The static and nonequilibrium dynamic properties of a single linear chain confined in a cylindrical tube are studied by Monte Carlo simulations using a continuous model and by scaling calculations. Chain lengths from N = 30 to 150 are considered. For the static results, our simulation data are consistent with the scaling law proposed by de Gennes. That is, for thin tube, the length of tube occupied by the chain scales as R-parallel to similar to ND-2/3 where D is the diameter of the tube. The nonequilibrium relaxation behavior of the chain, after the constraint is removed, is also studied. The relaxation time tau (parallel to) is derived by scaling analysis as tau (parallel to) similar to (ND1/3)-D-2. This result is compared with our Monte Carlo data and is discussed in the light of scaling theories. (C) 2001 American Institute of Physics.