UNIX is a popular operating system used on network servers and workstations. Its use by AT&T on government and academic systems, including those that formed the backbone of what we now know as the Internet, caused wider use on a larger variety of computers than other operating systems.

UNIX is over 30 years old and currently has many flavors. An industry consortium known as The Open Group owns the UNIX trademark. The group allows you to use certified versions of the trademark. Versions including AIX, FreeBSD, Linux, Solaris and the SunOS are all types of UNIX that are not fully compliant, so the group refers to them as Unix-like systems. A UNIX server can support and unlimited number of users.

1. UNIX stores data in plain text format.

2. It utilizes a hierarchical file system that treats devices and some types of communications as files.

3. And it comprises a number of small software programs strung together instead of one large program.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Obtain consulting from UNIX administrators

Administrators trained in the UNIX operating system can help you set up and troubleshoot your UNIX network. They can also train the UNIX computer operators on your staff.

I recommend: Obtain UNIX consulting services from International Network Administration, which commits to provide you with quality service. Find consultants trained in UNIX at Frigate Networks.

Find a list of UNIX commands for reference

UNIX commands have to be typed correctly or they won't work. If you have trouble remembering all of them, look them up on online reference sites. You may even find a new one you never learned.

I recommend: Consult an overview of UNIX commands at Data Network Resource. Click on links to get information about commonly used UNIX commands at the New Mexico Tech website.

Get help with UNIX scripting

Scripts are short programs that perform specific tasks. Write a script to automate a task you perform frequently. Find an online UNIX tutorial to show you how.

I recommend: Learn how to write UNIX scripts at the UNC-Chapel Hill website. You can find links for many UNIX scripting tutorials at Tech-FAQ.

Download UNIX software online

On the Internet, you can find many applications written to run on UNIX. Download free data recovery, file conversion and FTP utilities as well as other useful programs.

I recommend: Find free UNIX software for download at NewFreeDownloads.com. Choose from several categories of UNIX software, including distributions, tools and networking applications, available for download at Softpedia.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Install the UNIX manual on your computer. Consult it when you need to quickly locate a command by typing, 'man -k keyword.' You can also create an alias for long strings of characters that you frequently use with the alias command.