How to set environment variables in Ubuntu Linux

Here you can learn how to set up environment variables on Ubuntu.

Please follow the simple following steps:

1. Go to:

Applications > Accessories > Terminal

to open the terminal window.

2. You should take a back up of /etc/profile file. So write the commands:

sudo cp -p /etc/profile /etc/profile_backup

3. Now, to edit the /etc/profile file, write the following command in the terminal:

gksudo gedit /etc/profile

The file will be opened for editing.

4. You have to add one line at the end of the file. That line will tell the name of the variable and it's value.

Format for this command is:

export ENV_VARIABLE_NAME=VALUE

where ENV_VARIABLE_NAME is the name of the variable and VALUE is the value.

For example,

export JAVA_HOME=/mnt/F/ubuntu/j2sdk1.4.2_16

here /mnt/F/ubuntu/j2sdk1.4.2_16 - this path is the value of the variable JAVA_HOME.

5. Save your file and close it.

6. Restart your machine.

7. You can check if the value is properly set with these commands:

cd $JAVA_HOME
pwd