If you need to set variables to start the database, those should be in the init script for the database in /etc/init.d. The init scripts that Oracle supplies are pretty weak, and are not at all friendly to the standard initialization process. I posted a more sophisticated version of the Oracle startup scripts a while back when someone else had the problem. Take a look at the list archives for a copy. I think it was Ann Smith that asked the question -- I don't seem to have a copy locally.
Wrt to the client tools, the directory containing them needs to be added to the search path of the user running the tool. Putting the variable settings in a file in a common location (like /usr/local/etc/oracle) is a good place. You then include "source /usr/local/etc/oracle/orasetup" in the systemwide .profile, or in individual user's configuration. If you provide a central location and method for running the scripts rather than telling users what the settings are, you can change them later if you need to. > Or perhaps there is a third side to this. Is there an > automagical thingie that saves environment variables across > boots that is either triggered by, perhaps the export > command, or a file that is kept that sets these variables > "system wide" that the Oracle Install process might have changed? See above. > Or a final perhaps, that it is normal for a Linux systems > programmer (is there a systems programmer title in the Linux > world?), to just know that some things must be put in certain > files (.profile or .bashrc, or ...) and that because it is > normal, no one needs to document such actions? Yes. Just like you used to do on DOS -- you have to know to add the directories for stuff to your search path. > So far, the Oracle Discussion groups in the Oracle website, > doesn't seem to know much, yet). Which one? The Solaris one is pretty helpful. -- db ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For LINUX-390 subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the message: INFO LINUX-390 or visit http://www.marist.edu/htbin/wlvindex?LINUX-390
