Unix Questions & Answers
Have a tricky Unix problem or a really interesting Unix question? Usually you can get an answer on the #unixtutorial channel on Freenode IRC.
Use the form below to ask me!
If it’s a simple question, I’ll answer it by email and possibly post here.
If your problem benefits from a longer explanation, I will have a chance to become a Unix Tutorial post.
Your Unix questions – my answers
Is there an easy way to find what (currently removed) username had a given uid?
Answer: depending on your situation, there may be no way to confirm this at all, but if you’re lucky then I can help: What to do when numeric uids are shown instead of usernames.
See also: user management commands in Unix, list groups a Unix user belongs to
How can I create user accounts in Unix?
Answer: use useradd command, I explained the basics in the How To Create Unix User Accounts post.
See also: user management commands in Unix
How can I compare two directories and only show files which are present in both?
Answer: pending
See also: Compare directories in Unix
What is the easiest way to synchronize directories between two systems?
Answer: You’re going to like rsync! Truly, it’s one of the easiest yet most flexible ways of synchronizing anything in Unix!
See also: Tracking Rsync progress, official rsync page.
How can we write a shell script in unix to find the day when date is given?
Answer: use the GNU date command: it’s great for date/time manipulations! The answer to this particular question is here: Confirm a day of the week based on timestamp.
See also: Time and Date in Unix scripts