During the login process, HP-UX prompts you for your user name and
password (if applicable) before displaying a shell prompt. HP-UX also
notes which shell you have selected to run, starts your shell process, and
sets up your environment referring to login scripts. A
login script is a file that lets you customize your environment.
A login script contains commands that let you define
your system environment. When you log in, default values are assigned
to environment variables. Login scripts provide an automatic way to
change the value of these variables every time you begin a session.
Two types of login scripts are used:
A system script for all users of a particular shell on your system or HP-UX cluster.
Local login scripts in your own home directory.
Typically, a system administrator maintains the system login scripts.
These scripts set up a default environment for everyone on that
system. The POSIX and Bourne Shells use a system login script named
/etc/profile.
Once your account is set up, you maintain the local login scripts in
your home directory. The local scripts allow you to set up an
environment specific to your needs. The Bourne Shell looks for one
script: .profile. The POSIX Shell uses two login scripts:
.profile and the one referred to by the ENV variable.
Default versions of the login scripts are placed in your home
directory when your account is set up.
Default versions are also in the /etc directory. For reference, the
default .profile script for the POSIX Shell is
/etc/skel/.profile.
Why Use Login Scripts? |
 |
Login scripts provide a convenient way to set up the shell environment
to suit individual needs. For example, the script can change the value
of the search path used to find commands, change the shell prompt, set
the terminal type, or simply cause the shell to greet you with a
friendly message of your choosing.
Customizing your login script is not required, and the login script your
system administrator provides should set up the most critical shell
parameters.
A Summary of Login Scripts |
|
The following table summarizes the login scripts for each shell. All
the scripts run when you first log in. For more information on the
POSIX, C, Key, and Bourne Shells, see the Shells: User's Guide.
Table 16-3 Shells and Their Login Scripts
|
Shell
| System Login Script
| Local Login Script |
|---|
| POSIX
| /etc/profile | $HOME/.profile |
| C
| /etc/csh.login |
$HOME/.cshrc
$HOME/.login
|
| Key
| /etc/profile | $HOME/.profile
$HOME/.keyshrc
$HOME/.softkeys
|
| /etc/profile | $HOME/.profile |
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