-# pod2man --center=Lineo --release="version 0.43" busybox.pod > busybox.1
+# vi: set sw=4 ts=4:
=head1 NAME
Currently defined functions include:
-basename, cat, chmod, chown, chgrp, chroot, clear, chvt, cp, mv, date,
-dd, df, dirname, dmesg, du, dutmp, echo, fbset, fdflush, find, free,
-freeramdisk, deallocvt, fsck.minix, mkfs.minix, grep, gunzip, gzip,
-halt, head, hostid, hostname, init, kill, killall, length, ln, loadacm,
-loadfont, loadkmap, ls, lsmod, makedevs, math, mkdir, mkfifo, mknod,
-mkswap, mnc, more, mount, mt, nslookup, poweroff, ping, printf, ps,
-pwd, reboot, rm, rmdir, rmmod, sed, sh, fdisk, sfdisk, sleep, sort,
-sync, syslogd, logger, logname, swapon, swapoff, tail, tar, [, test,
-tee, touch, tr, true, false, tty, umount, uname, uptime, uniq, update,
-usleep, wc, whoami, yes, zcat
+basename, cat, chgrp, chmod, chown, chroot, clear, chvt, cp, date, dd, df,
+dirname, dmesg, du, dutmp, echo, false, fbset, fdflush, find, free,
+freeramdisk, deallocvt, fsck.minix, grep, gunzip, gzip, halt, head, hostid,
+hostname, init, kill, killall, length, ln, loadacm, loadfont, loadkmap, logger,
+logname, ls, lsmod, makedevs, math, mkdir, mkfifo, mkfs.minix, mknod, mkswap,
+mnc, more, mount, mt, mv, nslookup, ping, poweroff, printf, ps, pwd, reboot,
+rm, rmdir, rmmod, sed, 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, [
-=head1 OPTIONS
-
-Common Options:
+=head1 COMMON OPTIONS
Most BusyBox commands support the B<--help> option to provide a
terse runtime description of their behavior.
$ basename /usr/local/bin/
bin
-=item cat
+-------------------------------
+
+=item cat
Usage: cat [file ...]
$ cat /proc/uptime
110716.72 17.67
+-------------------------------
+
+=item 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
+
+-------------------------------
+
=item chmod
Usage: chmod [B<-R>] MODE[,MODE]... FILE...
Alternately, permissions may be set numerically where the first three
numbers are calculated by adding the octal values:
-
+
4 Read
2 Write
1 eXecute
An optional fourth digit may also be used to specify
-
+
4 Set user ID
2 Set group ID
1 sTickey bit
Options:
- -R change files and directories recursively.
+ -R change files and directories recursively.
Example:
$ ls -l /tmp/foo
-r--r--r-- 1 root root 0 Apr 12 18:25 /tmp/foo
+-------------------------------
+
=item chown
Usage: chown [OPTION]... OWNER[.[GROUP] FILE...
Changes the owner and/or group of each FILE to OWNER and/or GROUP.
-
+
Options:
- -R change files and directories recursively
+ -R change files and directories recursively
Example:
ls -l /tmp/foo
-r--r--r-- 1 root root 0 Apr 12 18:25 /tmp/foo
-=item 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
+-------------------------------
=item chroot
Run COMMAND with root directory set to NEWROOT.
-Exmaple:
+Example:
$ ls -l /bin/ls
- lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 12 Apr 13 00:46 /bin/ls -> /bin/busybox
+ 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*
+-------------------------------
+
=item clear
Clears the screen.
+-------------------------------
+
=item chvt
Usage: chvt N
Change foreground virtual terminal to /dev/ttyN
-
+
+-------------------------------
=item cp
-p preserve file attributes if possable
-R copy directories recursively
+-------------------------------
+
=item date
Usage: date [OPTION]... [+FORMAT]
Options:
- -R output RFC-822 compliant date string
- -s set time described by STRING
- -u print or set Coordinated Universal Time
+ -R output RFC-822 compliant date string
+ -s set time described by STRING
+ -u print or set Coordinated Universal Time
Example:
$ date
Wed Apr 12 18:52:41 MDT 2000
+-------------------------------
+
=item 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
+ 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
+-------------------------------
+
=item df
Usage: df [filesystem ...]
Prints the filesystem space used and space available.
-Exmaple:
+Example:
$ df
Filesystem 1k-blocks Used Available Use% Mounted on
Filesystem 1k-blocks Used Available Use% Mounted on
/dev/sda3 8690864 8553540 137324 98% /
+-------------------------------
+
+=item dirname
+
+Usage: dirname NAME
+
+Strip non-directory suffix from file name
+
+Example:
+
+ $ dirname /tmp/foo
+ /tmp
+ $ dirname /tmp/foo/
+ /tmp
+
+-------------------------------
+
=item dmesg
Usage: dmesg [B<-c>] [B<-n> level] [B<-s> bufsize]
Print or controls the kernel ring buffer.
+-------------------------------
+
=item du
Usage: du [OPTION]... [FILE]...
Options:
- -l count sizes many times if hard linked
- -s display only a total for each argument
+ -l count sizes many times if hard linked
+ -s display only a total for each argument
Example:
104 ./docs
2417 .
+-------------------------------
+
+=item 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
+
+-------------------------------
+
+=item 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
+
+-------------------------------
+
+=item false
+
+Returns an exit code of FALSE (1)
+
+Example:
+
+ $ false
+ $ echo $?
+ 1
+
+-------------------------------
=item fbset
Options:
- -h
- -fb
- -db
- -a
- -i
- -g
- -t
- -accel
- -hsync
- -vsync
- -laced
- -double
+ -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
+-------------------------------
+
+=item fdflush
+
+Usage: fdflush device
+
+Force floppy disk drive to detect disk change
+
+-------------------------------
=item find
EXPRESSION may consist of:
- -follow
- Dereference symbolic links.
- -name PATTERN
- File name (with leading directories removed) matches PATTERN.
- -print
- print the full file name followed by a newline to stdout.
+
+ -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
+-------------------------------
+
=item free
Usage: free
Example:
$ free
- total used free shared buffers
+ total used free shared buffers
Mem: 257628 248724 8904 59644 93124
Swap: 128516 8404 120112
Total: 386144 257128 129016
+-------------------------------
+
+=item freeramdisk
+
+Usage: freeramdisk DEVICE
+
+Free all memory used by the specified ramdisk.
+
+Example:
+
+ $ freeramdisk /dev/ram2
+
+-------------------------------
=item deallocvt
Usage: deallocvt N
Deallocates unused virtual terminal /dev/ttyN
-
+
+-------------------------------
=item fsck.minix
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.
-
-
-=item mkfs.minix
-
-Usage: mkfs.minix [B<-c> | B<-l> filename] [B<-nXX>] [B<-iXX>] /dev/name [blocks]
-
-Make a MINIX filesystem.
-
-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.
- -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
-
+-------------------------------
=item grep
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
+ -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
This version of grep matches full regular expresions.
-
Example:
$ grep root /etc/passwd
$ grep ^[rR]oo. /etc/passwd
root:x:0:0:root:/root:/bin/bash
+-------------------------------
+
+=item 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
+
+-------------------------------
+
+=item gzip
+
+Usage: gzip [OPTION]... FILE
+
+Compress FILE with maximum compression.
+When FILE is '-', reads standard input. Implies B<-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
+
+
+-------------------------------
+
+=item halt
+
+Usage: halt
+
+This comand halts the system.
+
+-------------------------------
+
=item head
Usage: head [OPTION] [FILE]...
Options:
- -n NUM Print first NUM lines instead of first 10
+ -n NUM Print first NUM lines instead of first 10
Example:
root:x:0:0:root:/root:/bin/bash
daemon:x:1:1:daemon:/usr/sbin:/bin/sh
+-------------------------------
+
+=item 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.
+
+-------------------------------
+
=item hostname
Usage: hostname [OPTION] {hostname | B<-F> file}
Options:
- -s Short
- -i Addresses for the hostname
- -d DNS domain name
- -F FILE Use the contents of FILE to specify the hostname
+ -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
+-------------------------------
+
+=item 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
+
+-------------------------------
+
=item kill
Usage: kill [B<-signal>] process-id [process-id ...]
Options:
- -l List all signal names and numbers.
+ -l List all signal names and numbers.
Example:
267 www-data www-data S [apache]
$ kill 252
-=item 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
-
+=item killall
-=item ls
+Usage: killall [B<-signal>] process-name [process-name ...]
-Usage: ls [B<-1acdelnpuxACF>] [filenames...]
-
+Send a signal (default is SIGTERM) to the specified process(es).
-=item lsmod
+Options:
+ -l List all signal names and numbers.
+Example:
-=item mkdir
+ $ killall apache
-Usage: 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 existing, make parent directories as needed
-
+=item length
-=item mknod
+Usage: length string
-Usage: mknod NAME TYPE MAJOR MINOR
-Make block or character special files.
+Prints out the length of the specified string.
-TYPEs include:
+Example:
+ $ length "Hello"
+ 5
- 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.
-
+-------------------------------
-=item mkswap
+=item ln
-Usage: mkswap [B<-c>] [-v0|-v1] device [block-count]
-Prepare a disk partition to be used as a swap partition.
+Usage: ln [OPTION] TARGET... LINK_NAME|DIRECTORY
+Create a link named LINK_NAME or DIRECTORY to the specified TARGET
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).
+ -s make symbolic links instead of hard links
+ -f remove existing destination files
+Example:
-=item more
-
-Usage: more [file ...]
-
+ $ ln -s busybox /tmp/ls
+ [andersen@debian busybox]$ ls -l /tmp/ls
+ lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 7 Apr 12 18:39 ls -> busybox*
-=item mount
+-------------------------------
-Usage: mount [flags]
-
-mount [flags] device directory [B<-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 filesystem-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.
- 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.
-
+=item loadacm
-=item mv
+Usage: loadacm
-Usage: mv SOURCE DEST
+Loads an acm from standard input.
-or: mv SOURCE... DIRECTORY
+Example:
-Rename SOURCE to DEST, or move SOURCE(s) to DIRECTORY.
-
+ $ loadacm < /etc/i18n/acmname
-=item ping
+-------------------------------
+=item loadfont
+Usage: loadfont
-=item poweroff
+Loads a console font from standard input.
+Example:
+ $ loadfont < /etc/i18n/fontname
-=item ps
+-------------------------------
-Usage: ps
+=item loadkmap
-Report process status.
-This version of ps accepts no options.
-
+Usage: loadkmap
-=item pwd
+Loads a binary keyboard translation table from standard input.
+Example:
+ $ loadkmap < /etc/i18n/lang-keymap
-=item reboot
+-------------------------------
+=item logger
+Usage: logger [OPTION]... [MESSAGE]
-=item rm
+Write MESSAGE to the system log. If MESSAGE is '-', log stdin.
-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
-
+ -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.
-=item rmdir
+Example:
-Usage: rmdir [OPTION]... DIRECTORY...
-Remove the DIRECTORY(ies), if they are empty.
-
+ $ logger "hello"
-=item sed
+-------------------------------
-Usage: sed [B<-n>] B<-e> script [file...]
-Allowed sed scripts come in the following form:
+=item logname
- '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
+Usage: logname
-Options:
+Print the name of the current user.
- -e add the script to the commands to be executed
- -n suppress automatic printing of pattern space
+Example:
-This version of sed matches full regular expresions.
-
+ $ logname
+ root
-=item sleep
+-------------------------------
-Usage: sleep N
+=item ls
-Pause for N seconds.
-
+Usage: ls [B<-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
+
+-------------------------------
+
+=item lsmod
+
+Usage: lsmod
+
+Shows a list of all currently loaded kernel modules.
+
+-------------------------------
+
+=item 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]
+
+-------------------------------
+
+=item 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
+
+-------------------------------
+
+=item 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
+
+-------------------------------
+
+=item 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)
+
+-------------------------------
+
+=item mkfs.minix
+
+Usage: mkfs.minix [B<-c> | B<-l> filename] [B<-nXX>] [B<-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
+
+-------------------------------
+
+=item 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
+
+-------------------------------
+
+=item mkswap
+
+Usage: mkswap [B<-c>] [B<-v0>|B<-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).
+
+-------------------------------
+
+=item mnc
+
+Usage: mnc [IP] [port]
+
+mini-netcat opens a pipe to IP:port
+
+Example:
+
+ $ mnc 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
+
+-------------------------------
+
+=item more
+
+Usage: more [file ...]
+
+More is a filter for paging through text one screenful at a time.
+
+Example:
+
+ $ dmesg | more
+
+-------------------------------
+
+=item mount
+
+Usage: mount [flags]
+ mount [flags] device directory [B<-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 filesystem-type: Specify the filesystem type.
+ -w: Mount for reading and writing (default).
+
+Options for use with the "B<-o>" flag:
+
+ async / sync: Writes are asynchronous / synchronous.
+ 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
+
+-------------------------------
+
+=item mt
+
+Usage: mt [B<-f> device] opcode value
+
+Control magnetic tape drive operation
+
+-------------------------------
+
+=item 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
+
+-------------------------------
+
+=item 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
+
+-------------------------------
+
+=item 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
+
+-------------------------------
+
+=item poweroff
+
+Shuts down the system, and requests that the kernel turn off power upon halting.
+
+-------------------------------
+
+=item 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
+
+-------------------------------
+
+=item 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
+
+-------------------------------
+
+=item pwd
+
+Prints the full filename of the current working directory.
+
+Example:
+
+ $ pwd
+ /root
+
+-------------------------------
+
+=item reboot
+
+Instructs the kernel to reboot the system.
+
+-------------------------------
+
+=item 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
+
+-------------------------------
+
+=item rmdir
+
+Usage: rmdir [OPTION]... DIRECTORY...
+
+Remove the DIRECTORY(ies), if they are empty.
+
+Example:
+
+ # rmdir /tmp/foo
+
+-------------------------------
+
+=item 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
+
+-------------------------------
+
+=item sed
+
+Usage: sed [B<-n>] B<-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
+
+-------------------------------
+
+=item 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.
+
+-------------------------------
+
+=item 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
+
+-------------------------------
+
+=item sleep
+
+Usage: sleep N
+
+Pause for N seconds.
+
+Example:
+
+ $ sleep 2
+ [2 second delay results]
+
+-------------------------------
=item sort
-Usage: Usage: sort [OPTION]... [FILE]...
-
+Usage: sort [B<-n>] [B<-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
+
+-------------------------------
=item sync
Usage: sync
Write all buffered filesystem blocks to disk.
-
+
+-------------------------------
=item syslogd
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
-
+ -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
+
+-------------------------------
=item swapon
-Usage: swapon device
+Usage: swapon [OPTION] [device]
Start swapping virtual memory pages on the given device.
-
+
+Options:
+
+ -a Start swapping on all swap devices
+
+-------------------------------
=item swapoff
-Usage: swapoff device
+Usage: swapoff [OPTION] [device]
Stop swapping virtual memory pages on the given device.
-
+
+Options:
+
+ -a Stop swapping on all swap devices
+
+-------------------------------
=item tail
-Usage: tail [OPTION]... [FILE]...
+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.
+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.
- -c=N[kbm] output the last N bytes
- -f output appended data as the file grows
- -n=N output the last N lines, instead of last 10
- -q never output headers giving file names
- -v always output headers giving file names
- --help display this help and exit
+Example:
+
+ $ tail -n 1 /etc/resolv.conf
+ nameserver 10.0.0.1
-If the first character of N (bytes or lines) is a `+', output begins with
-the Nth item from the start of each file, otherwise, print the last N items
-in the file. N bytes may be suffixed by k (x1024), b (x512), or m (1024^2).
-
+-------------------------------
=item tar
+Usage: tar -[cxtvO] [B<--exclude> File] [B<-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
+
+-------------------------------
+=item 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
+
+-------------------------------
=item 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
-
+ -a append to the given FILEs, do not overwrite
+
+Example:
+
+ $ echo "Hello" | tee /tmp/foo
+ $ cat /tmp/foo
+ Hello
+
+-------------------------------
=item touch
Usage: touch [B<-c>] file [file ...]
- Update the last-modified date on the given file[s].
-
+
+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
+
+-------------------------------
+
+=item tr
+
+Usage: tr [B<-cdsu>] string1 [string2]
+
+Translate, squeeze, and/or delete characters from standard
+input, writing to standard output.
+
+Example:
+
+ $ echo "gdkkn vnqkc" | tr [a-y] [b-z]
+ hello world
+
+-------------------------------
=item true
+Returns an exit code of TRUE (0)
+Example:
-=item false
+ $ true
+ $ echo $?
+ 0
+-------------------------------
+=item tty
-=item uname
+Usage: tty
-Usage: uname [OPTION]...
+Print the file name of the terminal connected to standard input.
-Print certain system information. With no OPTION, same as B<-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
-
+ -s print nothing, only return an exit status
+
+Example:
+
+ $ tty
+ /dev/tty2
+
+-------------------------------
=item umount
-Usage: Usage: umount [flags] filesystem|directory
+Usage: umount [flags] filesystem|directory
Flags:
- -a: Unmount all file systems
-
+ -a: Unmount all file systems
+ -r: Try to remount devices as read-only if mount is busy
+ -f: Do not free loop device (if a loop device has been used)
+
+Example:
+
+ $ umount /dev/hdc1
+
+-------------------------------
+
+=item uname
+
+Usage: uname [OPTION]...
+
+Print certain system information. With no OPTION, same as B<-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
+
+-------------------------------
=item uniq
-Usage: Usage: uniq [OPTION]... [INPUT [OUTPUT]]
+Usage: uniq [OPTION]... [INPUT [OUTPUT]]
-Discard all but one of successive identical lines from INPUT (or
-standard input), writing to OUTPUT (or standard output).
+Discard all but one of successive identical lines from INPUT
+(or standard input), writing to OUTPUT (or standard output).
- -h display this help and exit
+Example:
-A field is a run of whitespace, then non-whitespace characters.
-Fields are skipped before chars.
-
+ $ echo -e "a\na\nb\nc\nc\na" | sort | uniq
+ a
+ b
+ c
-=item zcat
+-------------------------------
-Usage: gunzip [OPTION]... FILE
+=item update
+
+Usage: update [options]
+
+Periodically flushes filesystem buffers.
-Uncompress FILE (or standard input if FILE is '-').
-
Options:
- -c Write output to standard output
- -t Test compressed file integrity
-
+ -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)
-=item gunzip
+-------------------------------
-Usage: gunzip [OPTION]... FILE
+=item uptime
-Uncompress FILE (or standard input if FILE is '-').
-
-Options:
+Usage: uptime
- -c Write output to standard output
- -t Test compressed file integrity
-
+Tells how long the system has been running since boot.
-=item gzip
+Example:
-Usage: gzip [OPTION]... FILE
+ $ uptime
+ 1:55pm up 2:30, load average: 0.09, 0.04, 0.00
+
+-------------------------------
+
+=item usleep
+
+Usage: usleep N
+
+Pauses for N microseconds.
+
+Example:
+
+ $ usleep 1000000
+ [pauses for 1 second]
+
+-------------------------------
+
+=item 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.
-Compress FILE with maximum compression.
-When FILE is -, reads standard input. Implies B<-c>.
-
Options:
- -c Write output to standard output instead of FILE.gz
-
+ -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
+
+-------------------------------
+
+=item whoami
+
+Usage: whoami
+
+Prints the user name associated with the current effective user id.
+
+Example:
+
+ $ whoami
+ andersen
+
+-------------------------------
+
+=item yes
+Usage: yes [OPTION]... [STRING]...
+
+Repeatedly outputs a line with all specified STRING(s), or `y'.
+
+-------------------------------
+
+=item zcat
+
+This is essentially an alias for invoking "gunzip B<-c>", where
+it decompresses the file inquestion and send the output to stdout.
+
+-------------------------------
=back
=for html <br>
+Karl M. Hegbloom <karlheg@debian.org>
+
+=for html <br>
+
+John Lombardo <john@deltanet.com>
+
+=for html <br>
+
Bruce Perens <bruce@perens.com>
=for html <br>
=cut
+# $Id: busybox.pod,v 1.17 2000/04/19 03:59:10 erik Exp $