Environment variables are for storing preferred or default settings. The system, shell and GUI all have their own set of variables. Most of these variables can be set from the shell initialization script for the shell itself, located in the User's directory. These variables allow the user to either check or modify the Unix environment they are currently using. Just what the names of these variables are and how they are set depends upon the user shell and the version of Unix they are using (BSD vs System V).
ENVIRONMENT VARIABLE LISTS
USING ENVIRONMENT VARIABLES
- Displaying
- Setting Environment Variables
- Command Line
- Shell startup files (.profile, .login, .cshrc)
| VARIABLE | OS | PURPOSE |
|---|---|---|
| VARIABLE | OS | PURPOSE |
|---|---|---|
USER SHELL ENVIRONMENT VARIABLES
| VARIABLE | OS | Shells | PURPOSE |
|---|---|---|---|
| ARCH | Solaris | bsh,ksh,csh | User's system architecture; not read by the shell |
| CALENDAR | Solaris | bsh,ksh,csh | Path to the calendar executables |
| CDPATH | Solaris | bsh,ksh,csh | Path searched by the cd command when a relative path is specified. |
| EDITOR | Solaris | bsh,ksh,csh | User's default editor (usually vi or emacs) |
| history | Solaris | C | |
| HOME | Solaris | bsh,ksh,csh | User's home directory |
| LANG | Solaris | bsh,ksh,csh | Language settings (which local language) |
| LD_LIBRARH_PATH | Solaris | Path to dynamically linked libraries | |
| LPDEST | Solaris | Line printer destination; default printer | |
| LOGNAME | Solaris | bsh,ksh,csh | Login name; same as in /etc/password |
| Solaris | Location where new mail is stored | ||
| MANPATH | Solaris | Path to the manual pages. | |
| MANSECTS | Solaris | Available sections of the manual pages. | |
| OPENWINHOME | Solaris | Absolute path to the Open Windows executables directory. | |
| PATH | Solaris | bsh,ksh,csh | Directories to be searched in the order listed. |
| prompt | Solaris | csh | |
| PS1 | Solaris | bsh,ksh | Sets the prompt in Bourne or Korn shells |
| TERM / term | Solaris | bsh,ksh,csh | User's terminal settings (csh uses term) |
| TERMINFO | Solaris | This is for custom terminals that are not part of a standard Solaris install. | |
| TZ | Solaris | Time Zone |