51猎奇入口

This page provides some basic instructions for using the command line interface on Linux computers in CSIL, the Computing Science Instructional Labs at SFU, followed by a set of links to books and sites with more extensive tutorials.

As they vary in detail, method and approach, try another one if the first one you try is not a good fit for you at this time.

Suggestions and corrections are welcome (email us please).

This page is aimed at new Linux users. CMPT 127 students may be particularly interested.

We assume:

• you are a computer user; likely your computer runs Windows or macOS
• you can use a keyboard (two finger typists ok!) and a mouse
• you have at least a vague idea about folders and files

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What am I doing? What is going on?

You are learning a different way to interact with a computer, working at the command line. It means typing commands at a prompt - no mouse - typing only! But why?

• it is often faster to do a task with a typed command followed by the Enter key than navigating menus to perform that task
• you get a clearer understanding of what is going on behind the integrated development environment (IDE) you are likely to use in future courses and jobs
• it allows you to access and do work on a Linux computer from somewhere else - the School provides CSIL CPU servers. please note: the GUI (graphical user interface) may not be available, or it may malfunction.
• you may combine multiple Linux commands on a single command line in powerful and efficient ways

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What is Linux - what is an Operating System for that matter?

Most computers need to run an OS (short for Operating System) to be usable. An OS is a computer program that performs tasks like

• running other programs (word processors, web browsers, C compilers...),
• opening and reading or writing files to storage,
• managing communication with other computers over a network,
• getting your input of mouse actions and typing to the program they are meant for,
• and getting the output of that program where it is supposed to go.

Linux is an Operating System, Microsoft's Windows is an Operating System, Apple's macOS is an Operating System.

• they all have many fans and haters but given all the computer users who aren't in computing science, it is quite natural.
• a user does not need to know much about Operating Systems to use a computer,
• the School offers CMPT 300 to give in-depth knowledge on Operating Systems

Many flavors of Linux are available - they are called distributions or distros;

• each Linux distro has many fans and haters - naturally.
• CSIL uses a popular Linux distro called ,
• but, the basic commands work almost identically in all Linux distros.

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Step 0: Login, get that command line prompt

If you are an 51猎奇入口Computing Science student, you may login with your 51猎奇入口Computing ID (aka campus userid) and password to a Linux workstation in CSIL Burnaby or Surrey.

To physically get into CSIL, please use the valid card/fob issued to you.

Here we describe three ways to access CSIL Linux systems for practice and/or course work:

• login at a CSIL workstation running Linux (aka console access)
• ssh into a CSIL Linux CPU server from a Windows computer
• ssh into a CSIL Linux CPU server from a Mac computer

For more ways, please check out this guide.

A terminal window opens, a prompt is displayed.

Now, you can start typing in your Linux commands.

- Adjust the size of the terminal window as needed.

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Get a Linux command line from a Windows computer:

*Important* Establish the connection from you own computer if you are out of CSIL.

Before we begin: on this page, we use "thisPC.csil.sfu.ca" as the sample CSIL Linux computer's FQDN
  - this is not a real workstation name.
  - it must be replaced by the real FQDN of the CSIL computer you want to use!

We will use as the SSH client on this page.

- The instructions would be very similar with other applications and on other platforms.

- for example, the SSH client is available on our CSIL Windows workstations.

Launch MobaXTerm and click the "Session" button at top-left corner in the MobaXTerm window; like this image shows:

Click the SSH button in red circle;

Enter values in the fields pointed by the red arrows on the image:

- for "Remote host": the full name (); please replace thisPC with the hostname of the CSIL Linux computer you want to SSH into.

- CHECK "Specify username", fill in user's 51猎奇入口Computing ID.

- for "Port": please check out the special secrete port number for SSH .

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The terminal to a CSIL Linux system shows up properly; and you can run commands now.

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Get a Linux command line from a Mac computer:

After establishing the connection from you own Mac computer, you can use the instructions on this page for reference.

From a personal Linux computer, the same steps.

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Special: kill Linux/UNIX processes

Please check out this FAQ page.

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Now here are some extra resources for further study:

• • simple images enhance this tutorial
• • another good one
  • link above skips the "about linux" part
• • well organized, more than just command line
• • a searchable collection of tutorials for various Linux tasks
• • full text available online through 51猎奇入口Library
  • must have an account with O'Reilly Online Learning (formerly Safari Books Online) service
  • basics = up to chapter 13
• • full text available online through 51猎奇入口Library
  • must have an account with O'Reilly Online Learning (formerly Safari Books Online) service
  • "10-minute" lessons

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Contact us!

Having comments, suggestions, inquiries and more questions? Contact us!

Please click here and use the best practices to get assistance from helpdesk.

Last updated @ 2026.07.27