Apple Mac OS X Server manual Using This Guide, Understanding Notation Conventions, Summary

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Using This Guide

This guide describes commands that perform functions used to configure and manage Mac OS X computers. Chapters in this guide describe sets of commands that work for specific aspects of the operating system.

Use this guide to:

ÂLearn which commands are available for specific tasks

ÂLearn how the commands work, and how to execute them

ÂReview examples of command usage

Understanding Notation Conventions

The following conventions are used throughout this book.

Summary

Notation	Indicates
monospaced font	A command or other text typed in a Terminal window
$	A shell prompt
[text_in_brackets]	An optional parameter
(oneother)	Alternative parameters (enter one or the other)
italicized	A parameter you must replace with a value
[...]	A parameter that may be repeated
<angle brackets>	A displayed value that depends on your server configuration

Commands and Other Terminal Text

Commands or command parameters that you might enter, along with other text that normally appears in a Terminal window, are shown in this font. For example:

You can use the doit command to get things done.

When a command is shown on a line by itself in this manual, it is preceded by a dollar sign and a space that represent the shell prompt. For example:

$ doit

To use this command, enter it without the dollar sign and the space in a Terminal window, and then press the Return key. (Terminal is found in /Applications/Utilities).

Command Parameters and Options

Most commands require one or more parameters to specify command options or the item to which the command is applied.

Preface About This Guide