I'm trying to get java installed on my system. I have already chosen to us the SUN version. I need to know whichj file the PATH variable is defined in. I tried adding the following to the rc.local file.

export JAVA_HOME=/usr/java.j2re1.4.2
export PATH=$JAVA_HOME/bin:$PATH

But when I echo those variable, I get the output that I would have gotten if I hadn't added the lines the the rc.local file.

When I type the command in manually at a prompt, everything works fine.

Is rc.local the wrong file? What file is the PATH variable initially defined in?

PS.
I run RH 8.0

$PATH's are usually defined in your .bashrc file in the users home directory or even the global file, /etc/profile

u can also edit the .bash_profile file usually in the user's home directory, i.e., /home/user/

PATH=$PATH:/usr/java/j2sdk1.4.2_01/bin