---
name: "rabbitmq-env.conf"
section: "5"
platform: "linux"
package: "rabbitmq"
version: "4.3.6-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/rabbitmq-env.conf"
---

# rabbitmq-env.conf(5)

environment variables used by RabbitMQ server

## NAME

**rabbitmq-env.conf** – environment variables used by RabbitMQ server

## DESCRIPTION

**rabbitmq-env.conf** contains environment variables that override the defaults built in to the RabbitMQ scripts and CLI tools.

The file is interpreted by the system shell, and so should consist of a sequence of shell environment variable definitions. Normal shell syntax is permitted (since the file is sourced using the shell "." operator), including line comments starting with "#".

In order of preference, the startup scripts get their values from the environment, from **rabbitmq-env.conf** and finally from the built-in default values. For example, for the RABBITMQ\_NODENAME setting, RABBITMQ\_NODENAME from the environment is checked first. If it is absent or equal to the empty string, then NODENAME from **rabbitmq-env.conf** is checked. If it is also absent or set equal to the empty string then the default value from the startup script is used.

The variable names in **rabbitmq-env.conf** are always equal to the environment variable names, with the "RABBITMQ\_" prefix removed: RABBITMQ\_NODE\_PORT from the environment becomes NODE\_PORT in **rabbitmq-env.conf**.

## EXAMPLES

Below is an example of a minimalistic **rabbitmq-env.conf** file that overrides the default node name prefix from "rabbit" to "hare".

```
# I am a complete rabbitmq-env.conf file.
```

```
# Comment lines start with a hash character.
```

```
# This is a /bin/sh script file - use ordinary envt var syntax
```

```
NODENAME=hare
```

In the below **rabbitmq-env.conf** file RabbitMQ configuration file location is changed to "/data/services/rabbitmq/rabbitmq.conf".

```
# I am a complete rabbitmq-env.conf file.
```

```
# Comment lines start with a hash character.
```

```
# This is a /bin/sh script file - use ordinary envt var syntax
```

```
CONFIG_FILE=/data/services/rabbitmq/rabbitmq.conf
```

## SEE ALSO

[rabbitmq-plugins(8)](/rabbitmq-plugins/8.md), [rabbitmq-server(8)](/rabbitmq-server/8.md), [rabbitmq-queues(8)](/rabbitmq-queues/8.md), [rabbitmq-streams(8)](/rabbitmq-streams/8.md), [rabbitmq-upgrade(8)](/rabbitmq-upgrade/8.md), [rabbitmqctl(8)](/rabbitmqctl/8.md)

## AUTHOR

The RabbitMQ Team ⟨*contact-tanzu-data.pdl@broadcom.com*⟩