Appendix 1: Common UNIX Commands

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cp

This command is used to copy files from one location in the file system to

another. The form of the command is:

cp   

Wild cards are permitted in the  parameter. If this parameter

refers to more than one file, the  must be a directory. There

are a wide range of options for this command. Several are listed here.

 a

This option is the same as the  dpR and attempts to

retain the permissions and ownerships of the files be 

ing copied. This option is the best way to  replicate 

a file system on another partition, or to move a sub tree

from one place to another without changing its permis 

sion structures.

 d

Copy symlinks as symlinks rather than the file pointed

to and preserve hard link relationships between files in

the copies.

 p

Preserve the owner, group, permissions, and time stamp

found on the original when making the copies.

 R

Recursively copy all sub directories and their file con 

tents. This will allow a complete limb of a file system to

be replicated somewhere else in the file system.

Example:

cp  a /home /mnt

will copy all of the files and directories in /home into the directory /mnt and

will maintain the permissions and ownerships of the files during the copy.