Unix for VMS Users

This book is for VAX users who are making the transition from the VMS to the UNIX operating system. It follows a logical sequence from discussion of fundamental concepts and basic command procedures through the use of high-level languages, programming the operating system, text processing, and networked communications. Appendixes provide command and file summaries and crossreference tables. Emphasis is on Berkeley UNIX and the C shell, although most of the features discussed are pertinent to any version of UNIX-ULTRIX, AT & T System V, System III, Xenix, and others.The book is intended to help you mold the interactive computing skills that you learned using VMS into the skills necessary for computing in the UNIX framework. It is not meant to be a UNIX user's manual, nor is it designed to teach UNIX from first principles. The book draws upon the experience of observing professionals with varying degrees of VMS expertise grapple with the concrete and philosophical issues of UNIX. This book emphasizes Berkeley UNIX (or BSD, Berkeley Software Distribution) and the C shell, although many of the features discussed are pertinent to any version of UNIX. Thus, this text should also be useful to those "migrating" from VMS to ULTRIX, AT & T System V, System III, Xenix, Version 7, or any other version of UNIX.

After the ease of learning VMS, the horror known as "UNIX" can be very intimidating. This book takes you step by step through the new operating system, and explains the cryptic new commands with very simple and direct comparisons to the familiar commands of VMS. After a short time with this book by your side, the unfamiliar waters will become crystal clear.