cmd for identifying shell

[sjana]

Hello all,

what command is used to check in which shell we are working now.?

If i need to change the shell what steps need to be followed.

tar
siva

[Robert-Jan Goossens · Accepted solution]

Hi,

# echo $SHELL

# usermod -s "shell" user
or change the shell in the passwd file.

Regards,
Robert-Jan

[Chris Wilshaw]

To check your current shell

echo $SHELL

if you wish to change your default shell (the one from your entry in /etc/passwd)use the chsh command, then log out and back in to pick up the change

eg:

chsh user1 /usr/bin/ksh

If it's only the shell for your current session you wish to change use

exec NEW_SHELL

eg:

exec /usr/bin/ksh

One thing you should never do is change the default shell for the root from /sbin/sh, as this will cause you problems when you next reboot the server.

[HGN]

Hi

You can use

#echo $SHELL
/sbin/sh (This will tell which shell you are in)

Rgds

HGN

[RAC_1]

echo $$
echo $SHELL
look at /etc/passwd file
ps -f

[TwoProc]

sometimes - I'm not happy with what $SHELL tells me alone. At times I want to know what actual program name I'm running. So I use "echo $0" from shell.

[Tor-Arne Nostdal]

You didn't say if you wanted to change the shell permanent or if it was only for a "session" or in a script.

After login you could simply fork (start) a new shell.
So - if you have csh as a login shell, just type start ksh to enter korn-shell.

The chsh is for changing the login shell for a specific user permanent.
The file /etc/shells specifies which shells is allowed as login shells.

If you want to ensure running a script with a specific shell you should specify this in the first line of the shell.
Example: #!/bin/sh
This will remove the risk of having a script that fails if the login shell for the user changes.

/Tor-Arne

[Daniel Duarte]

Sjana

You only need use command:

# ps
PID TTY TIME COMMAND
29111 pts/2 0:00 ps
14504 pts/2 0:00 sh <----

In this case the shell used is bourne shell.