+Before you start to build RRDtool, you have to decide two things:
+
+=over
+
+=item 1.
+
+In which directory you want to build the software.
+
+=item 2.
+
+Where you want to install the software.
+
+=back
+
+Once you have decided. Save the two locations into environment variables.
+Depending on the shell you are using, you can do either (bash,zsh):
+
+ BUILD_DIR=/tmp/rrdbuild
+ INSTALL_DIR=/usr/local/rrdtool-1.2.12
+
+Or if you run tcsh:
+
+ set BUILD_DIR=/tmp/rrdbuild
+ set INSTALL_DIR=/usr/local/rrdtool-1.2.12
+
+Now make sure the BUILD_DIR exists and go there:
+
+ mkdir -p $BUILD_DIR
+ cd $BUILD_DIR
+