Question about PATH?

eddielins · 04-01-2001, 04:53 AM

I set a PATH as follows:
# PATH=/sbin:/usr/sbin:$PATH
# export PATH

After I set this PATH, I only can use it if I don't logout
or reboot. How can I keep it permanently without doing it
again and again? (I did click "Save Current setting" before
I logout.) The same thing happens when I configure my NIC
as well...... How can I solve these problems???
Thx

elad · 04-01-2001, 05:26 AM

if i'm not mistaken there are a few files that are read each time you log in.
.profile in your home dir
/etc/.profile
.bashrc in your home dir

you should save the files in another name and then put that line with path=etc...
this should make the changes permanent.
if it doesn't work don't forget to put back the old file so that you won't have any problems.
i think it's best to try them one at a time.

ugge · 04-01-2001, 09:07 AM

System-wide config for bash goes into the file /etc/profile.
And if you would like to add this extra path info for a single user, then add it to the hidden file .bah_profile

eddielins · 04-01-2001, 10:43 AM

when I check the hidden file /root/.bash_profile, I saw
PATH=/usr/local/sbin:/usr/sbin:/sbin:$PATH:$HOME/bin
(I didn't add anything yet!)
Is that mean I can use any command under those directory?
But when I typed some commands such as route, the message
still show up: "command not find". If I have to add those
path in /root/.bash_profile, how should I type it?
And if I add this path in /etc/profile, is that mean
everyone who logon can use it without adding it?
thx again

jeremy · 04-01-2001, 11:23 AM

/etc/profile is a system wide config file that affects all users. When you login do you always do it as root? If you do you should really create a non-privilaged user and login with that.

eddielins · 04-01-2001, 11:48 PM

This time I login as another user that I created and it's
working(I can use those commands...). However, if I use su instead of su - to change into superuser, I still can't use those commands, why? What's the difference between them?

Also, I add a path :/sbin:/usr/sbin follow by the PATH in .bash_profile under another user's home directory.
And then I login as that user and tried to use commands
such as route, but it's still no working. I think I am
quite confused about this...
Thx

ugge · 04-02-2001, 08:18 AM

Let's say your new user name is steve. When steve login and system starts a bash shell (assuming you use bash for your shell) it reads the /home/steve/.bash_profile
When you su to root access then a new bash shell isn't started so therefore the files in /root isn't run. Thus the path isn't modified.

Also some commands aren't ment to be run as non-privilaged users. Route is one of them, this is for safety and to prevent accidental use of them.