Configure Linux Environment Variables

Introduction

In this challenge, you will learn how to set up and manage environment variables in a Linux system as a junior system administrator. The goal is to create a permanent environment variable named PROJECT_DIR that points to the /home/labex/projects directory, and verify that the variable is correctly set and accessible in the current shell session.

Skills Graph

%%%%{init: {'theme':'neutral'}}%%%% flowchart RL linux(("Linux")) -.-> linux/BasicSystemCommandsGroup(["Basic System Commands"]) linux(("Linux")) -.-> linux/UserandGroupManagementGroup(["User and Group Management"]) linux/BasicSystemCommandsGroup -.-> linux/echo("Text Display") linux/BasicSystemCommandsGroup -.-> linux/source("Script Executing") linux/UserandGroupManagementGroup -.-> linux/export("Variable Exporting") subgraph Lab Skills linux/echo -.-> lab-437861{{"Configure Linux Environment Variables"}} linux/source -.-> lab-437861{{"Configure Linux Environment Variables"}} linux/export -.-> lab-437861{{"Configure Linux Environment Variables"}} end

Configure Linux Environment Variables

As a junior system administrator, you'll learn how to set up and manage environment variables in a Linux system to create a consistent development environment.

Tasks

Create a permanent environment variable named PROJECT_DIR that points to /home/labex/projects
Verify the environment variable is correctly set and can be accessed in the current shell session

Requirements

Use the export command to set the environment variable
Add the environment variable to the ~/.zshrc configuration file
Ensure the variable can be accessed by running echo $PROJECT_DIR
Work within the /home/labex directory

Examples

Example of a correctly set environment variable:

echo $PROJECT_DIR

PROJECT_DIR=/home/labex/projects

Hints

Remember to use export to create a permanent environment variable
Use source ~/.zshrc to reload the configuration file
Check the contents of the .zshrc file after modification

✨ Check Solution and Practice

Summary

In summary, this challenge focuses on teaching junior system administrators how to set up and manage environment variables in a Linux system. The key tasks include creating a permanent environment variable named PROJECT_DIR that points to the /home/labex/projects directory, and verifying that the variable is correctly set and accessible in the current shell session.