UNIX Manual Introduction

This manual is intended to provide Social Science Computing users with concise information about the SSC UNIX environment. Every attempt has been made to synthesize a vast amount of information concerning the UNIX operating system into easy to use one or two page documents listing the most important information and commands. We invite your feedback and suggestions concerning this manual.

UNIX is an operating system designed for multiprocessing, multitasking, and multiusers. It originated at AT&T's Bell Laboratories in the late 60s. UNIX was designed with developers in mind: it is set up for interactive use and it enables users to easily build tools (system programs). Because UNIX operating systems are generally written in the C programming language, they are easily portable. They have been implemented on a wide variety of machines ranging from microcomputers to mainframes. Unix is now used extensively in the federal government and the military and is beginning to have much more widespread use in universities and business. UNIX is fast becoming the operating system for government, scientific, engineering, and business users.

The UNIX operating system controls the basic functionality of the computer system. That is, managing multiple users, enabling those users to perform several tasks at once, creating directories, using files, running of software applications, etc. The text file is the most basic unit from which all subsequent programming features are built. The text editor is the primary tool for editing text files. MicroEmacs (often referred to as memacs) is the main text editor used by Social Science Computing on its UNIX workstations.

In order for users to work with the UNIX workstations, they will have to learn some basic features of the UNIX operating system. To this end, SSC has prepared some basic operations' manuals for both UNIX and the MicroEmacs text editor. At the same time, users are encouraged to make use of the on-line help files and manuals, available in Room 303 for more in depth information. To use the UNIX system, you must be registered as one of its users. Each user has a login name ("userid"), a password, and an area of the file system reserved for storing his or her files. To become a user, you must fill out an application that can be obtained in the SSDC.

Sources/References

Lewis, Rita. (1991). Unix on Command. NRP.

SAS Companion for the UNIX Environment and Derivatives. (1990). SAS Institute Inc.

Abrahams, Paul and Bruce Larson. (1992). UNIX for the Impatient. New York: Addison Wesley Publishing.

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