# Setting JVM options

The preferred method of setting JVM options (including system properties and JVM flags) is via the  `SO_JAVA_OPTS` environment variable. For instance:

```
export SO_JAVA_OPTS="$SO_JAVA_OPTS -Djava.io.tmpdir=/path/to/temp/dir"
./bin/startup
```

When using the RPM or Debian packages, `SO_JAVA_OPTS` can be specified in the system configuration file.