 vg*; lv*; pv*
extendfs
fsadm 		e2fsadm
lvcreate
lvremove
lvextend 		ccdconfig
raidctl 		meta*
(Solstice DiskSuite;
Solaris Volume Mgr (9+))
(7-, found in
/usr/opt/SUNWmd/
 sbin/)

/opt/VRTSvxva/bin/vxva
(Veritas Volume Mgr) ($)
create filesystem crfs newfs mkfs
newfs 		mke2fs
mkreiserfs
mkdosfs 		newfs newfs
mkfs
create non-0-length empty file lmktemp truncate -s size[K|M|G] filename
dd if=/dev/zero of=filename bs=size[b|k|m|g] \
count=desired		 prealloc dd if=/dev/zero of=filename
bs=1024k count=desired		 dd if=/dev/zero of=filename bs=1024k count=desired mkfile
mount CDROM mount -v cdrfs -o ro
/dev/cd0 /cdrom

smitty cdrom

 mount /cdrom
mount_cd9660		 pfs_mountd
pfsd
pfs_mount
mount /dev/dsk/cxtydz
/SD_CDROM 		mount /mnt/cdrom
(deb) mount /cdrom 		mount -t cd9660 -r /dev/cd0a path /etc/init.d/vold start; volcheck or
mount -F hsfs -o ro /dev/dsk/c0t6d0s2 /cdrom
create/mount ISO image ? mdconfig; mount ? mkisofs

mount -o loop pathToIso
mountPoint

? mkisofs;cdrecord;mount
ACL management aclget
aclput
acledit
ls -e		 ? lsacl
chacl
getacl
setacl 		getfacl
setfacl 		? getfacl
setfacl
TASK \ OS  AIX FreeBSD HP-UX Linux
 		 OpenBSD Solaris
NFS share definitions /etc/exports
/etc/xtab 		/etc/exports /etc/exports /etc/exports /etc/exports /etc/dfs/dfstab
dfshares
NFS share command exportfs -a kill -s HUP `cat /var/run/mountd.pid` exportfs -a /etc/init.d/nfs-server reload
(rh) exportfs -a		 kill -HUP `cat /var/run/mountd.pid` share
shareall
NFS information ? nfsstat nfsstat cat /proc/mounts ? showmount
nfsstat
name resolution order /etc/netsvc.conf /etc/host.conf (4-)
/etc/nsswitch.conf (5+)		 /etc/nsswitch.conf /etc/nsswitch.conf
/etc/resolv.conf		 /etc/resolv.conf /etc/nsswitch.conf
getent
show network interface info ifconfig -a
no -a
netstat -i
lsattr -E -l entX		 ifconfig -a lanadmin
landiag
lanscan
netstat -in
ifconfig lanx		 ifconfig
ethtool 		ifconfig -A ndd
ifconfig -a
netstat -in
(8+) kstat -n hme0 | egrep 'ifspeed|duplex'
change IP smitty chinet

chdev -a netaddr=
newIP -I en#

 edit /etc/rc.conf (option ifconfig_interfacename)

ifconfig		 /sbin/set_parms initial
ifconfig 		(rh) edit: /etc/hosts,
/etc/sysconfig/network,
/etc/sysconfig/
network-scripts/
ifcfg-eth0
(deb) edit
/etc/network/interfaces;
/etc/init.d/networking
restart		 edit /etc/hostname.driver edit: /etc/{resolv.conf, hosts, hostname.*, netmasks, nodename,
dumpadm.conf, net/*/hosts}

sys-unconfig; reboot
start DHCP client ? dhclient ? dhcpcd ? ifconfig interface dhcp
ping one packet   ping -c 1 hostname   ping -c 1 hostname  ping hostname 10 1 (9)
ping hostname -n 1 (10+)		  ping -c 1 hostname  ping -c 1 hostname ping hostname  packetsize 1
sniff network iptrace
ipreport		 tcpdump nettl
netfmt 		etherfind
tcpdump
ethereal
etherape		 tcpdump snoop
route definitions  netstat -r
smitty route		 edit /etc/rc.conf (option defaultrouter)
netstat -r
route		 /etc/rc.config.d/netconf
netstat -r 		route
(rh) /etc/sysconfig/network
(rh) /etc/sysconfig/static-routes
(deb) /etc/init.d/network
(deb) /etc/network		 netstat -r

route show

 /etc/defaultrouter
/etc/notrouter
/etc/gateways
in.routed
netstat -r
route add
telnetd, ftpd banner /etc/security/login.cfg /etc/ftpwelcome /etc/inetd.conf (telnet) /etc/issue.net (telnet)
(ftp varies; can use tcp wrappers)		 /etc/issue.net
/etc/ftpwelcome 		/etc/default/telnetd
/etc/default/ftpd
TASK \ OS  AIX FreeBSD HP-UX Linux
 		 OpenBSD Solaris
encrypted passwords in  /etc/security/passwd /etc/master.passwd /etc/passwd (not Trusted)
/.secure/etc/passwd (Trusted 9)
/tcb/files/auth/
(10+)
/etc/shadow (11.22+)		 /etc/shadow (may vary) /etc/master.passwd (/etc/pwd.db) /etc/shadow
allow/deny root
logins		 /etc/security/user /etc/login.access;
/etc/ttys		  /etc/securetty /etc/securetty /etc/ttys /etc/default/login
firewall config ? ipfw
ipf
pf 		/etc/opt/ipf/ipf.conf iptables
ipchains
ipfwadm
(rh) redhat-config-
securitylevel 		pfctl
/etc/pf.conf 		(9+) /usr/aset/
TASK \ OS  AIX FreeBSD HP-UX Linux
 		 OpenBSD Solaris
show installed software  lslpp -L pkg_info
ls /var/db/pkg


 		 rmfn, what (HP-UX 9)
swlist (HP-UX 10+)		 (rh) rpm -a -i
(rh) rpm -qa
(rh) yum list installed
(deb) dselect
(deb) aptitude
(deb) dpkg -l		  pkg_info pkginfo
prodreg
admintool
/var/sadm/install/contents
add software smitty install_all
smitty installp

/usr/lib/instl/sm_inst
installp_cmd -a
-d 'device' '-c' '-N' '-g' '-X'

 /stand/sysinstall
/usr/ports make
pkg_add
portinstall (from /usr/ports)
 		 swinstall (rh) rpm -hiv
(rh) yum install pkg
(deb) dselect
(deb) apt-get install pkg
(deb) dpkg -i
 		 pkg_add
/usr/ports && make		 pkgadd
precompiled binaries of GPLware and freeware www-1.ibm.com/servers/
aix/products/aixos/linux/
download.html
aixpdslib.seas.ucla.edu/
aixpdslib.html
bullfreeware.com
 		 ftp.freebsd.org/
pub/FreeBSD
www.freebsd.org 		hpux.cs.utah.edu

hpux.connect.org.uk

 www.linux.org
linux.tucows.com
sourceforge.net
rpmfind.net
(deb) ftp.debian.org
(deb) packages.debian.org		 ftp://ftp.openbsd.org/
pub/OpenBSD/<version>/
packages		 www.sunfreeware.com
www.blastwave.org
C compiler   /usr/ibmcxx/bin/cc /usr/bin/cc (gcc) /opt/softbench/bin/cc ($)
/bin/cc (9)
/usr/bin/cc (10+; not ANSI; kernel builder only)		  gcc  /usr/bin/cc /opt/SUNWspro/
 bin/cc ($)
show patch level
and/or patches 		instfix -ivq
oslevel -r		 uname -a swlist -l product |
grep PHsomeString		 (rh) rpm -q
(deb) dpkg -s		 sysctl -n kern.version showrev -p
prodreg (2.6+)
patchadd -p
patch tool  installp
smitty update_all 		(cvsup or cvs to update,
then rebuild)		 update (9)
swinstall (10+)		 apt-get update
apt-get upgrade
(rh) up2date
(rh) yum update
(mand) urpmi		 cvs/CTM installpatch (2.5.1-)
patchadd (2.6+)
pkgadd
/usr/sadm/bin/smpatch (9+)
 
configure/show
runtime linking
fortran-2000.com/
ArnaudRecipes/
sharedlib.html 		dump -H
ldd 		ldd
ldconfig
kldstat 		chatr
ldd (11+)
kmadmin		 ldconfig
ldd
lsmod 		ldd
ldconfig 		crle
ldd
pldd
modinfo
LD_PRELOAD
link library path $LIBPATH $LD_LIBRARY_PATH $LD_LIBRARY_PATH
(64-bit)
$SHLIB_PATH
(32- or 64-bit) 		$LD_LIBRARY_PATH
/etc/ld.so.conf 		? $LD_LIBRARY_PATH
tracing utility  trace
syscalls
truss
watch 		ktrace
truss		 trace (freeware)
tusc (11+, freeware) 		strace
ltrace 		ktrace
ptrace		 truss
sotruss
dtrace (10+)
define user defaults /etc/security/
mkuser.default
/etc/environment 		/etc/login.conf /etc/default
/etc/PATH
/etc/MANPATH
/etc/default/* 		/etc/profile
/etc/security/
/etc/skel/		 /etc/profile
/etc/skel/*
/etc/login.conf 		/etc/default/login
/etc/profile
/etc/security/
csh global .login ? /etc/csh.login /etc/csh.login /etc/csh.login /etc/csh.login /etc/.login
default syslog and messages /var/adm/syslog
/var/adm/messages 		/var/log/messages /var/adm/syslog/syslog.log
/var/adm/sulog
/var/spool/mqueue/syslog		 /var/log/syslog
/var/log/messages
/usr/adm/messages
/var/log/maillog 		/var/log/messages /var/adm/messages
/var/log/syslog
system error reporting tool  errpt dmesg
send-pr 		dmesg
sysdiag (9 and early10)
stm/cstm/mstm/xstm (10.20+)
EMS (from support CD)		 dmesg

(deb) reportbug

 dmesg prtdiag
performance monitoring ftp://ftp.software.ibm.com/
aix/tools/perftools/perfpmr

vmstat; iostat; sar; filemon; topas; trace; svmon; netpmon

 fstat; nfsstat; systat; vmstat; netstat; uustat; top; iostat top; sar; vmstat;
iostat; nfsstat; netstat;
uustat; Glance($)		 vmstat
procinfo -D		 iostat; pstat; systat;
vmstat 		sar; iostat; kstat;
mpstat; netstat; nfsstat;
prstat; trapstat; vmstat; ptree
 
match process to file or port ? lsof
sockstat		 ? lsof
netstat -atup		 ? fuser
lsof2
pfiles
TASK \ OS  AIX FreeBSD HP-UX Linux
 		 OpenBSD Solaris
FAQs (see also faqs.org) www.faqs.org/faqs/
aix-faq/part1/
preamble.html		 www.freebsd.org/doc/
en_US.ISO8859-1/books/faq		 www.faqs.org/faqs/
hp/hpux-faq/preamble.html		 www.linuxdoc.org/
FAQ/Linux-FAQ

www.debian.org/doc/
FAQ

 www.openbsd.org/faq www.faqs.org/faqs/Solaris2/
FAQ/
www.faqs.org/faqs/Solaris2/
x86/FAQ/
www.stokely.com/
unix.sysadm.resources/
faqs.sun.html
mailing list  AIX-L@pucc.
princeton.edu
(LISTSERV)		 www.freebsd.org/
handbook/
eresources.html
#ERESOURCES-MAIL 		 hpux-admin@
dutchworks.nl
 (majordomo)		 www.linumanagers
.org

www.linux.org/
help/lists.html

www.openbsd.org/
mail.html 		sun-managers@sunmanagers
.org (majordomo)
mailing list archives  www.marist.
edu/htbin/wlvindex?
ADSM-L

marc.theaimsgroup.com/
?l=aix-l&r=1&w=2

 www.freebsd.
org/ search.html#
mailinglists 		 www.dutch
works.nl/
 htbin/hpsysadmin 		 www.linuxmanagers.org/
pipermail/linuxmanagers
lists.debian.org		 www.openbsd.org/
mail.html 		www.sunmanagers.org/
archives.html

www.latech.
edu/sunman.html
newsgroup(s)
groups.google 		comp.unix.aix
www.thp.uni-duisburg.de/
cuaix/cuaix.html		 comp.unix.bsd.
freebsd.misc 		 comp.sys.hp.hpux  comp.os.linux.* (esp .answers) comp.unix.bsd.
openbsd.misc
lucky.openbsd.misc 		comp.sys.sun.
admin, comp.unix.solaris 
user groups www.userblue.org www.freebsd.org/
support.html#user 		www.interex.org www.debianhelp.org deadly.org ?
magazines www.developer.
ibm.com/library/aixpert		 www.daemonews.com www.hpchronicle.com
www.interex.org/hpuxusr
www.hppro.com		 www.linuxjournal.com
www.linux-mag.com
www.debianplanet.org 		undeadly.org www.sunworld.com
sun.com/sun-on-net/itworld
vendor home page www.developer.ibm.com/
tech/map/aixrm.html
 		 www.freebsd.org unix.hp.com www.linux.org
www.redhat.com
www.debian.org 		www.openbsd.org sun.com/solaris
sun.com/bigadmin
sun.com/developers/support
soldc.sun.com
access1.sun.com
vendor docs and patches www.redbooks.ibm.com

techsupport.services.
ibm.com/
server/support?
view=pSeries

 www.freebsd.org/handbook
www.freebsd.org/releases/
4.0R/errata.html		 docs.hp.com
itrc.hp.com		 www.linuxdoc.org/
rpmfind.net/linux/RPM
www.openbsd.org/
docum.html
www.openbsd.org/
errata.html		 docs.sun.com
sunsolve.sun.com
vendor phone (US) AIX: 800-237-5511
IBM hardware:
 800-426-7378		 925-674-0783
(FreeBSD Mall) 		800-633-3600 ? ? 800-USA-4SUN
TASK / OS AIX FreeBSD HP-UX Linux OpenBSD Solaris