Setting Environment Variables

To start, stop, or access a database server, each user must set the appropriate environment variables. Some environment variables are required; others are optional.

To set the required environment variables

Set INFORMIXDIR to the directory where you installed the IBM Informix products.
Set the PATH environment variable to include $INFORMIXDIR/bin (UNIX) or %INFORMIXDIR%\bin (Windows).
Set INFORMIXSERVER to the name of the database server.

Tip:

Set the environment variables in the appropriate startup file for your shell file or Windows.

The IBM Informix Guide to SQL: Reference contains a complete list of environment variables. For information on how setting environment variables can affect performance, see your IBM Informix Dynamic Server Performance Guide.

Table 4 shows the environment variables that you must set before you access the database server or perform most administrative tasks.

Table 4. Required Environment Variables
Environment Variable	Description
CLASSPATH	If you are using J/Foundation, specifies the location of jvphome/krakatoa.jar file so that Java Development Kit (JDK) can compile the Java source files.
INFORMIXDIR	Specifies the directory where you installed your IBM Informix database server.
INFORMIXSERVER	Specifies the name of the default database server. It has the value specified for the DBSERVERNAME or DBSERVERALIASES configuration parameter.
JVPHOME	If you are using J/Foundation, specifies the directory where you installed the IBM Informix JDBC Driver.
ONCONFIG	Specifies the name of the active ONCONFIG file. All users who use database server utilities such as onstat must set the ONCONFIG environment variable. Users running client applications do not need to set the ONCONFIG environment variable. If the ONCONFIG environment variable is not present, the database server uses configuration values from the onconfig file: On UNIX: $INFORMIXDIR/etc/onconfig On Windows: %INFORMIXDIR%\etc\onconfig.std
PATH	Specifies the location of executable files. On UNIX: $INFORMIXDIR/bin On Windows: %INFORMIXDIR%\bin
TERM	Enables DB–Access to recognize and communicate with the terminal that you are using. This environment variable is not required for initialization or start up, but it must be set before you can run an application.
TERMCAP TERMINFO INFORMIXTERM	Specifies whether DB–Access should use the information in the termcap file or the terminfo directory. If required for your system, you might need assistance from the UNIX system administrator to set these variables because they are highly system dependent.

Table 4. Required Environment Variables

Environment Variable

Description

CLASSPATH

If you are using J/Foundation, specifies the location of jvphome/krakatoa.jar file so that Java Development Kit (JDK) can compile the Java source files.

INFORMIXDIR

Specifies the directory where you installed your IBM Informix database server.

INFORMIXSERVER

Specifies the name of the default database server. It has the value specified for the DBSERVERNAME or DBSERVERALIASES configuration parameter.

JVPHOME

If you are using J/Foundation, specifies the directory where you installed the IBM Informix JDBC Driver.

ONCONFIG

Specifies the name of the active ONCONFIG file. All users who use database server utilities such as onstat must set the ONCONFIG environment variable. Users running client applications do not need to set the ONCONFIG environment variable.

If the ONCONFIG environment variable is not present, the database server uses configuration values from the onconfig file:

On UNIX: $INFORMIXDIR/etc/onconfig

On Windows: %INFORMIXDIR%\etc\onconfig.std

PATH

Specifies the location of executable files.

On UNIX: $INFORMIXDIR/bin

On Windows: %INFORMIXDIR%\bin

TERM

Enables DB–Access to recognize and communicate with the terminal that you are using. This environment variable is not required for initialization or start up, but it must be set before you can run an application.

TERMCAP
TERMINFO
INFORMIXTERM

Specifies whether DB–Access should use the information in the termcap file or the terminfo directory. If required for your system, you might need assistance from the UNIX system administrator to set these variables because they are highly system dependent.

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