The DCS interface to the MSS is modeled, where possible, on the equivalent POSIX/UNIX style commands. The DCS suite consists of a single file movement command, several metadata commands, and several request management and status commands. The following commands are suitable for a command-line interface based on the current MSS:
| Command | Function |
| mscd(1NCAR) | Change working directory |
| msdu(1NCAR) | Display resource usage |
| msfind(1NCAR) | Find MSS files |
| msls(1NCAR) | List MSS directory contents |
| msmv(1NCAR) | Move (rename) MSS files |
| mspwd(1NCAR) | Print MSS working directory |
| msrcp(1NCAR) | Copy an MSS file to or from the local system |
| msrm(1NCAR) | Remove MSS files |
The commands, documented later, are intended to be as consistent as possible with their POSIX counterparts, and the reader is referred to the POSIX standard (IEEE Std 1003.2-1992, also known as POSIX.2), except where prohibited by the special constraints of the MSS (for example msfind, msmv). The MSS is an archive service and all aspects of its operation cannot be hidden from the user, hence the following commands are also necessary:
| Command | Function |
| mschproj(1NCAR) | Change an MSS file project number |
| msclass(1NCAR) | Change the class of service information for an MSS file |
| mscomment(1NCAR) | Change an MSS file comment |
| mspasswd(1NCAR) | Change an MSS file password(s) |
| msrawinfo(1NCAR) (and msallinfo(1NCAR)) | Return MSS-specific metadata information |
| msrecover(1NCAR) | Recover MSS files from the trash |
| msretention(1NCAR) | Set the MSS file retention period |
| mstouch(1NCAR) | Update the MSS file's last reference time |
The following POSIX commands can not be provided with the current MSS, as the MSS lacks the required functionality:
| Command | Function |
| chgrp | change file group ownership |
| chmod | change file modes |
| chown | change file ownership |
| cp | copy files |
| mkdir | make directories |
| rmdir | remove directories |
| umask | get or set file mode creation mask |