diff --git a/misc/build.func b/misc/build.func
index bc15bd0b7..7e8f8e7cb 100644
--- a/misc/build.func
+++ b/misc/build.func
@@ -480,9 +480,11 @@ advanced_settings() {
     APT_CACHER=""
     APT_CACHER_IP=""
   else
-    if APT_CACHER_IP=$(whiptail --backtitle "Proxmox VE Helper Scripts" --inputbox "Set APT-Cacher IP (leave blank for default)" 8 58 --title "APT-Cacher IP" 3>&1 1>&2 2>&3); then
+    if APT_CACHER_IP=$(whiptail --backtitle "Proxmox VE Helper Scripts" --inputbox "Set APT-Cacher IP (leave blank for default)" 8 58 $APT_CACHER_IP --title "APT-Cacher IP" 3>&1 1>&2 2>&3); then
       APT_CACHER="${APT_CACHER_IP:+yes}"
       echo -e "${NETWORK}${BOLD}${DGN}APT-Cacher IP Address: ${BGN}${APT_CACHER_IP:-Default}${CL}"
+	  add_proxmox_helper_scripts_env "APT_CACHER_IP" "${APT_CACHER_IP}"
+	  #Or we could call phs_validate_required_config if it's a mandatory variable
     else
       exit_script
     fi
@@ -591,6 +593,7 @@ install_script() {
   root_check
   arch_check
   ssh_check
+  read_proxmox_helper_scripts_env
 
   if systemctl is-active -q ping-instances.service; then
     systemctl -q stop ping-instances.service
@@ -858,3 +861,92 @@ EOF
     systemctl start ping-instances.service
   fi
 }
+
+
+
+# Set a global variable for the PHS environment file
+PVE_ENV="/etc/pve-helper-scripts.conf"
+
+# This function loads the environment file for common configuration in Proxmox-Helper-Scripts
+function read_proxmox_helper_scripts_env(){
+  #Check if file exists
+  if [ ! -f "$PVE_ENV" ]; then
+    msg_info "${BL}Creating Proxmox-Helper-Scripts configuration file.${CL}"
+    touch "$PVE_ENV"
+    chown root:root "$PVE_ENV"
+    chmod 0600 "$PVE_ENV"
+    msg_ok "${BL}Created Proxmox-Helper-Scripts configuration file.${CL}"
+  else
+    source "$PVE_ENV"
+  fi
+}
+
+# This function adds a variable to the Proxmox-Helper-Scripts config file
+function add_proxmox_helper_scripts_env(){
+  #check if first parameter was passed and it's an integer
+  if [ $# -ge 1 ] && [ ! -z "$1" ]; then
+    PHS_VAR_NAME=$1
+    DEFAULT_VALUE=""
+    if [ $# -ge 2 ] && [ ! -z "$2" ]; then
+      DEFAULT_VALUE=$2
+    fi
+    if PHS_VAR_VALUE=$(whiptail --backtitle "Proxmox VE Helper Scripts" --inputbox "Set value for environment variable $PHS_VAR_NAME" 8 58 $DEFAULT_VALUE --title "VALUE" 3>&1 1>&2 2>&3); then
+      if [ -z "$PHS_VAR_VALUE" ]; then
+        msg_error "Value cannot be empty!"
+        exit-script
+      fi
+      echo -e "${DGN}Setting Proxmox-Helper-Scripts Envrionment Variable $PHS_VAR_NAME: ${BGN}${PHS_VAR_VALUE}${CL}"
+      if [ $# -ge 3 ] && [ ! -z "$3" ] && [ "$3" == "PASSWORD" ]; then
+        PHS_VAR_VALUE=$(openssl passwd -1 ${PHS_VAR_VALUE})
+      fi
+      if grep -q "${PHS_VAR_NAME}=.*" "$PVE_ENV"; then
+        sed -i "s|${PHS_VAR_NAME}=.*|${PHS_VAR_NAME}='${PHS_VAR_VALUE}'|g" "$PVE_ENV"
+      else
+        echo "${PHS_VAR_NAME}='${PHS_VAR_VALUE}'" >> "$PVE_ENV"
+      fi
+    else
+      exit-script
+    fi
+  else
+    msg_error "You need to pass the variable name to set as the first parameter"
+    exit-script
+  fi
+  read_proxmox_helper_scripts_env
+}
+
+# This function adds an encrypted variable to the Proxmox-Helper-Scripts config file by passing the right arguments to add_proxmox_helper_scripts_env()
+function add_proxmox_helper_scripts_env_password(){
+  if [ $# -ge 2 ] && [ ! -z "$1" ] && [ ! -z "$2" ]; then
+    add_proxmox_helper_scripts_env $1 $2 "PASSWORD"
+  elif [ $# -ge 1 ] && [ ! -z "$1" ]; then
+    add_proxmox_helper_scripts_env $1 "" "PASSWORD"
+  else
+    msg_error "You need to pass the variable name to set as the first parameter"
+    exit-script
+  fi
+}
+
+# This function tests all enabled Proxmox-Helper-Scripts environment variable needed to build the container and prompts the user to create them if missing
+# Useful when multiple environment variables are required to enable a configuration, like a username and a password
+function phs_validate_required_config(){
+  # These are example of potential required configs
+  # If the user specifies the use of APT_CACHER, then make sure to save the APT_CACHER_IP and reuse it
+  # We might not actually need this if nothing is required
+  if [ ! -z ${APT_CACHER+x} ] && [[ "${APT_CACHER}" == "yes" ]]; then
+    if [ -z ${APT_CACHER_IP+x} ]; then
+      msg_error "Missing proxmox-helper-scripts environment variables: APT_CACHER, APT_CACHER_IP"
+      add_proxmox_helper_scripts_env "APT_CACHER" "yes"
+      add_proxmox_helper_scripts_env "APT_CACHER_IP"
+    fi
+  fi
+
+  # Another example with username/password (encrypted)
+  # These variables don't exist in the main repo, only in my fork, but it gives you an idea of how it could work
+  if [ ! -z ${ADD_SSH_USER+x} ] && [[ "${ADD_SSH_USER}" == "yes" ]]; then
+    if [ -z ${SSH_USER+x} ] || [ -z ${SSH_PASSWORD+x} ]; then
+      msg_error "Missing proxmox-helper-scripts environment variables: SSH_USER, SSH_PASSWORD"
+      add_proxmox_helper_scripts_env "SSH_USER" "admin"
+      add_proxmox_helper_scripts_env_password "SSH_PASSWORD"
+    fi
+  fi
+}
\ No newline at end of file