How do I change the path that Linux is using? -
The "how to" that I am following is in the June, 2001 Linux Magazine's "newbies" column. In this column, the author suggests modifying the .bash_profile, but doesn't specify which one to alter.

I have experimented with changing the three files I have found, however none of the changes "take":
/etc/skel/.bash_profile
/home/ronsan/.bash_profile
/root/.bash_profile

if it's adding to the global path, you've got to look in /etc/profile, if it's a userpath add it to ~/.bash_profile in the path statement. After each change you've got to execute to make it stick: ". ./etc/profile" or ". ~/.bash_profile".

*The source in skel is added to their new home when users are added. Keep it clean.

*I would strongly advice you to NOT add custom paths to the /root/.bash_profile that users can write in, it is considered bad for your boxes health.

I'm not sure I understand, yet, how to change the PATH environment variable. I have added to the PATH section of my /etc/profile file and also to my /home/.bash_profile. However, when I reboot, nothing changes. I am running Red Hat v7.0 upgraded to the kernel 2.4. Is some other file than those I have mentioned being used by the system to determine the path?

Ok, but you really don't have to reboot to make it work :-]

Say my /etc/profile contains:
PATH=/bin:/sbin:/usr/sbin:/opt
export PATH

Now I want to add a specific path as required by say Netscape, there are two ways.
1. I can add it to the already defined PATH statement if it is just like finding an application in a path, or 2. I can add a separate path if the application requires it to be a known environment variable.

1:
Adding the path my /etc/profile now sez:
PATH=/bin:/sbin:/usr/sbin:/opt:/usr/lib/netscape
export PATH

or

2:
Adding the path my /etc/profile now sez:
PATH=/bin:/sbin:/usr/sbin:/opt
MOZILLA_HOME=/usr/lib/netscape
export PATH MOZILLA_HOME

Execute ". /etc/profile" after changing the path *should* make it work. If it still doesn't please post why you need it, that many be helpfull + errors, if any.

There is something I don't understand about adding to the PATH environment variable string:

Here's my /etc/profile:
if ! echo $PATH | /bin/grep -q "/usr/X11R6/bin" ; then PATH="$PATH:/USR/X11R6/bin"
fi
(export PATH, etc, follows)


I have added the following:
PATH=$PATH:/sbin

Then, after typing

# /etc/profile

(export PATH, etc, follows)

I type

# env

No change

I have followed an article in Linux magazine, and no matter what I try, the PATH does not change. I have followed the advice in this post by Unspawn (recommendation 1, only. Do not understand #2)
and nothing changes.

I would like to have /sbin/ in my PATH, because I use files that reside there often, and would rather not type /sbin/filename every time I need to use a file therein. I am also curious as to why this does not work for me

I'm not certain if I understand exactly what you want, but here goes.

I think this is what you want:


if ! echo $PATH | /bin/grep -q "/usr/X11R6/bin" ; then
PATH=$PATH:/usr/X11R6/bin
fi
PATH=$PATH:/sbin
export PATH



Then type in: . /etc/profile

Now note in the second line of /etc/profile that I deleted the double quotes and I changed USR to usr. I also placed the PATH=$PATH:/sbin before the export line. When you type in the line . /etc/profile , don't forget the period at the begining of the line and the period is followed by a space. This space is important. If it is not there, bash will create a subshell to execute the command and when the subshell is done, all the changes that were made will disappear with it. I hope this works. I've never tried this before. Good luck.

AHA!
The suggestion by linuxcool about about putting the space in the command '. /etc/profile' solved the problem of why the path was never changing. I was not typing the command correcly.

I was also confused by the fact that the PATH changes depending on whether a non-root user or root user is logged on.

Adding to the confusion is the fact that the PATH differs if I login as Root on the login screen or su from a terminal screen.

Some day I will understand this.

Glad to help.

Also, about logging in from a terminal screen or su to root. When you login from a terminal screen you'll get root's path. When su to root in a user's terminal, you'll get the user's path unless you enter the command su - . The hyphen will ensure that the user's path is changed to root's path. This means that you won't get the ' command not found error ' when trying to execute commands that only root can.