problem with /etc/profiles

[hasc]

i added the following lines to the /etc/profiles file:

export JAVA_HOME="/usr/lib/java"
and added the $JAVA_HOME/bin to the PATH variable.

When i execute "echo $PATH" or "echo $JAVA_HOME" the values are not set. I restarted the computer after the changes. Executing the commands manually in the bash worls fine though.
Its propably a beginners problem but i searched in this forum and didn't find anything appropriate. So help would be great.

Thanks,
hasc

[lacek]

/etc/profile is sourced only from a "login shell", e.g. when you log in to get your shell. Graphical display mangers tend not to behave as a login shell, thus they aren't source /etc/profile. You may add the

Code: Select all

. /etc/profile

line to your ~/.bashrc to get /etc/profile sourced when you start an xterm or something similar.

[sprucio]

Where does bash get it's env variables when not using a login shell?

[Jeroen]

just from the parent process then: environment variables are inherited.

[sprucio]

Can you tell me where the parent shell gets it from?

[Jeroen]

ultimately from either some login shell, or from your login method: If you login via ssh, ssh sets a few variables, possibly with use of /etc/environment and/or PAM (which in turn uses /etc/environment). If you use getty for console logins, that program is involved, similarly if you use gdm/kdm/xdm.

Try 'ps aux -H > processlist' and open the file processlist in some editor of choice to see a bit the hierarchy of processes. In my case, this mozilla process I'm typing in is launced from ion2, my window manager, which is in turn launched from gdm, my graphical login program.

[lacek]

Also, if bash is not a login shell, it sources ~/.bashrc. That's where you can put your exports for xterms and similar.

[rezza]

Also note that it's /etc/profile, not /etc/profiles