man Bash now, but, any suggestions on what I should be looking for? Here's
what they look like:
# .bash_profile
Name of this file, which is only run, or "sourced", at login, so once per session.
# Get the aliases and functions if [ -f ~/.bashrc ]; then . ~/.bashrc fi
The above command checks to see if the file /root/.bashrc exists in the user's home directory, and runs the file if it exists. The .bashrc file can be unique for each user, so that individual users can customize their shells to their liking. Everytime you open a new shell, this file is run, unlike .bash_profile.
# User specific environment and startup programs PATH=$PATH:$HOME/bin
Change the $PATH variable so it includes everything it had before (possibly set by what is in .bash_profile) and add the path /root/bin to it (assuming you're trying to run as root). This would not work unless $HOME has a good value.
export PATH
This makes the PATH visible to child shells that might be forked off when you execute a command, etc.
unset USERNAME
This removes the value of the shell variable $USERNAME so it has no value.
# .bashrc # User specific aliases and functions alias rm='rm -i'
This alias replaces the 'rm' command with 'rm -i', so that root will always be prompted before removing any file. This is a safety precaution.
alias cp='cp -i' alias mv='mv -i'
Same deal for the copy and move commands. Since root can manipulate files for which he does not have explicit permission, he can do a lot of damage. These aliases try to give you a little protection in case a typo causes you to work on files you don't intend.
# Source global definitions if [ -f /etc/bashrc ]; then . /etc/bashrc fi
This looks for a copy of a .bashrc file in the /etc directory. The system administrator can use this file to set up shell-by-shell customizations that will take effect anytime a user starts a shell. If this kind of shell code is used in every user's .bashrc, it can let the administrator make everyone's shells work in a consistent, customized way.
-- Claude Jones Bluemont, VA, USA
Hope this helps. Write back for more, or contact me off list. Erik Hemdal
