Environmental Variables

JNOS uses a few environment variables, two of them are required for the proper working of JNOS at all, a few are used if you compiled in the support for callbook CD's, and others are totally optional. Recall that environment variables are established by the DOS "set" command, typically in autoexec.bat, and have the syntax: set varname=value

Required Variables:

COMSPEC This DOS only variable specifies the command used upon escape from jnos.

TZ This is the TIME ZONE variable. It is used throughout the code to determine the proper time with respect to what the PC clock reports. You may wish to set your PC clock to UTC time, and then set TZ=GMT0. This is the simplest method, but it may be annoying to have to convert the time when looking at your status line, or when using other software than JNOS. A benefit is, you do not have to change anything when daylight savings comes in effect or stops. An alternate method requires you to set the true local time (and to modify your pc time when daylight savings becomes effective, since Borland C uses the USA rules for when daylight time starts and ends), and then set TZ following this scheme: TZ=aaabcddd aaa = SOLAR time zone name, e.g.: CET b = '+' or '-' see the following c = UTC - Localtime (solar). If the value is negative b='-' If the value is positive b='+' ddd = Daylight savings zone name, e.g.: CDT

TMP This is the TEMPORARY FILES directory for DOS platforms only [tbd]. JNOS puts some files it uses for various purposes (incoming mail, screen output when changing session, etc.) here. It is wise to set this to a directory that can be happily erased in case something goes wrong. Do not set TMP=c:\dos ! You would end up with a lot of rubbish. I personally have created a c:\temp directory and have TMP point there. It may be useful also to point TMP to a ramdrive if you have one in XMS or EMS memory, but it must be large enough to accommodate the space demands of JNOS work files. It should be at least twice as large as the biggest SMTP message you expect to receive. Also, don't forget to take into account that JNOS can be doing many tasks "simultaneously". If you do not define TMP, JNOS will store it's work files in the root directory.

Variables required by the callbook code:

QRZDRV The QRZ callbook server needs this variable to know where the CD is. For example: set QRZDRV=f:

QRZPATH Also needed for the QRZ callbook server, it should point to the directory (on QRZDRV) where the callbkc.idx and callbkc.dat files are. For example: set QRZPATH=\callbk

SAMAPI This is required by the SAM callbook code, and specifies the decimal integer value of the samapi tsr software's multiplex id. Example: set SAMAPI=98

Optional Variables:

TERM You can set the TERMINAL TYPE you want to be used for the rlogin client. Also the extended telnet options (not compiled in the standard distributions) use this variable. Example: set TERM=vt100

USER Sets the USER NAME default to be used in rlogin and ftp client connections by overriding default value. The Ident protocol also uses this variable to identify the console user. Example: set USER=ik5pvx

MSGUSER If you compiled in the mailmsg command, it will use this variable to form the From: field of the message. If undefined, it will use 'sysop'. Example: set MSGUSER=ik5pvx

NOSSYSOP, NOSPASSWD, NOSPATH, NOSPRIVS These are used to allow the sysop to login in case the ftpusers file gets corrupted. It is primarily useful in remote nodes where the sysop does not have access to the platform by another means such as ssh.

EnvironmentVars (last edited 2007-04-22 17:52:34 by GeorgeVerDuin)