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javalinuxgoogle-compute-enginerhel7

export variable in google cloud instance rhel7

I created an instance from the RHEL7 image.

Installed java at /opt/jdk1.7 and edited /etc/enviroment to contain PATH=/opt/jdk1.7/bin:$PATH

Now performed a reboot.

Now when I try to login it allow to login using first part of email id then it ask for passpharse.

Now I am login as xyz.

Now I type java -version it gives me the correct version and also echo $PATH prints the correct path.

Now I switch to root using sudo su and whoami prints root and path get change and it does not cantain the java bin path in it.

How to export variables globally ?

PS: one strange thing is after i switch to root and again switch back to xyz. the path doesnt contain the path to java bin

Solution

  • Variable expansion does not work in /etc/environment. Only absolute value assignments can be put in this file. For e.g

    T1=hithere
T2=X-$T1

    after you reboot, 

    echo $T2

    would print X-$T1 , though T1's value would be set as intended.

    so put it in ~/.bashrc, ~/.profile, ~/.bash_profile, or /etc/profile etc