The COM for Tru64 UNIX configuration file, /etc/dcomconfig, contains the COM environment variables and values that set the conditions for each COM application that starts on the Tru64 UNIX server. These conditions include the level of errors that get recorded, the location of the Registry, and the location of security password files. Utilities, such as ntd, use the values defined in dcomconfig and the absence of dcomconfig or erroneous settings can cause COM applications to fail.

During installation, the COM Setup configuration file establishes initial values for most of the environment variables. However, the System Administrator must add values for COOL_PAULA_DC_ADDRESS and COOL_PRIMARY_DOMAIN. The System Administrator must also create the paulad password file and ensure that the file's contents are the same as the password file on the NT machine.

There probably won't be much reason for you to change the dcomconfig file, but if you do, be aware that non-default settings can have unforeseen consequences.

To ensure that all users share the same environment variable settings, /etc/dcomconfig is installed under root ownership and permissions are set so that only the System Administrator has write access while all other users have read access. This prevents other users from changing dcomconfig to define an application-specific environment.

Table 10 contains a list of the COM configuration variables and the values established by the COM Setup configuration file at installation.