# environment - the environment variables config files - man(5) - [phpMan]

[_PAM_ENV.CONF_(5)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/PAMENV.CONF/5/markdown)                           Linux-PAM Manual                           [_PAM_ENV.CONF_(5)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/PAMENV.CONF/5/markdown)

## NAME
       pam_env.conf, environment - the environment variables config files

## DESCRIPTION
       The /etc/security/pam_env.conf file specifies the environment variables to be set, unset or
       modified by [**pam_env**(8)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/pamenv/8/markdown). When someone logs in, this file is read and the environment variables
       are set according.

       Each line starts with the variable name, there are then two possible options for each
       variable DEFAULT and OVERRIDE. DEFAULT allows an administrator to set the value of the
       variable to some default value, if none is supplied then the empty string is assumed. The
       OVERRIDE option tells pam_env that it should enter in its value (overriding the default
       value) if there is one to use. When OVERRIDE is not used, "" is assumed and no override will
       be done.

       _VARIABLE_ [_DEFAULT=[value]_] [_OVERRIDE=[value]_]

       (Possibly non-existent) environment variables may be used in values using the ${string}
       syntax and (possibly non-existent) PAM_ITEMs as well as HOME and SHELL may be used in values
       using the @{string} syntax. Both the $ and @ characters can be backslash escaped to be used
       as literal values values can be delimited with "", escaped " not supported. Note that many
       environment variables that you would like to use may not be set by the time the module is
       called. For example, ${HOME} is used below several times, but many PAM applications don't
       make it available by the time you need it. The special variables @{HOME} and @{SHELL} are
       expanded to the values for the user from his _passwd_ entry.

       The "_#_" character at start of line (no space at front) can be used to mark this line as a
       comment line.

       The /etc/environment file specifies the environment variables to be set. The file must
       consist of simple _NAME=VALUE_ pairs on separate lines. The [**pam_env**(8)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/pamenv/8/markdown) module will read the
       file after the pam_env.conf file.

## EXAMPLES
       These are some example lines which might be specified in /etc/security/pam_env.conf.

       Set the REMOTEHOST variable for any hosts that are remote, default to "localhost" rather than
       not being set at all

                 REMOTEHOST     DEFAULT=localhost OVERRIDE=@{PAM_RHOST}


       Set the DISPLAY variable if it seems reasonable

                 DISPLAY        DEFAULT=${REMOTEHOST}:0.0 OVERRIDE=${DISPLAY}


       Now some simple variables

                 PAGER          DEFAULT=less
                 MANPAGER       DEFAULT=less
                 LESS           DEFAULT="M q e h15 z23 b80"
                 NNTPSERVER     DEFAULT=localhost
                 PATH           DEFAULT=${HOME}/bin:/usr/local/bin:/bin\
                 :/usr/bin:/usr/local/bin/X11:/usr/bin/X11
                 XDG_DATA_HOME  DEFAULT=@{HOME}/share/


       Silly examples of escaped variables, just to show how they work.

                 DOLLAR         DEFAULT=\$
                 DOLLARDOLLAR   DEFAULT=        OVERRIDE=\$${DOLLAR}
                 DOLLARPLUS     DEFAULT=\${REMOTEHOST}${REMOTEHOST}
                 ATSIGN         DEFAULT=""      OVERRIDE=\@


## SEE ALSO
       [**pam_env**(8)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/pamenv/8/markdown), [**pam.d**(5)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/pam.d/5/markdown), [**pam**(7)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/pam/7/markdown), [**environ**(7)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/environ/7/markdown)

## AUTHOR
       pam_env was written by Dave Kinchlea <<kinch@kinch.ark.com>>.

Linux-PAM                                    05/07/2023                              [_PAM_ENV.CONF_(5)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/PAMENV.CONF/5/markdown)