If your shell is tcsh, do chsh and enter /bin/bash for your new shell, then log off and come back. If don't like bash, try /bin/zsh. If you actually like tcsh, use setenv VARIABLE VALUE in place of export VARIABLE=VALUE. You need a remote control file. For simplicity, we're going to make your profile and your rc the same. In bash, do this: $ cd $ touch .bashrc $ ln -s .bashrc .bash_profile CCIS ..