When user log into the machine and open a console, either working directly on the pc or in remote, a series of scripts is executed depending on shell the user is using. This scripts are a good place to store those settings you would like all users to have (like a basic path, or the directories for the manuals, etc.). On all of the machines there is a centralized version of these scripts. In fact, they should reside under /etc but there there is a link, on all the machines, to the relative files under /usrlocal/etc. The links are the following:
Which scripts and in which order they are called depends on the shell type:
Therefore, if you want to modify the general behaviour of all the users shell (for example after installing a new application) there is the place to look to.
Last Revised: 27 May 2003
Riccardo Serafin