Setting environment variable in Linux

The command is export

> export

will list all the variables already set. To actually set a variable the command will be like

> export JAVA_HOME=/usr/local/jdk1.5

If this variable is to persist for all users even after they logout add this command to /etc/profile file.

If the variable is to be set for only a particular user, add command to .bashrc file in user home directory.