+BusyBox combines tiny versions of many common UNIX utilities into a single
+small executable. It provides minimalist replacements for most of the
+utilities you usually find in fileutils, shellutils, findutils, textutils,
+grep, gzip, tar, etc. BusyBox provides a fairly complete POSIX environment
+for any small or emdedded system. The utilities in BusyBox generally have
+fewer options then their full featured GNU cousins; however, the options
+that are included provide the expected functionality and behave very much
+like their GNU counterparts.
+
+
+BusyBox has been written with size-optimization and limited resources in
+mind. It is also extremely modular so you can easily include or exclude
+commands (or features) at compile time. This makes it easy to customize
+your embedded systems. To create a working system, just add a kernel, a
+shell (such as ash), and an editor (such as elvis-tiny or ae).
+
+
+When you create a link to BusyBox for the function you wish to use, when
+BusyBox is called using that link it will behave as if the command itself
+has been invoked.
+
+
+will cause BusyBox to behave as 'ls' (if the 'ls' command has been compiled
+into BusyBox).
+
+
+You can also invoke BusyBox by issuing the command as an argument on the
+command line. For example, entering
+
+
+will also cause BusyBox to behave as 'ls'.
+
+
+basename, cat, chgrp, chmod, chown, chroot, clear, chvt, cp, cut, date, dd,
+df, dirname, dmesg, du, dutmp, echo, false, fbset, fdflush, find, free,
+freeramdisk, deallocvt, fsck.minix, grep, gunzip, gzip, halt, head, hostid,
+hostname, id, init, kill, killall, length, ln, loadacm, loadfont, loadkmap,
+logger, logname, ls, lsmod, makedevs, math, mkdir, mkfifo, mkfs.minix,
+mknod, mkswap, mktemp, nc, more, mount, mt, mv, nslookup, ping, poweroff,
+printf, ps, pwd, reboot, rm, rmdir, rmmod, sed, setkeycodes, sh, sfdisk,
+sleep, sort, sync, syslogd, swapon, swapoff, tail, tar, test, tee, touch,
+tr, true, tty, umount, uname, uniq, update, uptime, usleep, wc, whoami,
+yes, zcat, [
+
+
+- basename
-
+
+Usage: 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
+
+
+-------------------------------
+
+
- cat
-
+
+Usage: cat [FILE ...]
+
+
+Concatenates FILE(s) and prints them to the standard output.
+
+
+Example:
+
+
+
$ cat /proc/uptime
+ 110716.72 17.67
+
+
+-------------------------------
+
+
- chgrp
-
+
+Usage: chgrp [OPTION]... GROUP FILE...
+
+
+Change the group membership of each FILE to GROUP.
+
+
+Options:
+
+
+
-R change 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
-
+
+Usage: chmod [-R] MODE[,MODE]... FILE...
+
+
+Changes file access permissions for the specified FILE(s) (or
+directories). Each MODE is defined by combining the letters for WHO has
+access to the file, an OPERATOR for selecting how the permissions should be
+changed, and a PERISSION for FILE(s) (or directories).
+
+
+WHO may be chosen from
+
+
+
u User who owns the file
+ g Users in the file's Group
+ o Other users not in the file's group
+ a All users
+
+
+OPERATOR may be chosen from
+
+
+
+ Add a permission
+ - Remove a permission
+ = Assign a permission
+
+PERMISSION may be chosen from
+
+
+
r Read
+ w Write
+ x Execute (or access for directories)
+ s Set user (or group) ID bit
+ t Stickey bit (for directories prevents removing files by non-owners)
+
+
+Alternately, permissions can be set numerically where the first three
+numbers are calculated by adding the octal values, such as
+
+
+
4 Read
+ 2 Write
+ 1 Execute
+
+
+An optional fourth digit can also be used to specify
+
+
+
4 Set user ID
+ 2 Set group ID
+ 1 Stickey bit
+
+
+Options:
+
+
+
-R Change 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
-
+
+Usage: chown [OPTION]... OWNER[<.|:>[GROUP] FILE...
+
+
+Changes the owner and/or group of each FILE to OWNER and/or 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
+ $ 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
-
+
+Usage: chroot NEWROOT [COMMAND...]
+
+
+Run COMMAND with root directory set to NEWROOT. 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*
+
+
+-------------------------------
+
+
- clear
-
+
+Clears the screen.
+
+
+-------------------------------
+
+
- chvt
-
+
+Usage: chvt N
+
+
+Changes the foreground virtual terminal to /dev/ttyN
+
+
+-------------------------------
+
+
- cp
-
+
+Usage: cp [OPTION]... SOURCE DEST
+
+
+
or: cp [OPTION]... SOURCE... DIRECTORY
+
+
+Copies SOURCE to DEST, or multiple SOURCE(s) to DIRECTORY.
+
+
+Options:
+
+
+
-a Same as -dpR
+ -d Preserves links
+ -p Preserves file attributes if possable
+ -R Copies directories recursively
+
+
+-------------------------------
+
+
- cut
-
+
+Usage: 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 DELIM Use DELIM instead of tab as the field 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
-
+
+Usage: date [OPTION]... [+FORMAT]
+
+
+
or: date [OPTION] [MMDDhhmm[[CC]YY][.ss]]
+
+
+Displays the current time in the given FORMAT, or sets the system date.
+
+
+Options:
+
+
+
-R Outputs RFC-822 compliant date string
+ -s Sets time described by STRING
+ -u Prints or sets Coordinated Universal Time
+
+
+Example:
+
+
+
$ date
+ Wed Apr 12 18:52:41 MDT 2000
+
+
+-------------------------------
+
+
- dd
-
+
+Usage: dd [if=name] [of=name] [bs=n] [count=n] [skip=n] [seek=n]
+
+
+Copy a file, converting and formatting according to options
+
+
+
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
+
+
+Numbers may be suffixed by w (x2), k (x1024), b (x512), or M (x1024^2)
+Example:
+
+
+
$ dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/ram1 bs=1M count=4
+ 4+0 records in
+ 4+0 records out
+
+
+-------------------------------
+
+
- df
-
+
+Usage: df [filesystem ...]
+
+
+Prints the filesystem space used and space available.
+
+
+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
-
+
+Usage: dirname NAME
+
+
+Strip non-directory suffix from file name
+
+
+Example:
+
+
+
$ dirname /tmp/foo
+ /tmp
+ $ dirname /tmp/foo/
+ /tmp
+
+
+-------------------------------
+
+
- dmesg
-
+
+Usage: dmesg [-c] [-n level] [-s bufsize] Print or controls the kernel ring buffer.
+
+
+-------------------------------
+
+
- du
-
+
+Usage: du [OPTION]... [FILE]...
+
+
+Summarize disk space used for each FILE and/or directory. Disk space is
+printed in units of 1k (i.e. 1024 bytes).
+
+
+Options:
+
+
+
-l count sizes many times if hard linked
+ -s display only a total for each argument
+
+
+Example:
+
+
+
$ ./BusyBox du
+ 16 ./CVS
+ 12 ./kernel-patches/CVS
+ 80 ./kernel-patches
+ 12 ./tests/CVS
+ 36 ./tests
+ 12 ./scripts/CVS
+ 16 ./scripts
+ 12 ./docs/CVS
+ 104 ./docs
+ 2417 .
+
+-------------------------------
+
+ - dutmp
-
+
+Usage: dutmp [FILE]
+
+
+Dump utmp file format (pipe delimited) from FILE or stdin to stdout.
+
+
+Example:
+
+
+
$ dutmp /var/run/utmp
+ 8|7||si|||0|0|0|955637625|760097|0
+ 2|0|~|~~|reboot||0|0|0|955637625|782235|0
+ 1|20020|~|~~|runlevel||0|0|0|955637625|800089|0
+ 8|125||l4|||0|0|0|955637629|998367|0
+ 6|245|tty1|1|LOGIN||0|0|0|955637630|998974|0
+ 6|246|tty2|2|LOGIN||0|0|0|955637630|999498|0
+ 7|336|pts/0|vt00andersen|andersen|:0.0|0|0|0|955637763|0|0
+
+-------------------------------
+
+ - echo
-
+
+Usage: echo [-neE] [ARG ...]
+
+
+Prints the specified ARGs to stdout
+
+
+Options:
+
+
+
-n suppress trailing newline
+ -e interpret backslash-escaped characters (i.e. \t=tab etc)
+ -E disable interpretation of backslash-escaped characters
+
+
+Example:
+
+
+
$ echo "Erik is cool"
+ Erik is cool
+ $ echo -e "Erik\nis\ncool"
+ Erik
+ is
+ cool
+ $ echo "Erik\nis\ncool"
+ Erik\nis\ncool
+
+-------------------------------
+
+ - false
-
+
+Returns an exit code of FALSE (1)
+
+
+Example:
+
+
+
$ false
+ $ echo $?
+ 1
+
+
+-------------------------------
+
+
- fbset
-
+
+Usage: fbset [options] [mode]
+
+
+Show and modify frame buffer device settings
+
+
+Options:
+
+
+
-h
+ -fb
+ -db
+ -a
+ -i
+ -g
+ -t
+ -accel
+ -hsync
+ -vsync
+ -laced
+ -double
+
+
+Example:
+
+
+
$ fbset
+ mode "1024x768-76"
+ # 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
-
+
+Usage: fdflush device
+
+
+Force floppy disk drive to detect disk change
+
+
+-------------------------------
+
+
- find
-
+
+Usage: find [PATH...] [EXPRESSION]
+
+
+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 the full file name followed by a newline to stdout.
+
+
+Example:
+
+
+
$ find / -name /etc/passwd
+ /etc/passwd
+
+
+-------------------------------
+
+
- free
-
+
+Usage: free
+
+
+Displays the amount of free and used system memory.
+
+
+Example:
+
+
+
$ free
+ total used free shared buffers
+ Mem: 257628 248724 8904 59644 93124
+ Swap: 128516 8404 120112
+ Total: 386144 257128 129016
+
+
+-------------------------------
+
+
- freeramdisk
-
+
+Usage: freeramdisk DEVICE
+
+
+Frees all memory used by the specified ramdisk.
+
+
+Example:
+
+
+
$ freeramdisk /dev/ram2
+
+
+-------------------------------
+
+
- deallocvt
-
+
+Usage: deallocvt N
+
+
+Deallocates unused virtual terminal /dev/ttyN
+
+
+-------------------------------
+
+
- fsck.minix
-
+
+Usage: 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.
+
+
+-------------------------------
+
+
- grep
-
+
+Usage: grep [OPTIONS]... PATTERN [FILE]...
+
+
+Search for PATTERN in each FILE or standard input.
+
+
+OPTIONS:
+
+
+
-h suppress the prefixing filename on output
+ -i ignore case distinctions
+ -n print line number with output lines
+ -q be quiet. Returns 0 if result was found, 1 otherwise
+ -v select non-matching lines
+
+
+This version of grep matches full regular expresions.
+
+
+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
-
+
+Usage: gunzip [OPTION]... FILE
+
+
+Uncompress FILE (or standard input if FILE is '-').
+
+
+Options:
+
+
+
-c Write output to standard output
+ -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
+
+
+-------------------------------
+
+
- gzip
-
+
+Usage: gzip [OPTION]... FILE
+
+
+Compress FILE with maximum compression. When FILE is '-', reads standard
+input. Implies -c.
+
+
+Options:
+
+
+
-c Write output to standard output instead of FILE.gz
+
+
+Example:
+
+
+
$ ls -la /tmp/BusyBox*
+ -rw-rw-r-- 1 andersen andersen 1761280 Apr 14 17:47 /tmp/BusyBox-0.43.tar
+ $ gzip /tmp/BusyBox-0.43.tar
+ $ ls -la /tmp/BusyBox*
+ -rw-rw-r-- 1 andersen andersen 554058 Apr 14 17:49 /tmp/BusyBox-0.43.tar.gz
+
+
+-------------------------------
+
+
- halt
-
+
+Usage: halt
+
+
+This comand halts the system.
+
+
+-------------------------------
+
+
- head
-
+
+Usage: 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
+
+
+Example:
+
+
+
$ head -n 2 /etc/passwd
+ root:x:0:0:root:/root:/bin/bash
+ daemon:x:1:1:daemon:/usr/sbin:/bin/sh
+
+
+-------------------------------
+
+
- hostid
-
+
+Usage: hostid
+
+
+Prints out a unique 32-bit identifier for the current machine. The 32-bit
+identifier is intended to be unique among all UNIX systems in existence.
+
+
+-------------------------------
+
+
- hostname
-
+
+Usage: hostname [OPTION] {hostname | -F file}
+
+
+Get or set the hostname or DNS domain name. If a hostname is given (or a
+file with the -F parameter), the host name will be set.
+
+
+Options:
+
+
+
-s Short
+ -i Addresses for the hostname
+ -d DNS domain name
+ -F FILE Use the contents of FILE to specify the hostname
+
+
+Example:
+
+
+
$ hostname
+ slag
+
+
+-------------------------------
+
+
- id
-
+
+Print information for USERNAME or the current user
+
+
+Options:
+
+
+
-g prints only the group ID
+ -u prints only the user ID
+ -r prints the real user ID instead of the effective ID (with -ug)
+
+
+Example:
+
+
+
$ id
+ uid=1000(andersen) gid=1000(andersen)
+
+
+-------------------------------
+
+
- init
-
+
+Usage: 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
+
+
+if it detects that /dev/console is _not_ a serial console, it will also
+run:
+
+
+
tty2::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
+ be unique, although if it isn't you may have strange results. If this
+ field is left blank, it is completely ignored. Also note that if
+ BusyBox detects that a serial console is in use, then all entries
+ containing non-empty id fields will _not_ 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, and ctrlaltdel.
+
+
+
askfirst acts just like respawn, but 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.
+
+
+
Unrecognised actions (like initdefault) will cause init to emit
+ an error message, and then go along with its business.
+
+
+
<process>:
+
+
+
Specifies the process to be executed and it's command line.
+
+
+Example /etc/inittab file:
+
+
+
# This is run first except when booting in single-user mode.
+ #
+ ::sysinit:/etc/init.d/rcS
+
+
+
# /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
+ tty2::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)
+ #
+ #ttyS0::respawn:/sbin/getty -L ttyS0 9600 vt100
+ #ttyS1::respawn:/sbin/getty -L ttyS1 9600 vt100
+ #
+ # Example how to put a getty on a modem line.
+ #ttyS2::respawn:/sbin/getty -x0 -s 57600 ttyS2
+
+
+
# Stuff to do before rebooting
+ ::ctrlaltdel:/bin/umount -a -r > /dev/null 2>&1
+ ::ctrlaltdel:/sbin/swapoff -a > /dev/null 2>&1
+
+
+-------------------------------
+
+
- kill
-
+
+Usage: 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
+
+
+-------------------------------
+
+
- killall
-
+
+Usage: killall [-signal] process-name [process-name ...]
+
+
+Send a signal (default is SIGTERM) to the specified
+process(es).
+
+
+Options:
+
+
+
-l List all signal names and numbers.
+
+
+Example:
+
+
+
$ killall apache
+
+
+-------------------------------
+
+
- length
-
+
+Usage: length STRING
+
+
+Prints out the length of the specified STRING.
+
+
+Example:
+
+
+
$ length "Hello"
+ 5
+
+
+-------------------------------
+
+
- ln
-
+
+Usage: ln [OPTION] TARGET... LINK_NAME|DIRECTORY
+
+
+Create a link named LINK_NAME or DIRECTORY to the specified TARGET Options:
+
+
+
-s make symbolic links instead of hard links
+ -f remove existing destination files
+
+Example:
+
+
+
$ ln -s BusyBox /tmp/ls
+ $ ls -l /tmp/ls
+ lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 7 Apr 12 18:39 ls -> BusyBox*
+
+
+-------------------------------
+
+
- loadacm
-
+
+Usage: loadacm
+
+
+Loads an acm from standard input.
+
+
+Example:
+
+
+
$ loadacm < /etc/i18n/acmname
+
+
+-------------------------------
+
+
- loadfont
-
+
+Usage: loadfont
+
+
+Loads a console font from standard input.
+
+
+Example:
+
+
+
$ loadfont < /etc/i18n/fontname
+
+
+-------------------------------
+
+
- loadkmap
-
+
+Usage: loadkmap
+
+
+Loads a binary keyboard translation table from standard input.
+
+
+Example:
+
+
+
$ loadkmap < /etc/i18n/lang-keymap
+
+
+-------------------------------
+
+
- logger
-
+
+Usage: logger [OPTION]... [MESSAGE]
+
+
+Write MESSAGE to the system log. If MESSAGE is '-', log stdin.
+
+
+Options:
+
+
+
-s Log to stderr as well as the system log.
+ -t Log using the specified tag (defaults to user name).
+ -p Enter the message with the specified priority.
+ This may be numerical or a ``facility.level'' pair.
+
+
+Example:
+
+
+
$ logger "hello"
+
+
+-------------------------------
+
+
- logname
-
+
+Usage: logname
+
+
+Print the name of the current user.
+
+
+Example:
+
+
+
$ logname
+ root
+
+
+-------------------------------
+
+
- ls
-
+
+Usage: ls [-1acdelnpuxACF] [filenames...]
+
+
+Options:
+
+
+
-a do not hide entries starting with .
+ -c with -l: show ctime (the time of last
+ modification of file status information)
+ -d list directory entries instead of contents
+ -e list both full date and full time
+ -l use a long listing format
+ -n list numeric UIDs and GIDs instead of names
+ -p append indicator (one of /=@|) to entries
+ -u with -l: show access time (the time of last
+ access of the file)
+ -x list entries by lines instead of by columns
+ -A do not list implied . and ..
+ -C list entries by columns
+ -F append indicator (one of */=@|) to entries
+
+
+-------------------------------
+
+
- lsmod
-
+
+Usage: lsmod
+
+
+Shows a list of all currently loaded kernel modules.
+
+
+-------------------------------
+
+
- makedevs
-
+
+Usage: 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.
+
+
+Example:
+
+
+
$ makedevs /dev/ttyS c 4 66 2 63
+ [creates ttyS2-ttyS63]
+ $ makedevs /dev/hda b 3 0 0 8 s
+ [creates hda,hda1-hda8]
+
+
+-------------------------------
+
+
- math
-
+
+Usage: math expression ...
+
+
+This is a Tiny RPN calculator that understands the following operations: +,
+-, /, *, and, or, not, eor.
+
+
+Example:
+
+
+
$ math 2 2 add
+ 4
+ $ math 8 8 \* 2 2 + /
+ 16
+ $ math 0 1 and
+ 0
+ $ math 0 1 or
+ 1
+
+
+-------------------------------
+
+
- mkdir
-
+
+Usage: mkdir [OPTION] DIRECTORY...
+
+
+Create the DIRECTORY(ies), if they do not already exist
+
+
+Options:
+
+
+
-m set permission mode (as in chmod), not rwxrwxrwx - umask
+ -p no error if dir exists, 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
-
+
+Usage: 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
-
+
+Usage: 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 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
-
+
+Usage: 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)
+
+
+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
-
+
+Usage: 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
-
+
+Usage: mktemp [-q] TEMPLATE
+
+
+Creates a temporary file with its name based on TEMPLATE. TEMPLATE is any
+name with six `Xs' (i.e. /tmp/temp.XXXXXX).
+
+
+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
+
+
+-------------------------------
+
+
- nc
-
+
+Usage: nc [IP] [port]
+
+
+Netcat opens a pipe to IP:port
+
+
+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:
+ 214- HELO EHLO MAIL RCPT DATA AUTH
+ 214 NOOP QUIT RSET HELP
+ quit
+ 221 foobar closing connection
+
+-------------------------------
+
+ - more
-
+
+Usage: more [file ...]
+
+
+More is a filter for paging through text one screenful at a time.
+
+
+Example:
+
+
+
$ dmesg | more
+
+
+-------------------------------
+
+
- mount
-
+
+Usage: mount [flags] mount [flags] device directory [-o options,more-options]
+
+
+Flags:
+
+
+
-a: Mount all file systems in fstab.
+ -o option: One of many filesystem options, listed below.
+ -r: Mount the filesystem read-only.
+ -t fs-type: Specify the filesystem type.
+ -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 currently-mounted filesystem, changing its flags.
+ ro/rw: Mount for read-only / read-write.
+ There are EVEN MORE flags that are specific to each filesystem.
+ You'll have to see the written documentation for those.
+
+
+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
-
+
+Usage: mt [-f device] opcode value
+
+
+Control magnetic tape drive operation
+
+
+-------------------------------
+
+
- mv
-
+
+Usage: mv SOURCE DEST
+
+
+
or: mv SOURCE... DIRECTORY
+
+
+Rename SOURCE to DEST, or move SOURCE(s) to DIRECTORY.
+
+
+Example:
+
+
+
$ mv /tmp/foo /bin/bar
+
+
+-------------------------------
+
+
- nslookup
-
+
+Usage: nslookup [HOST]
+
+
+Queries the nameserver for the IP address of the given HOST
+
+
+Example:
+
+
+
$ nslookup localhost
+ Server: default
+ Address: default
+
+
+
Name: debian
+ Address: 127.0.0.1
+
+
+-------------------------------
+
+
- ping
-
+
+Usage: ping [OPTION]... host
+
+
+Send ICMP ECHO_REQUEST packets to network hosts.
+
+
+Options:
+
+
+
-c COUNT Send only COUNT pings.
+ -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
+
+
+-------------------------------
+
+
- poweroff
-
+
+Shuts down the system, and requests that the kernel turn off power upon
+halting.
+
+
+-------------------------------
+
+
- printf
-
+
+Usage: printf format [argument...]
+
+
+Formats and prints the given data in a manner similar to the C printf
+command.
+
+
+Example:
+
+
+
$ printf "Val=%d\n" 5
+ Val=5
+
+
+-------------------------------
+
+
- ps
-
+
+Usage: ps
+
+
+Report process status
+
+
+This version of ps accepts no options.
+
+
+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
-
+
+Prints the full filename of the current working directory.
+
+
+Example:
+
+
+
$ pwd
+ /root
+
+
+-------------------------------
+
+
- reboot
-
+
+Instructs the kernel to reboot the system.
+
+
+-------------------------------
+
+
- rm
-
+
+Usage: rm [OPTION]... FILE...
+
+
+Remove (unlink) the FILE(s).
+
+
+Options:
+
+
+
-f remove existing destinations, never prompt
+ -r or -R remove the contents of directories recursively
+
+
+Example:
+
+
+
$ rm -rf /tmp/foo
+
+
+-------------------------------
+
+
- rmdir
-
+
+Usage: rmdir [OPTION]... DIRECTORY...
+
+
+Remove the DIRECTORY(ies), if they are empty.
+
+
+Example:
+
+
+
# rmdir /tmp/foo
+
+
+-------------------------------
+
+
- rmmod
-
+
+Usage: rmmod [OPTION]... [MODULE]...
+
+
+Unloads the specified kernel modules from the kernel.
+
+
+Options:
+
+
+
-a Try to remove all unused kernel modules.
+
+
+Example:
+
+
+
$ rmmod tulip
+
+
+-------------------------------
+
+
- sed
-
+
+Usage: sed [-n] -e script [file...]
+
+
+Allowed sed scripts come in the following form:
+
+
+
'ADDR [!] COMMAND'
+
+
+
where address ADDR can be:
+ NUMBER Match specified line number
+ $ Match last line
+ /REGEXP/ Match specified regexp
+ (! inverts the meaning of the match)
+
+
+
and COMMAND can be:
+ s/regexp/replacement/[igp]
+ which attempt to match regexp against the pattern space
+ and if successful replaces the matched portion with replacement.
+
+
+
aTEXT
+ which appends TEXT after the pattern space
+
+
+Options:
+
+
+
-e add the script to the commands to be executed
+ -n suppress automatic printing of pattern space
+
+
+This version of sed matches full regular expresions.
+
+
+Example:
+
+
+
$ echo "foo" | sed -e 's/f[a-zA-Z]o/bar/g'
+ bar
+
+
+-------------------------------
+
+
- setkeycodes
-
+
+Usage: 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
+
+
+-------------------------------
+
+
- sh
-
+
+Usage: sh
+
+
+lash -- 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 (#!/bin/sh),
+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.
+
+
+-------------------------------
+
+
- sfdisk
-
+
+Usage: sfdisk [options] device ...
+
+
+device: something like /dev/hda or /dev/sda
+
+
+useful options:
+
+
+
-s [or --show-size]: list size of a partition
+ -c [or --id]: print or change partition Id
+ -l [or --list]: list partitions of each device
+ -d [or --dump]: idem, but in a format suitable for later input
+ -i [or --increment]: number cylinders etc. from 1 instead of from 0
+ -uS, -uB, -uC, -uM: accept/report in units of sectors/blocks/cylinders/MB
+ -T [or --list-types]:list the known partition types
+ -D [or --DOS]: for DOS-compatibility: waste a little space
+ -R [or --re-read]: make kernel reread partition table
+ -N# : change only the partition with number #
+ -n : do not actually write to disk
+ -O file : save the sectors that will be overwritten to file
+ -I file : restore these sectors again
+ -v [or --version]: print version
+ -? [or --help]: print this message
+
+
+dangerous options:
+
+
+
-g [or --show-geometry]: print the kernel's idea of the geometry
+ -x [or --show-extended]: also list extended partitions on output
+
+
+
or expect descriptors for them on input
+ -L [or --Linux]: do not complain about things irrelevant for Linux
+ -q [or --quiet]: suppress warning messages
+ You can override the detected geometry using:
+ -C# [or --cylinders #]:set the number of cylinders to use
+ -H# [or --heads #]: set the number of heads to use
+ -S# [or --sectors #]: set the number of sectors to use
+
+
+You can disable all consistency checking with:
+
+
+
-f [or --force]: do what I say, even if it is stupid
+
+
+-------------------------------
+
+
- sleep
-
+
+Usage: sleep N
+
+
+Pause for N seconds.
+
+
+Example:
+
+
+
$ sleep 2
+ [2 second delay results]
+
+
+-------------------------------
+
+
- sort
-
+
+Usage: sort [-n] [-r] [FILE]...
+
+
+Sorts lines of text in the specified files
+
+
+Example:
+
+
+
$ echo -e "e\nf\nb\nd\nc\na" | sort
+ a
+ b
+ c
+ d
+ e
+ f
+
+
+-------------------------------
+
+
- sync
-
+
+Usage: sync
+
+
+Write all buffered filesystem blocks to disk.
+
+
+-------------------------------
+
+
- syslogd
-
+
+Usage: syslogd [OPTION]...
+
+
+Linux system and kernel (provides klogd) logging utility. Note that this
+version of syslogd/klogd ignores /etc/syslog.conf.
+
+
+Options:
+
+
+
-m Change the mark timestamp interval. default=20min. 0=off
+ -n Do not fork into the background (for when run by init)
+ -K Do not start up the klogd process (by default syslogd spawns klogd).
+ -O Specify an alternate log file. default=/var/log/messages
+
+
+-------------------------------
+
+
- swapon
-
+
+Usage: swapon [OPTION] [device]
+
+
+Start swapping virtual memory pages on the given device.
+
+
+Options:
+
+
+
-a Start swapping on all swap devices
+
+
+-------------------------------
+
+
- swapoff
-
+
+Usage: swapoff [OPTION] [device]
+
+
+Stop swapping virtual memory pages on the given device.
+
+
+Options:
+
+
+
-a Stop swapping on all swap devices
+
+
+-------------------------------
+
+
- tail
-
+
+Usage: 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:
+
+
+
-n NUM Print last NUM lines instead of first 10
+ -f Output data as the file grows. This version
+ of 'tail -f' supports only one file at a time.
+
+
+Example:
+
+
+
$ tail -n 1 /etc/resolv.conf
+ nameserver 10.0.0.1
+
+
+-------------------------------
+
+
- tar
-
+
+Usage: tar -[cxtvO] [--exclude File] [-f tarFile] [FILE] ...
+
+
+Create, extract, or list files from a tar file. Note that this version of
+tar treats hard links as separate files.
+
+
+Main operation mode:
+
+
+
c create
+ x extract
+ t list
+
+
+File selection:
+
+
+
f name of tarfile or "-" for stdin
+ O extract to stdout
+ --exclude file to exclude
+
+
+Informative output:
+
+
+
v verbosely list files processed
+
+
+Example:
+
+
+
$ zcat /tmp/tarball.tar.gz | tar -xf -
+ $ tar -cf /tmp/tarball.tar /usr/local
+
+
+-------------------------------
+
+
- test, [
-
+
+Usage: 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 $?
+ 1
+ $ test 1 -eq 1
+ $ echo $?
+ 0
+ $ [ -d /etc ]
+ $ echo $?
+ 0
+ $ [ -d /junk ]
+ $ echo $?
+ 1
+
+
+-------------------------------
+
+
- tee
-
+
+Usage: tee [OPTION]... [FILE]...
+
+
+Copy standard input to each FILE, and also to standard output.
+
+
+Options:
+
+
+
-a append to the given FILEs, do not overwrite
+
+
+Example:
+
+
+
$ echo "Hello" | tee /tmp/foo
+ $ cat /tmp/foo
+ Hello
+
+
+-------------------------------
+
+
- touch
-
+
+Usage: touch [-c] file [file ...]
+
+
+Update the last-modified date on (or create) the selected file[s].
+
+
+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
-
+
+Usage: 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 character
+
+
+Example:
+
+
+
$ echo "gdkkn vnqkc" | tr [a-y] [b-z]
+ hello world
+
+
+-------------------------------
+
+
- true
-
+
+Returns an exit code of TRUE (0)
+
+
+Example:
+
+
+
$ true
+ $ echo $?
+ 0
+
+
+-------------------------------
+
+
- tty
-
+
+Usage: 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
+
+
+-------------------------------
+
+
- umount
-
+
+Usage: umount [flags] filesystem|directory
+
+
+Flags:
+
+
+
-a: Unmount all file systems
+ -r: Try to remount devices as read-only if mount is busy
+ -f: Force filesystem umount (i.e. unreachable NFS server)
+ -l: Do not free loop device (if a loop device has been used)
+
+
+Example:
+
+
+
$ umount /dev/hdc1
+
+
+-------------------------------
+
+
- uname
-
+
+Usage: 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 2.2.15pre13 #5 Tue Mar 14 16:03:50 MST 2000 i686 unknown
+
+
+-------------------------------
+
+
- uniq
-
+
+Usage: uniq [OPTION]... [INPUT [OUTPUT]]
+
+
+Discard all but one of successive identical lines from INPUT (or standard
+input), writing to OUTPUT (or standard output).
+
+
+Example:
+
+
+
$ echo -e "a\na\nb\nc\nc\na" | sort | uniq
+ a
+ b
+ c
+
+
+-------------------------------
+
+
- update
-
+
+Usage: update [options]
+
+
+Periodically flushes filesystem buffers.
+
+
+Options:
+
+
+
-S force use of sync(2) instead of flushing
+ -s SECS call sync this often (default 30)
+ -f SECS flush some buffers this often (default 5)
+
+
+-------------------------------
+
+
- uptime
-
+
+Usage: uptime
+
+
+Tells how long the system has been running since boot.
+
+
+Example:
+
+
+
$ uptime
+ 1:55pm up 2:30, load average: 0.09, 0.04, 0.00
+
+
+-------------------------------
+
+
- usleep
-
+
+Usage: usleep N
+
+
+Pauses for N microseconds.
+
+
+Example:
+
+
+
$ usleep 1000000
+ [pauses for 1 second]
+
+
+-------------------------------
+
+
- wc
-
+
+Usage: 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
+
+
+-------------------------------
+
+
- whoami
-
+
+Usage: whoami
+
+
+Prints the user name associated with the current effective user id.
+
+
+Example:
+
+
+
$ whoami
+ andersen
+
+
+-------------------------------
+
+
- yes
-
+
+Usage: yes [OPTION]... [STRING]...
+
+
+Repeatedly outputs a line with all specified STRING(s), or
+`y'.
+
+
+-------------------------------
+
+
- zcat
-
+
+This is essentially an alias for invoking ``gunzip -c'', where it decompresses the file inquestion and send the output to
+stdout.
+
+
+-------------------------------
+
+
+
+GNU Libc uses the Name Service Switch (NSS) to configure the behavior of
+the C library for the local environment, and to configure how it reads
+system data, such as passwords and group information. BusyBox has made it
+Policy that it will never use NSS, and will never use and libc calls that
+make use of NSS. This allows you to run an embedded system without the need
+for installing an /etc/nsswitch.conf file and without and /lib/libnss_*
+libraries installed.
+
+
+If you are using a system that is using a remote LDAP server for
+authentication via GNU libc NSS, and you want to use BusyBox, then you will
+need to adjust the BusyBox source. Chances are though, that if you have
+enough space to install of that stuff on your system, then you probably
+want the full GNU utilities.
+
+
+The following people have contributed code to BusyBox whether they know it
+or not.
+
+
+ 
+ 
+ 
+ 