Learning Objectives

After completing the work in this module you will be able to:

• Use Linux manual pages to find options for commands.
• Describe the layout of a man page.
• Use the -k option to the man command to find specific manual page.
• Use the /usr/share/doc/ directory to research installed packages.
• Explain the purpose of Release Notes.
• Explain the purpose of a Changelog.

Introduction

Get Help in Red Hat Enterprise Linux

Linux Manual Pages

Manual Page Sections

1. Executable programs or shell commands
2. System calls
3. Library calls
4. Special files
5. File formats and configuration files
6. Games
7. Miscellaneous
8. System administration commands
9. Kernel routines

Parts of a Manual Page

• NAME
• SYNOPSIS
• DESCRIPTION
• OPTIONS
• EXAMPLES
• FILES
• SEE ALSO

Navigate Manual Pages

Search for man Pages by Keyword

Open a Different Manual Section

Search within a Manual Page

Search within a Manual Page

The /usr/share/doc/ Directory

Guided Exercise

Read Manual Pages

Release Notes

Changelogs

Module Summary

Get Help in Red Hat Enterprise Linux

1. The man command is used to display the manual page for commands and configuration files.
2. Manual pages are group by type and can be referenced by the section number.
3. The -k option to the man command is used to find commands by keyword.
4. Inside a manual page you can search for a term using the forward slash (/) character.
5. Each new release of Red Hat Enterprise Linux comes with Release Notes which details new features and changes.
6. The mandb command updates the manual page index.
7. Release Notes and Changelogs provide important information about the latest release of a Linux distribution or program.

Resources

• man(1)
• mandb(8)
• man-pages(7)
• Linux Man Pages - A Quick Tutorial
• Product Documentation for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9
• Keep a Changelog

Graded Lab

Get Help in Red Hat Enterprise Linux