[K12OSN] the /etc/skel directory..

[dahopkins at comcast.net]

A way around the customization issue it to create .cshrc.pers in addition to the .cshrc (if using csh, change for .profile) in /etc/skel, then at the end of the .cshrc in /etc/skel include 

if (-f $HOME/.cshrc.pers) then
		source $HOME/.cshrc.pers
	endif

This is straight from our website: http://www.arl.hpc.mil/userservices/ibm_sp3.html  and we try to adhere to since it is possible for sysadmins to then push new .profile/.cshrc to all users without crushing user customizations.

Could still cause an issue with a "Reset Desktop" unless the reset script knows to move all the original (dot) files to .old . 

Sincerely,
Dave Hopkins






-------------- Original message -------------- 

> Well that's certainly worth knowing! 
> Makes setting up defaults a LOT easier at the beginning of the year =) 
> 
> --Huck 
> 
> Jim Kronebusch wrote: 
> 
> >>What is this and what purpose does it serve? 
> >>Are there tips'tricks that can be done here? 
> >> 
> >> 
> > 
> >When the home directory for a new user is created, it is initialized 
> >with files from the /etc/skel directory. The system administrator can 
> >create files in /etc/skel that will provide a nice default environment 
> >for users. For example, he might create a /etc/skel/.profile that sets 
> >the EDITOR environment variable to some editor that is friendly towards 
> >new users. 
> > 
> >However, it is usually best to try to keep /etc/skel as small as 
> >possible, since it will be next to impossible to update existing users' 
> >files. For example, if the name of the friendly editor changes, all 
> >existing users would have to edit their .profile . The system 
> >administrator could try to do it automatically, with a script, but that 
> >is almost certain going to break someone's file. 
> > 
> >Whenever possible, it is better to put global configuration into global 
> >files, such as /etc/profile . This way it is possible to update it 
> >without breaking users' own setups. 
> > 
> >As far as I know there are a lot of possible tricks with this directory. 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> 
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