How to set env variable for all process?

Question

I'm working on Linux,

Can anybody please help me to set a env variable on Linux that will be available for all process running on the same machine?

FSMaxB · Answer 1 · 2012-10-04 07:58:49Z

up vote 0 down vote

You have to write the definition of your env variable into /etc/profile :

VARIABLE=content

If that doesn't work, you could try /etc/environment

answered Oct 4 '12 at 7:58

FSMaxB
64513

	That won't reach all processes, only those started from a users shell. – arkascha Oct 4 '12 at 8:00
	I added /etc/environment – FSMaxB Oct 4 '12 at 8:11
	Sounds better, though it depends on the PAM configuration. I wonder if it is possible to hand that environment variable to the init process. All other processes are started by that one, so they all inherit that variable. – arkascha Oct 4 '12 at 9:18

migrated from stackoverflow.com Oct 6 '12 at 7:05