---
title: "Setting OpenStack environment variables"
description: "Find out how to set your environment variables to use the OpenStack API"
url: https://docs.ovhcloud.com/en/guides/public-cloud/cross-functional/compute-set-openstack-environment-variables
lang: en
lastUpdated: 2024-07-15
---
# Setting OpenStack environment variables

## Objective

By setting OpenStack environment variables on your desktop, you can use the OpenStack API to manage your infrastructure.

## Requirements

- An [OpenStack user account](/en/guides/public-cloud/cross-functional/create-and-delete-a-user.md)
- OpenStack [installed on your system](/en/guides/public-cloud/cross-functional/compute-prepare-openstack-api-environment.md)


***

### OVHcloud Control Panel Access

- **Direct link:** <ManagerLink to="/#/pci/projects">Public Cloud Projects</ManagerLink>
- **Navigation path:** <code className="action">Public Cloud</code> > Select your project

***


## Instructions

### Step 1: Retrieve the variables

To retrieve your environment variables, you can download the OpenRC file from the OpenStack user account you have created.

In the left-hand menu, click on `Users & Roles
` under **Settings**
. Next, click on the `...
` to the right of your user, then select `Download OpenStack's RC file
`.
![openstack-variables](/images/public-cloud/cross-functional/loading-openstack-environment-variables/download_rc_file.png)
An OpenRC file corresponds to a specific user and zone. You cannot manage multiple zones in the same file.

### Step 2: Set the variables

#### **On Linux**

- Open a terminal, or connect via the user who will be making the OpenStack API calls.
- Load the file’s contents in the current environment. You will then be prompted to enter the Horizon user password.

```bash
admin@remote_host:~$ source openrc.sh
Please enter your OpenStack Password:
```

As outlined in [this guide](/en/guides/public-cloud/cross-functional/create-and-delete-a-user.md), the password is only visible once — when it is created.

If you forget your password, you will need to reset it.

If the CLIs are already installed, check if they are working properly:

```bash
(env)$ openstack server list
+--------------------------------------+------------+--------+-----------------------------------------------+-----------+--------+
| ID                                   | Name       | Status | Networks                                      | Image     | Flavor |
+--------------------------------------+------------+--------+-----------------------------------------------+-----------+--------+
| 8d7c67c0-38e1-4091-88d5-c14844c1f455 | b2-7-gra11 | ACTIVE | Ext-Net=2001:xxxx:xxx:xxx::xxxx, xx.xxx.xx.xx | Debian 12 | b2-7   |
+--------------------------------------+------------+--------+-----------------------------------------------+-----------+--------+
```

#### **On Windows**

The OpenRC file is not designed to be launched on Windows.

There are two ways of setting environment variables:

- You will need to adapt the file by changing certain commands. The **export** part can be replaced with **set**:

```bash
set OS_PASSWORD="Your Horizon user password"
```

- You can set the variables directly via the system settings: Control Panel > System > Advanced System Properties > Environment Variables:

![public-cloud](/images/public-cloud/cross-functional/loading-openstack-environment-variables/pciopenstackvariables2.png)
## Go further

To learn how to use OpenStack: [OpenStack documentation](https://docs.openstack.org/)

Join our [community of users](https://community.ovhcloud.com/).