hi, i'm trying to find out where in the rc.sysinit the path variable is set.

If its not in there, just add it eg: # Set the path PATH=/bin:/sbin:/usr/bin:/usr/sbin export PATH

I'm looking to modify the rc.sysinit file and according to the HOWTO document I'm supposed to add it just after where the path is set in the rc.sysinit file but i can't seem to find it. there is no set path... in the file

Looking at my rc.sysinit, the path statement comes in right towards the top: #!/bin/bash # # /etc/rc.d/rc.sysinit - run once at boot time # # Taken in part from Miquel van Smoorenburg's bcheckrc. # # Rerun ourselves through initlog if [ -z "$IN_INITLOG" -a -x /sbin/initlog ]; then exec /sbin/initlog $INITLOG_ARGS -r /etc/rc.d/rc.sysinit fi # Set the path PATH=/bin:/sbin:/usr/bin:/usr/sbin export PATH HOSTNAME=`/bin/hostname` if [ -f /etc/sysconfig/network ]; then . /etc/sysconfig/network else NETWORKING=no fi ...................... If you want to do a quick search of your /etc for files containing PATH: # grep PATH /etc/*

The only file in /etc that contains PATH is /etc/profile but I don't see that file being referenced in rc.sysinit.

That's the default profile for people logging on. Adding your path there may not work for your application if it needs to be run at boot. rc.sysinit is run on initialising the system (hence the name). I would suggest you try adding it in there like it is in mine listed above. if you are able to use your system OK, it must be storing the /bin, /sbin etc in the path somewhere else.