sh(1)                                                                 sh(1)




 NAME    [Toc]    [Back]
      sh - overview of various system shells

 SYNOPSIS    [Toc]    [Back]
    POSIX Shell:
      sh [+-aefhikmnoprstuvx] [+-o option] ...  [-c string] [arg ...]

      rsh [+-aefhikmnoprstuvx] [+-o option] ...  [-c string] [arg ...]

    Korn Shell:
      ksh [+-aefhikmnoprstuvx] [+-o option] ...  [-c string] [arg ...]

      rksh [+-aefhikmnoprstuvx] [+-o option] ...  [-c string] [arg ...]

    C Shell:
      csh [-cefinstvxTVX] [command_file] [argument_list ...]

    Key Shell:
      keysh

 DESCRIPTION    [Toc]    [Back]
    Remarks:
      The POSIX.2 standard requires that, on a POSIX-compliant system,
      executing the command sh activates the POSIX shell (located in file
      /usr/bin/sh on HP-UX systems), and executing the command man sh
      produces an on-line manual entry that displays the syntax of the POSIX
      shell command-line.

      However, the sh command has historically been associated with the
      conventional Bourne shell, which could confuse some users.  To meet
      standards requirements and also clarify the relationships of the
      various shells and where they reside on the system, this entry
      provides command-line syntax and a brief description of each shell,
      and lists the names of the manual entries where each shell is
      described in greater detail.

      NOTE : The Bourne shell (/usr/old/bin/sh) is removed from the system
      starting with HP-UX 11i Version 1.5.  Please use the POSIX shell
      (/usr/bin/sh) as an alternative.

    Shell Descriptions    [Toc]    [Back]
      The HP-UX operating system supports the following shells:

           sh        POSIX-conforming command programming language and
                     command interpreter residing in file /usr/bin/sh.  Can
                     execute commands read from a terminal or a file.  This
                     shell conforms to current POSIX standards in effect at
                     the time the HP-UX system release was introduced, and
                     is similar to the Korn shell in many respects.  Similar
                     in many respects to the Korn shell, the POSIX shell
                     contains a history mechanism, supports job control, and



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 sh(1)                                                                 sh(1)




                     provides various other useful features.

           ksh       Korn-shell command programming language and commands
                     interpreter residing in file /usr/bin/ksh.  Can execute
                     commands read from a terminal or a file.  This shell,
                     like the POSIX shell, contains a history mechanism,
                     supports job control, and provides various other useful
                     features.

           csh       A command language interpreter that incorporates a
                     command history buffer, C-language-like syntax, and job
                     control facilities.

           rsh       Restricted version of the POSIX shell command
                     interpreter.  Sets up a login name and execution
                     environment whose capabilities are more controlled
                     (restricted) than normal user shells.

           rksh      restricted version of the Korn-shell command
                     interpreter Sets up a login name and execution
                     environment whose capabilities are more controlled
                     (restricted) than normal user shells.

           keysh     An extension of the standard Korn Shell that uses
                     hierarchical softkey menus and context-sensitive help.

                       ___________________________________
                       | To obtain:   |  Use the command: |
                       |______________|___________________|
                       | POSIX Shell  | /usr/bin/sh ...   |
                       | Korn Shell   | /usr/bin/ksh ...  |
                       | C Shell      | /usr/bin/csh ...  |
                       | Key Shell    | /usr/bin/keysh    |
                       _|_______________|___________________|

      These shells can also be the default invocation, depending on the
      entry in the /etc/passwd file.  See also chsh(1).

 WARNINGS    [Toc]    [Back]
      Many manual entries contain descriptions of shell behavior or describe
      program or application behavior similar to ``the shell'' with a
      reference to ``see sh(1)''.

 SEE ALSO    [Toc]    [Back]
      For more information on the various individual shells, see:

      keysh(1)       Key Shell (/usr/bin/keysh) description.
      ksh(1)         Korn Shell (/usr/bin/ksh) description.
      sh-posix(1)    POSIX Shell (/usr/bin/sh) description.
      csh(1)         C Shell (/usr/bin/csh) description.


 Hewlett-Packard Company            - 2 -   HP-UX 11i Version 2: August 2003