man/man9/sysctl.9

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.Dd December 2, 2019
.Dt SYSCTL 9
.Os
.Sh NAME
.Nm SYSCTL_BIT32 ,
.Nm SYSCTL_BIT64 ,
.Nm SYSCTL_DECL ,
.Nm SYSCTL_INT ,
.Nm SYSCTL_LONG ,
.Nm SYSCTL_QUAD ,
.Nm SYSCTL_NODE ,
.Nm SYSCTL_OPAQUE ,
.Nm SYSCTL_PROC ,
.Nm SYSCTL_S8 ,
.Nm SYSCTL_S16 ,
.Nm SYSCTL_S32 ,
.Nm SYSCTL_S64 ,
.Nm SYSCTL_STRING ,
.Nm SYSCTL_STRUCT ,
.Nm SYSCTL_U8 ,
.Nm SYSCTL_U16 ,
.Nm SYSCTL_U32 ,
.Nm SYSCTL_U64 ,
.Nm SYSCTL_UINT ,
.Nm SYSCTL_ULONG ,
.Nm SYSCTL_UQUAD
.Nd Static sysctl declaration functions
.Sh SYNOPSIS
.In sys/types.h
.In sys/sysctl.h
.Fo SYSCTL_BIT32
.Fa "parent"
.Fa "nbr"
.Fa "name"
.Fa "access"
.Fa "ptr"
.Fa "val"
.Fa "bit"
.Fa "descr"
.Fc
.Fo SYSCTL_BIT64
.Fa "parent"
.Fa "nbr"
.Fa "name"
.Fa "access"
.Fa "ptr"
.Fa "val"
.Fa "bit"
.Fa "descr"
.Fc
.Fo SYSCTL_DECL
.Fa "name"
.Fc
.Fo SYSCTL_INT
.Fa "parent"
.Fa "nbr"
.Fa "name"
.Fa "access"
.Fa "ptr"
.Fa "val"
.Fa "descr"
.Fc
.Fo SYSCTL_LONG
.Fa "parent"
.Fa "nbr"
.Fa "name"
.Fa "access"
.Fa "ptr"
.Fa "val"
.Fa "descr"
.Fc
.Fo SYSCTL_NODE
.Fa "parent"
.Fa "nbr"
.Fa "name"
.Fa "access"
.Fa "handler"
.Fa "descr"
.Fc
.Fo SYSCTL_OPAQUE
.Fa "parent"
.Fa "nbr"
.Fa "name"
.Fa "access"
.Fa "ptr"
.Fa "len"
.Fa "fmt"
.Fa "descr"
.Fc
.Fo SYSCTL_PROC
.Fa "parent"
.Fa "nbr"
.Fa "name"
.Fa "access"
.Fa "ptr"
.Fa "arg"
.Fa "handler"
.Fa "fmt"
.Fa "descr"
.Fc
.Fo SYSCTL_QUAD
.Fa "parent"
.Fa "nbr"
.Fa "name"
.Fa "access"
.Fa "ptr"
.Fa "val"
.Fa "descr"
.Fc
.Fo SYSCTL_S8
.Fa "parent"
.Fa "number"
.Fa "name"
.Fa "access"
.Fa "ptr"
.Fa "val"
.Fa "descr"
.Fc
.Fo SYSCTL_S16
.Fa "parent"
.Fa "number"
.Fa "name"
.Fa "access"
.Fa "ptr"
.Fa "val"
.Fa "descr"
.Fc
.Fo SYSCTL_S32
.Fa "parent"
.Fa "number"
.Fa "name"
.Fa "access"
.Fa "ptr"
.Fa "val"
.Fa "descr"
.Fc
.Fo SYSCTL_S64
.Fa "parent"
.Fa "number"
.Fa "name"
.Fa "access"
.Fa "ptr"
.Fa "val"
.Fa "descr"
.Fc
.Fo SYSCTL_STRING
.Fa "parent"
.Fa "nbr"
.Fa "name"
.Fa "access"
.Fa "arg"
.Fa "len"
.Fa "descr"
.Fc
.Fo SYSCTL_STRUCT
.Fa "parent"
.Fa "nbr"
.Fa "name"
.Fa "access"
.Fa "ptr"
.Fa "type"
.Fa "descr"
.Fc
.Fo SYSCTL_U8
.Fa "parent"
.Fa "number"
.Fa "name"
.Fa "access"
.Fa "ptr"
.Fa "val"
.Fa "descr"
.Fc
.Fo SYSCTL_U16
.Fa "parent"
.Fa "number"
.Fa "name"
.Fa "access"
.Fa "ptr"
.Fa "val"
.Fa "descr"
.Fc
.Fo SYSCTL_U32
.Fa "parent"
.Fa "number"
.Fa "name"
.Fa "access"
.Fa "ptr"
.Fa "val"
.Fa "descr"
.Fc
.Fo SYSCTL_U64
.Fa "parent"
.Fa "number"
.Fa "name"
.Fa "access"
.Fa "ptr"
.Fa "val"
.Fa "descr"
.Fc
.Fo SYSCTL_UINT
.Fa "parent"
.Fa "nbr"
.Fa "name"
.Fa "access"
.Fa "ptr"
.Fa "val"
.Fa "descr"
.Fc
.Fo SYSCTL_ULONG
.Fa "parent"
.Fa "nbr"
.Fa "name"
.Fa "access"
.Fa "ptr"
.Fa "val"
.Fa "descr"
.Fc
.Fo SYSCTL_UQUAD
.Fa "parent"
.Fa "nbr"
.Fa "name"
.Fa "access"
.Fa "ptr"
.Fa "val"
.Fa "descr"
.Fc
.Sh DESCRIPTION
The
.Nm
kernel interfaces allow code to statically declare
.Xr sysctl 8
MIB entries, which will be initialized when the kernel module containing the
declaration is initialized.
When the module is unloaded, the sysctl will be automatically destroyed.
.Pp
Sysctl nodes are created in a hierarchical tree, with all static nodes being
represented by named C data structures; in order to create a new node under
an existing node in the tree, the structure representing the desired parent
node must be declared in the current context using
.Fn SYSCTL_DECL .
.Pp
New nodes are declared using one of
.Nm SYSCTL_BIT32 ,
.Nm SYSCTL_BIT64 ,
.Nm SYSCTL_INT ,
.Nm SYSCTL_LONG ,
.Nm SYSCTL_QUAD ,
.Nm SYSCTL_NODE ,
.Nm SYSCTL_OPAQUE ,
.Nm SYSCTL_PROC ,
.Nm SYSCTL_S8 ,
.Nm SYSCTL_S16 ,
.Nm SYSCTL_S32 ,
.Nm SYSCTL_S64 ,
.Nm SYSCTL_STRING ,
.Nm SYSCTL_STRUCT ,
.Nm SYSCTL_U8 ,
.Nm SYSCTL_U16 ,
.Nm SYSCTL_U32 ,
.Nm SYSCTL_U64 ,
.Nm SYSCTL_UINT ,
.Nm SYSCTL_ULONG ,
and
.Nm SYSCTL_UQUAD .
Each macro accepts a parent name, as declared using
.Nm SYSCTL_DECL ,
an OID number, typically
.Dv OID_AUTO ,
a node name, a set of control and access flags, and a description.
Depending on the macro, a pointer to a variable supporting the MIB entry, a
size, a value, and a function pointer implementing the MIB entry may also be
present.
.Pp
For most of the above macros, declaring a type as part of the access flags is
not necessary -- however, when declaring a sysctl implemented by a function,
including a type in the access mask is required:
.Bl -tag -width ".Dv CTLTYPE_STRING"
.It Dv CTLTYPE_NODE
This is a node intended to be a parent for other nodes.
.It Dv CTLTYPE_INT
This is a signed integer.
.It Dv CTLTYPE_S8
This is an 8-bit signed integer.
.It Dv CTLTYPE_S16
This is a 16-bit signed integer.
.It Dv CTLTYPE_S32
This is a 32-bit signed integer.
.It Dv CTLTYPE_S64
This is a 64-bit signed integer.
.It Dv CTLTYPE_STRING
This is a nul-terminated string stored in a character array.
.It Dv CTLTYPE_QUAD
This is a 64-bit signed integer.
.It Dv CTLTYPE_OPAQUE
This is an opaque data structure.
.It Dv CTLTYPE_STRUCT
Alias for
.Dv CTLTYPE_OPAQUE .
.It Dv CTLTYPE_U8
This is an 8-bit unsigned integer.
.It Dv CTLTYPE_U16
This is a 16-bit unsigned integer.
.It Dv CTLTYPE_U32
This is a 32-bit unsigned integer.
.It Dv CTLTYPE_U64
This is a 64-bit unsigned integer.
.It Dv CTLTYPE_UINT
This is an unsigned integer.
.It Dv CTLTYPE_LONG
This is a signed long.
.It Dv CTLTYPE_ULONG
This is an unsigned long.
.It Dv CTLTYPE_UQUAD
This is a 64-bit unsigned integer.
.El
.Pp
All sysctl types except for new node declarations require one or more flags
to be set indicating the read and write disposition of the sysctl:
.Bl -tag -width ".Dv CTLFLAG_ANYBODY"
.It Dv CTLFLAG_RD
This is a read-only sysctl.
.It Dv CTLFLAG_WR
This is a writable sysctl.
.It Dv CTLFLAG_RW
This sysctl is readable and writable.
.It Dv CTLFLAG_ANYBODY
Any user or process can write to this sysctl.
.It Dv CTLFLAG_SECURE
This sysctl can be written to only if the effective securelevel of the
process is <= 0.
.It Dv CTLFLAG_PRISON
This sysctl can be written to by processes in
.Xr jail 2 .
.\".It Dv CTLFLAG_SKIP
.\"When iterating the sysctl name space, do not list this sysctl.
.El
.Pp
When creating new sysctls, careful attention should be paid to the security
implications of the monitoring or management interface being created.
Most sysctls present in the kernel are read-only or writable only by the
superuser.
Sysctls exporting extensive information on system data structures and
operation, especially those implemented using procedures, will wish to
implement access control to limit the undesired exposure of information about
other processes, network connections, etc.
.Pp
The following top level sysctl name spaces are commonly used:
.Bl -tag -width ".Va machdep"
.It Va compat
Compatibility layer information.
.It Va debug
Debugging information.
Various name spaces exist under
.Va debug .
.It Va hw
Hardware and device driver information.
.It Va lwkt
Information about the LWKT subsystem.
.It Va kern
Kernel behavior tuning; generally deprecated in favor of more specific
name spaces.
.It Va machdep
Machine-dependent configuration parameters.
.It Va net
Network subsystem.
Various protocols have name spaces under
.Va net .
.It Va sysctl
Reserved name space for the implementation of sysctl.
.It Va user
Configuration settings relating to user application behavior.
Generally, configuring applications using kernel sysctls is discouraged.
.It Va vfs
Virtual file system configuration and information.
.It Va vm
Virtual memory subsystem configuration and information.
.El
.Sh EXAMPLES
Sample use of
.Nm SYSCTL_DECL
to declare the "machdep" sysctl tree for use by new nodes:
.Bd -literal -offset indent
SYSCTL_DECL(_machdep);
.Ed
.Pp
Examples of integer, opaque, string, and procedure sysctls follow:
.Bd -literal -offset indent
/*
 * Example of a constant integer value.  Notice that the control
 * flags are CTLFLAG_RD, the variable pointer is NULL, and the
 * value is declared.
 */
SYSCTL_INT(_debug_sizeof, OID_AUTO, bio, CTLFLAG_RD, NULL,
    sizeof(struct bio), "sizeof(struct bio)");

/*
 * Example of a variable integer value.  Notice that the control
 * flags are CTLFLAG_RW, the variable pointer is set, and the
 * value is 0.
 */
static int	doingcache = 1;		/* 1 => enable the cache */
SYSCTL_INT(_debug, OID_AUTO, vfscache, CTLFLAG_RW, &doingcache, 0,
    "Enable name cache");

/*
 * Example of a variable string value.  Notice that the control
 * flags are CTLFLAG_RW, that the variable pointer and string
 * size are set.  Unlike newer sysctls, this older sysctl uses a
 * static oid number.
 */
char kernelname[MAXPATHLEN] = "/boot/kernel";	/* XXX bloat */
SYSCTL_STRING(_kern, KERN_BOOTFILE, bootfile, CTLFLAG_RW,
    kernelname, sizeof(kernelname), "Name of kernel file booted");

/*
 * Example of an opaque data type exported by sysctl.  Notice that
 * the variable pointer and size are provided, as well as a format
 * string for sysctl(8).
 */
static l_fp pps_freq;	/* scaled frequency offset (ns/s) */
SYSCTL_OPAQUE(_kern_ntp_pll, OID_AUTO, pps_freq, CTLFLAG_RD,
    &pps_freq, sizeof(pps_freq), "I", "");

/*
 * Example of a procedure based sysctl exporting string
 * information.  Notice that the data type is declared, the NULL
 * variable pointer and 0 size, the function pointer, and the
 * format string for sysctl(8).
 */
SYSCTL_PROC(_kern, OID_AUTO, msgbuf, CTLTYPE_STRING | CTLFLAG_RD,
    0, 0, sysctl_kern_msgbuf, "A", "Contents of kernel message buffer");
.Ed
.Pp
When adding, modifying, or removing sysctl names, it is important to be
aware that these interfaces may be used by users, libraries, applications,
or documentation (such as published books), and are implicitly published
application interfaces.
As with other application interfaces, caution must be taken not to break
existing applications, and to think about future use of new name spaces so as
to avoid the need to rename or remove interfaces that might be depended on in
the future.
.Sh SEE ALSO
.Xr sysctl 8 ,
.Xr sysctl_add_oid 9 ,
.Xr sysctl_ctx_free 9 ,
.Xr sysctl_ctx_init 9 ,
.Xr sysctl_remove_oid 9
.Sh HISTORY
.Xr sysctl 8
first appeared in
.Bx 4.4 .
.Sh AUTHORS
.An -nosplit
The sysctl implementation originally found in
.Bx
has been extensively rewritten by
.An Poul-Henning Kamp
in order to add support for name lookups, name space iteration, and dynamic
addition of MIB nodes.
.Pp
This man page was written by
.An Robert N. M. Watson .