According to the bash manpage on RHEL5.4: Constants with a leading 0 are interpreted as octal numbers. A leading 0x or 0X denotes hexadecimal. Otherwise, numbers take the form [base#]n, where base is a decimal number between 2 and 64 representing the arithmetic base, and n is a number in that base. If base# is omit- ted, then base 10 is used. The digits greater than 9 are represented by the lowercase letters, the uppercase letters, @, and _, in that order. If base is less than or equal to 36, lowercase and uppercase letters may be used interchangeably to represent numbers between 10 and 35. However, I am running RHEL5.4 and can't duplicate your output with the commands you use. I am able to duplicate it when I enclose $D in $(( )). RHEL5.4: $ D=044 $ echo $D 044 $ echo $(( $D )) 36 $ D=08 $ echo $D 08 $ echo $(( $D )) bash: 08: value too great for base (error token is "08") RHEL4.8 behaves the same as your RHEL4 example despite the fact that the manpage says the same thing as the RHEL5.4 manpage. --Maarten > -----Original Message----- > From: redhat-list-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx [mailto:redhat-list- > bounces@xxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Glasgow, Steven Mr CIV USA TRADOC > Sent: Monday, January 03, 2011 11:27 AM > To: redhat-list@xxxxxxxxxx > Cc: Gach, Terry CIV USA TRADOC; Tkacheff CIV Jeffrey C > Subject: Strange assignment - new version (UNCLASSIFIED) > > Classification: UNCLASSIFIED > Caveats: NONE > > To anyone that can help, > > > Something has changed between RHEL 4.7 and RHEL 5.4... > > > RHEL 4.7: > > > @ D=44 ; echo $D returns 44 > @ D=044 ; echo $D returns 44 > @ D=08 ; echo $D returns 8 > > > RHEL 5.4: > > > @ D=44 ; echo $D returns 44 > @ D=044 ; echo $D returns 36 --- HUH? > @ D=08 ; echo $D returns @: Badly formed number --- HUH? > > > Seems to be an octal thing going on. Would anyone be able to shed some > light on this and how I might get 5.4 to act more like 4.7? > > Thanks in advance, > Steve > > > Classification: UNCLASSIFIED > Caveats: NONE > > > > -- > redhat-list mailing list > unsubscribe mailto:redhat-list-request@xxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe > https://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/redhat-list -- redhat-list mailing list unsubscribe mailto:redhat-list-request@xxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe https://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/redhat-list