sysprofile for Debian ---------------------- The package "sysprofile" represents an approach for a modular centralized configuration of the bash shell within a Debian Linux system. It's main component is the directory "/etc/sysprofile.d/" which contains small shell script modules executed at login. Each of the files in "/etc/sysprofile.d/" contains a small specific configuration setting item for either a single program or a specific environment variable. They are intended to split a monolithic "/etc/profile" into small independent components for a more flexible handling. E.g., by just dropping in scripts via a network connection without the need of having to start up an editor on every single remote host one can easily distribute changed configuration settings to a whole network. While some assorted sample shell script modules are provided as examples, the main accent lies on the implementation of a flexible modular mechanism instead of a specific but limited configuration setting which doesn't match anything but its author's own systems. The sysprofile mechanism appears to be quite usable and has actually been used successfully for more than a year. Please examine and test it closely before any serious use and share any criticism, corrections and hopefully additions with all of us. Especially nice would be the addition of somewhat equivalent settings for other shells like (t)csh, ksh or zsh, since this package primarily works for bash and has not been tested otherwise. If you need a similar mechanism for executing code at logout time please check out the related package "syslogout" by yours truly, which is a very close companion to "sysprofile". Debian package maintainers please note: --------------------------------------- Never *ever* rely on the existence of sysprofile on a system for your own Debian packages. The sysprofile mechanism is and should stay an optional tool for local sysadmins only. Massimo Dal Zotto has developed a similar package called "shellrc" which provides functionality not only for bash. It is hopefully still available from "http://www.cs.unitn.it/~dz/debian/". If you happen to become inspired enough to make something really useful out of this package i would be glad to hand over maintenance. I just tried to hack something i could use for my own purposes and because i didn't find anything equally simple to use. Paul Seelig , Mon, 01 Oct 2001 21:13:54 +0200