Linux and Unix Shell Programming

Chapter 13. The login environment

When you log in to the system, before you are even presented with the command prompt, a couple of tasks happen. After you have typed in your login name and password, the system checks that you are indeed a valid user. It does this by checking the /etc/passwd file. If your login name is OK and the password you entered is valid, the next process can begin, which is your login environment.

In this chapter we will cover:

• the process of logging in;

• the /etc/profile;

• the $HOME.profile; and

• customizing your $HOME.profile.

Before we look at the next process let’s first look at the /etc/passwd file, which is a text file. You can alter any of the text fields including the password fields, so be careful. The passwd file contains ...