diff --git a/src/docbkx/book.xml b/src/docbkx/book.xml
index 069b50f0c63..153837cb59d 100644
--- a/src/docbkx/book.xml
+++ b/src/docbkx/book.xml
@@ -364,7 +364,77 @@ stopping hbase...............
The HBase Shell
-
+
+ The HBase Shell is (J)Ruby's
+ IRB with some HBase particular verbs addded. Anything you can do in
+ IRB, you should be able to do in the HBase Shell.
+ To run the HBase shell,
+ do as follows:
+ $ ./bin/hbase shell
+ Type help followed by <RETURN>
+ to see a complete listing of commands available.
+ Take some time to study the tail of the help screen where it
+ does a synopsis of IRB syntax specifying arguments -- usually you must
+ quote -- and how to write out dictionaries, etc.
+
+
+ Scripting
+ For examples scripting HBase, look in the
+ HBase bin directory. Look at the files
+ that end in *.rb. To run one of these
+ files, do as follows:
+ $ ./bin/hbase org.jruby.Main PATH_TO_SCRIPT
+
+
+
+ Shell Tricks
+ <filename>irbrc</filename>
+ Create an .irbrc file for yourself in your
+ home directory. Add HBase Shell customizations. A useful one is
+ command history:
+
+ $ more .irbrc
+ require 'irb/ext/save-history'
+ IRB.conf[:SAVE_HISTORY] = 100
+ IRB.conf[:HISTORY_FILE] = "#{ENV['HOME']}/.irb-save-history"
+
+
+
+ Log data to timestamp
+
+ To convert the date '08/08/16 20:56:29' from an hbase log into a timestamp, do:
+
+ hbase(main):021:0> import java.text.SimpleDateFormat
+ hbase(main):022:0> import java.text.ParsePosition
+ hbase(main):023:0> SimpleDateFormat.new("yy/MM/dd HH:mm:ss").parse("08/08/16 20:56:29", ParsePosition.new(0)).getTime() => 1218920189000
+
+
+
+ To go the other direction:
+
+ hbase(main):021:0> import java.util.Date
+ hbase(main):022:0> Date.new(1218920189000).toString() => "Sat Aug 16 20:56:29 UTC 2008"
+
+
+
+ To output in a format that is exactly like hbase log format is a pain messing with
+ SimpleDateFormat.
+
+
+ Debug
+ Shell debug switch
+ You can set a debug switch in the shell to see more output
+ when you run a command:
+ hbase> debug <RETURN>
+
+
+ DEBUG log level
+ To enable DEBUG level logging in the shell, launch it with the -d option.
+ $ ./bin/hbase shell -d
+
+
+
+