The command-line interface provides an additional method for configuring and troubleshooting a computer running Mac OS X. You shouldn't think of it as a replacement for the graphical interface, but rather as a complementary interface that allows you to do some things more efficiently.
The command line gives you another way to execute commands in Mac OS X.
Interfaces to the command line include console, ssh, single-user mode, and Terminal.
The man pages provide online help.
You can navigate around the file system and move, copy, and rename files from the command line.
You can make changes to file ownership and permissions at a more granular level using a command-line interface.
You can use locate and find to find files.
The last command helps you keep track of user logins.
The id command helps you keep track of user and group IDs.
The tail command helps you view recent activity in a log file.
The command-line interface gives you another way to force quit applications and processes.
The following Knowledge Base documents (located at www.apple.com/support) will provide you with further information regarding using the command-line interface.
106482, "Setting up Open Firmware Password Protection in Mac OS X 10.1 or later"
25591, "Mac OS X 10.3: Terminal Commands That Require Authentication Unlock Other Applications"
61357, "Mac OS X: About Entering Commands in Terminal"
106712, "Troubleshooting permissions issues in Mac OS X"
Visit the following website for more information.
Apple Remote Desktop: www.apple.com/remotedesktop