MSU Help Desk: Using mail.mnstate.edu

USING THE UNIX OPERATING SYSTEM

The MSUM email system uses an operating system called UNIX.
The following is a list of the most frequently used UNIX commands:

General Commands Changing Your Password
GENERAL COMMANDS
cat F1	Scroll the file, F1, on the screen
cat F1 > F2	Replace contents of file F2 with file F1
cat F1 >> F2	Appends the contents of file F1 to the end of file F2
cd dirname	Change directory.
chfn	Change finger (user's) information.
cp F1 F2	Copies file F1 and names it F2.
date	Gives the system date and time.
f name \| more	Lists all users with name as part of their name or login (one screenful at a time).
ls	Lists files in current directory. ls -l shows permissions, etc. shows permissions, etc. ls -a also shows hidden files also shows hidden files
mesg [yes \| no]	Controls ability of others to talk with you.
mkdir programs	Make directory, where the directory name is programs. To get to this directory after creating it, type cd programs.
more F1	Scroll the file F1 to the screen, one screenful at a time.
mv F1 F2	Moves file F1 to file F2, and overwrites file F2 if it exists. This is the way to rename a file. NOTE!! If a file already exists whose name is F2, this file is removed or overwritten by the contents of F1. If the destination file is write protected, then you must change the mode before you can write to it.
passwd	Changes the password for the user who is currently logged in.
pico	Invokes (starts) the Pico editor.
pico F1	Starts the Pico editor and either opens or creates the file F1.
rm F1	Deletes the file F1.
vi	Starts the vi editor.
who	Displays information about on-line users.
Ctrl-D or logout	Logs you off the system.

CHANGING YOUR PASSWORD

You must change your account password every 90 days to ensure the security of your account and the privacy of your data. You need to complete the following steps in order to change your password.

At the email prompt, type in passwd
The machine will now prompt you to enter your old password. Enter your current password.
The machine will now prompt you to enter a new password. Use anything you wish but it must be from 6 to 16 characters long and different from old password.
The machine will then ask you to verify your new password. Simply type in the new password you just entered.
You now have a new password. You must use the new password from now until you repeat this process.