Quick Reference Guide

20 Command Syntax Overview
Case Sensitivity
• Command line options, predefined and user-defined arguments, and filenames given as arguments are
all case sensitive.
• Unless specified otherwise, enter all commands, options, arguments, and command line switches in
lowercase letters.
Table 2-1. Command Line Syntax
Element Description
- Single-character options are prefixed with a preceding hyphen (-).
NOTE: This delimiter is not applicable to Baseboard Management Controller (BMC)
suboptions.
-- Multi-character options are prefixed with two (2) preceding hyphens (--).
utilname Generic designation for a DTK utility name.
o Generic single-character designation for an option.
optionX Generic multi-character designation for a utility name, where X can be used to
distinguish multiple options used in the same command line instance.
argX Generic designation for an argument, where X can be used to distinguish
multiple arguments used in the same command line instance.
[mandatory option] Generic designation for a mandatory argument.
<optional argument> Generic designation for an optional argument.
<string> Generic designation for a string.
<filename> Generic designation for a filename.
[ ] Indicates a component of the command line. Enter only the information within
the brackets, not the brackets themselves.
... Indicates that the previous argument can be repeated several times in a
command. Enter only the information, not the ellipsis (...) itself.
| Separates two mutually exclusive choices in a syntax line. For example:
usb: Turns the usb controller on or off.
Argument: enable | disable | legacy
Enter only one choice: --usb=enable, --usb=disable, or
--usb=legacy .