xref: /freebsd/share/man/man9/sysctl.9 (revision 5ca8e32633c4ffbbcd6762e5888b6a4ba0708c6c)
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26.Dd September 1, 2020
27.Dt SYSCTL 9
28.Os
29.Sh NAME
30.Nm SYSCTL_DECL ,
31.Nm SYSCTL_ADD_BOOL ,
32.Nm SYSCTL_ADD_COUNTER_U64 ,
33.Nm SYSCTL_ADD_COUNTER_U64_ARRAY ,
34.Nm SYSCTL_ADD_INT ,
35.Nm SYSCTL_ADD_LONG ,
36.Nm SYSCTL_ADD_NODE ,
37.Nm SYSCTL_ADD_NODE_WITH_LABEL ,
38.Nm SYSCTL_ADD_OPAQUE ,
39.Nm SYSCTL_ADD_PROC ,
40.Nm SYSCTL_ADD_QUAD ,
41.Nm SYSCTL_ADD_ROOT_NODE ,
42.Nm SYSCTL_ADD_S8 ,
43.Nm SYSCTL_ADD_S16 ,
44.Nm SYSCTL_ADD_S32 ,
45.Nm SYSCTL_ADD_S64 ,
46.Nm SYSCTL_ADD_SBINTIME_MSEC ,
47.Nm SYSCTL_ADD_SBINTIME_USEC ,
48.Nm SYSCTL_ADD_STRING ,
49.Nm SYSCTL_ADD_CONST_STRING ,
50.Nm SYSCTL_ADD_STRUCT ,
51.Nm SYSCTL_ADD_TIMEVAL_SEC ,
52.Nm SYSCTL_ADD_U8 ,
53.Nm SYSCTL_ADD_U16 ,
54.Nm SYSCTL_ADD_U32 ,
55.Nm SYSCTL_ADD_U64 ,
56.Nm SYSCTL_ADD_UAUTO ,
57.Nm SYSCTL_ADD_UINT ,
58.Nm SYSCTL_ADD_ULONG ,
59.Nm SYSCTL_ADD_UMA_CUR ,
60.Nm SYSCTL_ADD_UMA_MAX ,
61.Nm SYSCTL_ADD_UQUAD ,
62.Nm SYSCTL_CHILDREN ,
63.Nm SYSCTL_STATIC_CHILDREN ,
64.Nm SYSCTL_NODE_CHILDREN ,
65.Nm SYSCTL_PARENT ,
66.Nm SYSCTL_BOOL ,
67.Nm SYSCTL_COUNTER_U64 ,
68.Nm SYSCTL_COUNTER_U64_ARRAY ,
69.Nm SYSCTL_INT ,
70.Nm SYSCTL_INT_WITH_LABEL ,
71.Nm SYSCTL_LONG ,
72.Nm sysctl_msec_to_ticks ,
73.Nm SYSCTL_NODE ,
74.Nm SYSCTL_NODE_WITH_LABEL ,
75.Nm SYSCTL_OPAQUE ,
76.Nm SYSCTL_PROC ,
77.Nm SYSCTL_QUAD ,
78.Nm SYSCTL_ROOT_NODE ,
79.Nm SYSCTL_S8 ,
80.Nm SYSCTL_S16 ,
81.Nm SYSCTL_S32 ,
82.Nm SYSCTL_S64 ,
83.Nm SYSCTL_SBINTIME_MSEC ,
84.Nm SYSCTL_SBINTIME_USEC ,
85.Nm SYSCTL_STRING ,
86.Nm SYSCTL_CONST_STRING ,
87.Nm SYSCTL_STRUCT ,
88.Nm SYSCTL_TIMEVAL_SEC ,
89.Nm SYSCTL_U8 ,
90.Nm SYSCTL_U16 ,
91.Nm SYSCTL_U32 ,
92.Nm SYSCTL_U64 ,
93.Nm SYSCTL_UINT ,
94.Nm SYSCTL_ULONG ,
95.Nm SYSCTL_UMA_CUR ,
96.Nm SYSCTL_UMA_MAX ,
97.Nm SYSCTL_UQUAD
98.Nd Dynamic and static sysctl MIB creation functions
99.Sh SYNOPSIS
100.In sys/param.h
101.In sys/sysctl.h
102.Fn SYSCTL_DECL name
103.Ft struct sysctl_oid *
104.Fo SYSCTL_ADD_BOOL
105.Fa "struct sysctl_ctx_list *ctx"
106.Fa "struct sysctl_oid_list *parent"
107.Fa "int number"
108.Fa "const char *name"
109.Fa "int ctlflags"
110.Fa "bool *ptr"
111.Fa "uint8_t val"
112.Fa "const char *descr"
113.Fc
114.Ft struct sysctl_oid *
115.Fo SYSCTL_ADD_COUNTER_U64
116.Fa "struct sysctl_ctx_list *ctx"
117.Fa "struct sysctl_oid_list *parent"
118.Fa "int number"
119.Fa "const char *name"
120.Fa "int ctlflags"
121.Fa "counter_u64_t *ptr"
122.Fa "const char *descr"
123.Fc
124.Ft struct sysctl_oid *
125.Fo SYSCTL_ADD_COUNTER_U64_ARRAY
126.Fa "struct sysctl_ctx_list *ctx"
127.Fa "struct sysctl_oid_list *parent"
128.Fa "int number"
129.Fa "const char *name"
130.Fa "int ctlflags"
131.Fa "counter_u64_t *ptr"
132.Fa "intmax_t len"
133.Fa "const char *descr"
134.Fc
135.Ft struct sysctl_oid *
136.Fo SYSCTL_ADD_INT
137.Fa "struct sysctl_ctx_list *ctx"
138.Fa "struct sysctl_oid_list *parent"
139.Fa "int number"
140.Fa "const char *name"
141.Fa "int ctlflags"
142.Fa "int *ptr"
143.Fa "int val"
144.Fa "const char *descr"
145.Fc
146.Ft struct sysctl_oid *
147.Fo SYSCTL_ADD_LONG
148.Fa "struct sysctl_ctx_list *ctx"
149.Fa "struct sysctl_oid_list *parent"
150.Fa "int number"
151.Fa "const char *name"
152.Fa "int ctlflags"
153.Fa "long *ptr"
154.Fa "const char *descr"
155.Fc
156.Ft struct sysctl_oid *
157.Fo SYSCTL_ADD_NODE
158.Fa "struct sysctl_ctx_list *ctx"
159.Fa "struct sysctl_oid_list *parent"
160.Fa "int number"
161.Fa "const char *name"
162.Fa "int ctlflags"
163.Fa "int (*handler)(SYSCTL_HANDLER_ARGS)"
164.Fa "const char *descr"
165.Fc
166.Ft struct sysctl_oid *
167.Fo SYSCTL_ADD_NODE_WITH_LABEL
168.Fa "struct sysctl_ctx_list *ctx"
169.Fa "struct sysctl_oid_list *parent"
170.Fa "int number"
171.Fa "const char *name"
172.Fa "int ctlflags"
173.Fa "int (*handler)(SYSCTL_HANDLER_ARGS)"
174.Fa "const char *descr"
175.Fa "const char *label"
176.Fc
177.Ft struct sysctl_oid *
178.Fo SYSCTL_ADD_OPAQUE
179.Fa "struct sysctl_ctx_list *ctx"
180.Fa "struct sysctl_oid_list *parent"
181.Fa "int number"
182.Fa "const char *name"
183.Fa "int ctlflags"
184.Fa "void *ptr"
185.Fa "intptr_t len"
186.Fa "const char *format"
187.Fa "const char *descr"
188.Fc
189.Ft struct sysctl_oid *
190.Fo SYSCTL_ADD_PROC
191.Fa "struct sysctl_ctx_list *ctx"
192.Fa "struct sysctl_oid_list *parent"
193.Fa "int number"
194.Fa "const char *name"
195.Fa "int ctlflags"
196.Fa "void *arg1"
197.Fa "intptr_t arg2"
198.Fa "int (*handler) (SYSCTL_HANDLER_ARGS)"
199.Fa "const char *format"
200.Fa "const char *descr"
201.Fc
202.Ft struct sysctl_oid *
203.Fo SYSCTL_ADD_QUAD
204.Fa "struct sysctl_ctx_list *ctx"
205.Fa "struct sysctl_oid_list *parent"
206.Fa "int number"
207.Fa "const char *name"
208.Fa "int ctlflags"
209.Fa "int64_t *ptr"
210.Fa "const char *descr"
211.Fc
212.Ft struct sysctl_oid *
213.Fo SYSCTL_ADD_ROOT_NODE
214.Fa "struct sysctl_ctx_list *ctx"
215.Fa "int number"
216.Fa "const char *name"
217.Fa "int ctlflags"
218.Fa "int (*handler)(SYSCTL_HANDLER_ARGS)"
219.Fa "const char *descr"
220.Fc
221.Ft struct sysctl_oid *
222.Fo SYSCTL_ADD_S8
223.Fa "struct sysctl_ctx_list *ctx"
224.Fa "struct sysctl_oid_list *parent"
225.Fa "int number"
226.Fa "const char *name"
227.Fa "int ctlflags"
228.Fa "int8_t *ptr"
229.Fa "int8_t val"
230.Fa "const char *descr"
231.Fc
232.Ft struct sysctl_oid *
233.Fo SYSCTL_ADD_S16
234.Fa "struct sysctl_ctx_list *ctx"
235.Fa "struct sysctl_oid_list *parent"
236.Fa "int number"
237.Fa "const char *name"
238.Fa "int ctlflags"
239.Fa "int16_t *ptr"
240.Fa "int16_t val"
241.Fa "const char *descr"
242.Fc
243.Ft struct sysctl_oid *
244.Fo SYSCTL_ADD_S32
245.Fa "struct sysctl_ctx_list *ctx"
246.Fa "struct sysctl_oid_list *parent"
247.Fa "int number"
248.Fa "const char *name"
249.Fa "int ctlflags"
250.Fa "int32_t *ptr"
251.Fa "int32_t val"
252.Fa "const char *descr"
253.Fc
254.Ft struct sysctl_oid *
255.Fo SYSCTL_ADD_S64
256.Fa "struct sysctl_ctx_list *ctx"
257.Fa "struct sysctl_oid_list *parent"
258.Fa "int number"
259.Fa "const char *name"
260.Fa "int ctlflags"
261.Fa "int64_t *ptr"
262.Fa "int64_t val"
263.Fa "const char *descr"
264.Fc
265.Ft struct sysctl_oid *
266.Fo SYSCTL_ADD_SBINTIME_MSEC
267.Fa "struct sysctl_ctx_list *ctx"
268.Fa "struct sysctl_oid_list *parent"
269.Fa "int number"
270.Fa "const char *name"
271.Fa "int ctlflags"
272.Fa "sbintime_t *ptr"
273.Fa "const char *descr"
274.Fc
275.Ft struct sysctl_oid *
276.Fo SYSCTL_ADD_SBINTIME_USEC
277.Fa "struct sysctl_ctx_list *ctx"
278.Fa "struct sysctl_oid_list *parent"
279.Fa "int number"
280.Fa "const char *name"
281.Fa "int ctlflags"
282.Fa "sbintime_t *ptr"
283.Fa "const char *descr"
284.Fc
285.Ft struct sysctl_oid *
286.Fo SYSCTL_ADD_STRING
287.Fa "struct sysctl_ctx_list *ctx"
288.Fa "struct sysctl_oid_list *parent"
289.Fa "int number"
290.Fa "const char *name"
291.Fa "int ctlflags"
292.Fa "char *ptr"
293.Fa "intptr_t len"
294.Fa "const char *descr"
295.Fc
296.Ft struct sysctl_oid *
297.Fo SYSCTL_ADD_CONST_STRING
298.Fa "struct sysctl_ctx_list *ctx"
299.Fa "struct sysctl_oid_list *parent"
300.Fa "int number"
301.Fa "const char *name"
302.Fa "int ctlflags"
303.Fa "const char *ptr"
304.Fa "const char *descr"
305.Fc
306.Ft struct sysctl_oid *
307.Fo SYSCTL_ADD_STRUCT
308.Fa "struct sysctl_ctx_list *ctx"
309.Fa "struct sysctl_oid_list *parent"
310.Fa "int number"
311.Fa "const char *name"
312.Fa "int ctlflags"
313.Fa "void *ptr"
314.Fa struct_type
315.Fa "const char *descr"
316.Fc
317.Ft struct sysctl_oid *
318.Fo SYSCTL_ADD_TIMEVAL_SEC
319.Fa "struct sysctl_ctx_list *ctx"
320.Fa "struct sysctl_oid_list *parent"
321.Fa "int number"
322.Fa "const char *name"
323.Fa "int ctlflags"
324.Fa "struct timeval *ptr"
325.Fa "const char *descr"
326.Fc
327.Ft struct sysctl_oid *
328.Fo SYSCTL_ADD_U8
329.Fa "struct sysctl_ctx_list *ctx"
330.Fa "struct sysctl_oid_list *parent"
331.Fa "int number"
332.Fa "const char *name"
333.Fa "int ctlflags"
334.Fa "uint8_t *ptr"
335.Fa "uint8_t val"
336.Fa "const char *descr"
337.Fc
338.Ft struct sysctl_oid *
339.Fo SYSCTL_ADD_U16
340.Fa "struct sysctl_ctx_list *ctx"
341.Fa "struct sysctl_oid_list *parent"
342.Fa "int number"
343.Fa "const char *name"
344.Fa "int ctlflags"
345.Fa "uint16_t *ptr"
346.Fa "uint16_t val"
347.Fa "const char *descr"
348.Fc
349.Ft struct sysctl_oid *
350.Fo SYSCTL_ADD_U32
351.Fa "struct sysctl_ctx_list *ctx"
352.Fa "struct sysctl_oid_list *parent"
353.Fa "int number"
354.Fa "const char *name"
355.Fa "int ctlflags"
356.Fa "uint32_t *ptr"
357.Fa "uint32_t val"
358.Fa "const char *descr"
359.Fc
360.Ft struct sysctl_oid *
361.Fo SYSCTL_ADD_U64
362.Fa "struct sysctl_ctx_list *ctx"
363.Fa "struct sysctl_oid_list *parent"
364.Fa "int number"
365.Fa "const char *name"
366.Fa "int ctlflags"
367.Fa "uint64_t *ptr"
368.Fa "uint64_t val"
369.Fa "const char *descr"
370.Fc
371.Ft struct sysctl_oid *
372.Fo SYSCTL_ADD_UINT
373.Fa "struct sysctl_ctx_list *ctx"
374.Fa "struct sysctl_oid_list *parent"
375.Fa "int number"
376.Fa "const char *name"
377.Fa "int ctlflags"
378.Fa "unsigned int *ptr"
379.Fa "unsigned int val"
380.Fa "const char *descr"
381.Fc
382.Ft struct sysctl_oid *
383.Fo SYSCTL_ADD_ULONG
384.Fa "struct sysctl_ctx_list *ctx"
385.Fa "struct sysctl_oid_list *parent"
386.Fa "int number"
387.Fa "const char *name"
388.Fa "int ctlflags"
389.Fa "unsigned long *ptr"
390.Fa "const char *descr"
391.Fc
392.Ft struct sysctl_oid *
393.Fo SYSCTL_ADD_UQUAD
394.Fa "struct sysctl_ctx_list *ctx"
395.Fa "struct sysctl_oid_list *parent"
396.Fa "int number"
397.Fa "const char *name"
398.Fa "int ctlflags"
399.Fa "uint64_t *ptr"
400.Fa "const char *descr"
401.Fc
402.Ft struct sysctl_oid *
403.Fo SYSCTL_ADD_UMA_CUR
404.Fa "struct sysctl_ctx_list *ctx"
405.Fa "struct sysctl_oid_list *parent"
406.Fa "int number"
407.Fa "const char *name"
408.Fa "int ctlflags"
409.Fa "uma_zone_t ptr"
410.Fa "const char *descr"
411.Fc
412.Ft struct sysctl_oid *
413.Fo SYSCTL_ADD_UMA_MAX
414.Fa "struct sysctl_ctx_list *ctx"
415.Fa "struct sysctl_oid_list *parent"
416.Fa "int number"
417.Fa "const char *name"
418.Fa "int ctlflags"
419.Fa "uma_zone_t ptr"
420.Fa "const char *descr"
421.Fc
422.Fa "const char *descr"
423.Ft struct sysctl_oid *
424.Fo SYSCTL_ADD_UAUTO
425.Fa "struct sysctl_ctx_list *ctx"
426.Fa "struct sysctl_oid_list *parent"
427.Fa "int number"
428.Fa "const char *name"
429.Fa "int ctlflags"
430.Fa "void *ptr"
431.Fa "const char *descr"
432.Fc
433.Ft struct sysctl_oid_list *
434.Fo SYSCTL_CHILDREN
435.Fa "struct sysctl_oid *oidp"
436.Fc
437.Ft struct sysctl_oid_list *
438.Fo SYSCTL_STATIC_CHILDREN
439.Fa "struct sysctl_oid_list OID_NAME"
440.Fc
441.Ft struct sysctl_oid_list *
442.Fo SYSCTL_NODE_CHILDREN
443.Fa "parent"
444.Fa "name"
445.Fc
446.Ft struct sysctl_oid *
447.Fo SYSCTL_PARENT
448.Fa "struct sysctl_oid *oid"
449.Fc
450.Fn SYSCTL_BOOL parent number name ctlflags ptr val descr
451.Fn SYSCTL_COUNTER_U64 parent number name ctlflags ptr descr
452.Fn SYSCTL_COUNTER_U64_ARRAY parent number name ctlflags ptr len descr
453.Fn SYSCTL_INT parent number name ctlflags ptr val descr
454.Fn SYSCTL_INT_WITH_LABEL parent number name ctlflags ptr val descr label
455.Fn SYSCTL_LONG parent number name ctlflags ptr val descr
456.Ft int
457.Fn sysctl_msec_to_ticks SYSCTL_HANDLER_ARGS
458.Fn SYSCTL_NODE parent number name ctlflags handler descr
459.Fn SYSCTL_NODE_WITH_LABEL parent number name ctlflags handler descr label
460.Fn SYSCTL_OPAQUE parent number name ctlflags ptr len format descr
461.Fn SYSCTL_PROC parent number name ctlflags arg1 arg2 handler format descr
462.Fn SYSCTL_QUAD parent number name ctlflags ptr val descr
463.Fn SYSCTL_ROOT_NODE number name ctlflags handler descr
464.Fn SYSCTL_S8 parent number name ctlflags ptr val descr
465.Fn SYSCTL_S16 parent number name ctlflags ptr val descr
466.Fn SYSCTL_S32 parent number name ctlflags ptr val descr
467.Fn SYSCTL_S64 parent number name ctlflags ptr val descr
468.Fn SYSCTL_SBINTIME_MSEC parent number name ctlflags ptr descr
469.Fn SYSCTL_SBINTIME_USEC parent number name ctlflags ptr descr
470.Fn SYSCTL_STRING parent number name ctlflags arg len descr
471.Fn SYSCTL_CONST_STRING parent number name ctlflags arg descr
472.Fn SYSCTL_STRUCT parent number name ctlflags ptr struct_type descr
473.Fn SYSCTL_TIMEVAL_SEC parent number name ctlflags ptr descr
474.Fn SYSCTL_U8 parent number name ctlflags ptr val descr
475.Fn SYSCTL_U16 parent number name ctlflags ptr val descr
476.Fn SYSCTL_U32 parent number name ctlflags ptr val descr
477.Fn SYSCTL_U64 parent number name ctlflags ptr val descr
478.Fn SYSCTL_UINT parent number name ctlflags ptr val descr
479.Fn SYSCTL_ULONG parent number name ctlflags ptr val descr
480.Fn SYSCTL_UQUAD parent number name ctlflags ptr val descr
481.Fn SYSCTL_UMA_MAX parent number name ctlflags ptr descr
482.Fn SYSCTL_UMA_CUR parent number name ctlflags ptr descr
483.Sh DESCRIPTION
484The
485.Nm SYSCTL
486kernel interface allows dynamic or static creation of
487.Xr sysctl 8
488MIB entries.
489All static sysctls are automatically destroyed when the module which
490they are part of is unloaded.
491Most top level categories are created statically and are available to
492all kernel code and its modules.
493.Sh DESCRIPTION OF ARGUMENTS
494.Bl -tag -width ctlflags
495.It Fa ctx
496Pointer to sysctl context or NULL, if no context.
497See
498.Xr sysctl_ctx_init 9
499for how to create a new sysctl context.
500Programmers are strongly advised to use contexts to organize the
501dynamic OIDs which they create because when a context is destroyed all
502belonging sysctls are destroyed as well.
503This makes the sysctl cleanup code much simpler.
504Else deletion of all created OIDs is required at module unload.
505.It Fa parent
506A pointer to a
507.Li struct sysctl_oid_list ,
508which is the head of the parent's list of children.
509This pointer is retrieved using the
510.Fn SYSCTL_STATIC_CHILDREN
511macro for static sysctls and the
512.Fn SYSCTL_CHILDREN
513macro for dynamic sysctls.
514The
515.Fn SYSCTL_PARENT
516macro can be used to get the parent of an OID.
517The macro returns NULL if there is no parent.
518.It Fa number
519The OID number that will be assigned to this OID.
520In almost all cases this should be set to
521.Dv OID_AUTO ,
522which will result in the assignment of the next available OID number.
523.It Fa name
524The name of the OID.
525The newly created OID will contain a copy of the name.
526.It Fa ctlflags
527A bit mask of sysctl control flags.
528See the section below describing all the control flags.
529.It Fa arg1
530First callback argument for procedure sysctls.
531.It Fa arg2
532Second callback argument for procedure sysctls.
533.It Fa len
534The length of the data pointed to by the
535.Fa ptr
536argument.
537For string type OIDs a length of zero means that
538.Xr strlen 3
539will be used to get the length of the string at each access to the OID.
540For array type OIDs the length must be greater than zero.
541.It Fa ptr
542Pointer to sysctl variable or string data.
543For sysctl values the pointer can be SYSCTL_NULL_XXX_PTR which means the OID is read-only and the returned value should be taken from the
544.Fa val
545argument.
546.It Fa val
547If the
548.Fa ptr
549argument is SYSCTL_NULL_XXX_PTR, gives the constant value returned by this OID.
550Else this argument is not used.
551.It Fa struct_type
552Name of structure type.
553.It Fa handler
554A pointer to the function
555that is responsible for handling read and write requests
556to this OID.
557There are several standard handlers
558that support operations on nodes,
559integers, strings and opaque objects.
560It is possible to define custom handlers using the
561.Fn SYSCTL_PROC
562macro or the
563.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_PROC
564function.
565.It Fa format
566A pointer to a string
567which specifies the format of the OID in a symbolic way.
568This format is used as a hint by
569.Xr sysctl 8
570to apply proper data formatting for display purposes.
571.Pp
572Current formats:
573.Bl -tag -width "S,TYPE" -compact -offset indent
574.It Cm N
575node
576.It Cm A
577.Li "char *"
578.It Cm C
579.Li "int8_t"
580.It Cm CU
581.Li "uint8_t"
582.It Cm I
583.Li "int"
584.It Cm IK Ns Op Ar n
585temperature in Kelvin, multiplied by an optional single digit
586power of ten scaling factor: 1 (default) gives deciKelvin, 0 gives Kelvin, 3
587gives milliKelvin
588.It Cm IU
589.Li "unsigned int"
590.It Cm L
591.Li "long"
592.It Cm LU
593.Li "unsigned long"
594.It Cm Q
595.Li "quad_t"
596.It Cm QU
597.Li "u_quad_t"
598.It Cm S
599.Li "int16_t"
600.It Cm SU
601.Li "uint16_t"
602.It Cm "S,TYPE"
603.Li "struct TYPE"
604structures
605.El
606.It Fa descr
607A pointer to a textual description of the OID.
608.It Fa label
609A pointer to an aggregation label for this component of the OID.
610To make it easier to export sysctl data to monitoring systems that
611support aggregations through labels (e.g., Prometheus),
612this argument can be used to attach a label name to an OID.
613The label acts as a hint that this component's name should not be part
614of the metric's name,
615but attached to the metric as a label instead.
616.Pp
617Labels should only be applied to siblings that are structurally similar
618and encode the same type of value,
619as aggregation is of no use otherwise.
620.El
621.Sh NODE VALUE TYPES
622Most of the macros and functions used to create sysctl nodes export a
623read-only constant or in-kernel variable whose type matches the type
624of the node's value.
625For example,
626.Fn SYSCTL_INT
627reports the raw value of an associated variable of type
628.Vt int .
629However, nodes may also export a value that is a translation of an internal
630representation.
631.Pp
632The
633.Fn sysctl_msec_to_ticks
634handler can be used with
635.Fn SYSCTL_PROC
636or
637.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_PROC
638to export a millisecond time interval.
639When using this handler,
640the
641.Fa arg2
642parameter points to an in-kernel variable of type
643.Vt int
644which stores a tick count suitable for use with functions like
645.Xr tsleep 9 .
646The
647.Fn sysctl_msec_to_ticks
648function converts this value to milliseconds when reporting the node's value.
649Similarly,
650.Fn sysctl_msec_to_ticks
651accepts new values in milliseconds and stores an equivalent value in ticks to
652.Fa *arg2 .
653Note that new code should use kernel variables of type
654.Vt sbintime_t
655instead of tick counts.
656.Pp
657The
658.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_SBINTIME_MSEC
659and
660.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_SBINTIME_USEC
661functions and
662.Fn SYSCTL_SBINTIME_MSEC
663and
664.Fn SYSCTL_SBINTIME_USEC
665macros all create nodes which export an in-kernel variable of type
666.Vt sbintime_t .
667These nodes do not export the raw value of the associated variable.
668Instead, they export a 64-bit integer containing a count of either
669milliseconds (the MSEC variants) or microseconds (the USEC variants).
670.Pp
671The
672.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_TIMEVAL_SEC
673function and
674.Fn SYSCTL_TIMEVAL_SEC
675macro create nodes which export an in-kernel variable of type
676.Vt struct timeval .
677These nodes do not export full value of the associated structure.
678Instead, they export a count in seconds as a simple integer which is
679stored in the
680.Fa tv_sec
681field of the associated variable.
682This function and macro are intended to be used with variables which
683store a non-negative interval rather than an absolute time.
684As a result, they reject attempts to store negative values.
685.Sh CREATING ROOT NODES
686Sysctl MIBs or OIDs are created in a hierarchical tree.
687The nodes at the bottom of the tree are called root nodes, and have no
688parent OID.
689To create bottom tree nodes the
690.Fn SYSCTL_ROOT_NODE
691macro or the
692.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_ROOT_NODE
693function needs to be used.
694By default all static sysctl node OIDs are global and need a
695.Fn SYSCTL_DECL
696statement prior to their
697.Fn SYSCTL_NODE
698definition statement, typically in a so-called header file.
699.Sh CREATING SYSCTL STRINGS
700Zero terminated character strings sysctls are created either using the
701.Fn SYSCTL_STRING
702macro or the
703.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_STRING
704function.
705If the
706.Fa len
707argument is zero, the string length is computed at every access to the OID using
708.Xr strlen 3 .
709Use the
710.Fn SYSCTL_CONST_STRING
711macro or the
712.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_CONST_STRING
713function to add a sysctl for a constant string.
714.Sh CREATING OPAQUE SYSCTLS
715The
716.Fn SYSCTL_OPAQUE
717or
718.Fn SYSCTL_STRUCT
719macros or the
720.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_OPAQUE
721or
722.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_STRUCT
723functions create an OID that handle any chunk of data
724of the size specified by the
725.Fa len
726argument and data pointed to by the
727.Fa ptr
728argument.
729When using the structure version the type is encoded as part of the
730created sysctl.
731.Sh CREATING CUSTOM SYSCTLS
732The
733.Fn SYSCTL_PROC
734macro and the
735.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_PROC
736function
737create OIDs with the specified
738.Pa handler
739function.
740The handler is responsible for handling all read and write requests to
741the OID.
742This OID type is especially useful if the kernel data is not easily
743accessible, or needs to be processed before exporting.
744.Sh CREATING A STATIC SYSCTL
745Static sysctls are declared using one of the
746.Fn SYSCTL_BOOL ,
747.Fn SYSCTL_COUNTER_U64 ,
748.Fn SYSCTL_COUNTER_U64_ARRAY ,
749.Fn SYSCTL_INT ,
750.Fn SYSCTL_INT_WITH_LABEL ,
751.Fn SYSCTL_LONG ,
752.Fn SYSCTL_NODE ,
753.Fn SYSCTL_NODE_WITH_LABEL ,
754.Fn SYSCTL_OPAQUE ,
755.Fn SYSCTL_PROC ,
756.Fn SYSCTL_QUAD ,
757.Fn SYSCTL_ROOT_NODE ,
758.Fn SYSCTL_S8 ,
759.Fn SYSCTL_S16 ,
760.Fn SYSCTL_S32 ,
761.Fn SYSCTL_S64 ,
762.Fn SYSCTL_SBINTIME_MSEC ,
763.Fn SYSCTL_SBINTIME_USEC ,
764.Fn SYSCTL_STRING ,
765.Fn SYSCTL_CONST_STRING ,
766.Fn SYSCTL_STRUCT ,
767.Fn SYSCTL_TIMEVAL_SEC ,
768.Fn SYSCTL_U8 ,
769.Fn SYSCTL_U16 ,
770.Fn SYSCTL_U32 ,
771.Fn SYSCTL_U64 ,
772.Fn SYSCTL_UINT ,
773.Fn SYSCTL_ULONG ,
774.Fn SYSCTL_UQUAD ,
775.Fn SYSCTL_UMA_CUR
776or
777.Fn SYSCTL_UMA_MAX
778macros.
779.Sh CREATING A DYNAMIC SYSCTL
780Dynamic nodes are created using one of the
781.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_BOOL ,
782.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_COUNTER_U64 ,
783.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_COUNTER_U64_ARRAY ,
784.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_INT ,
785.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_LONG ,
786.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_NODE ,
787.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_NODE_WITH_LABEL ,
788.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_OPAQUE ,
789.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_PROC ,
790.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_QUAD ,
791.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_ROOT_NODE ,
792.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_S8 ,
793.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_S16 ,
794.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_S32 ,
795.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_S64 ,
796.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_SBINTIME_MSEC ,
797.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_SBINTIME_USEC ,
798.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_STRING ,
799.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_CONST_STRING ,
800.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_STRUCT ,
801.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_TIMEVAL_SEC ,
802.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_U8 ,
803.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_U16 ,
804.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_U32 ,
805.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_U64 ,
806.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_UAUTO ,
807.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_UINT ,
808.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_ULONG ,
809.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_UQUAD ,
810.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_UMA_CUR
811or
812.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_UMA_MAX
813functions.
814See
815.Xr sysctl_remove_oid 9
816or
817.Xr sysctl_ctx_free 9
818for more information on how to destroy a dynamically created OID.
819.Sh CONTROL FLAGS
820For most of the above functions and macros, declaring a type as part
821of the access flags is not necessary \[em] however, when declaring a
822sysctl implemented by a function, including a type in the access mask
823is required:
824.Bl -tag -width ".Dv CTLTYPE_NOFETCH"
825.It Dv CTLTYPE_NODE
826This is a node intended to be a parent for other nodes.
827.It Dv CTLTYPE_INT
828This is a signed integer.
829.It Dv CTLTYPE_STRING
830This is a nul-terminated string stored in a character array.
831.It Dv CTLTYPE_S8
832This is an 8-bit signed integer.
833.It Dv CTLTYPE_S16
834This is a 16-bit signed integer.
835.It Dv CTLTYPE_S32
836This is a 32-bit signed integer.
837.It Dv CTLTYPE_S64
838This is a 64-bit signed integer.
839.It Dv CTLTYPE_OPAQUE
840This is an opaque data structure.
841.It Dv CTLTYPE_STRUCT
842Alias for
843.Dv CTLTYPE_OPAQUE .
844.It Dv CTLTYPE_U8
845This is an 8-bit unsigned integer.
846.It Dv CTLTYPE_U16
847This is a 16-bit unsigned integer.
848.It Dv CTLTYPE_U32
849This is a 32-bit unsigned integer.
850.It Dv CTLTYPE_U64
851This is a 64-bit unsigned integer.
852.It Dv CTLTYPE_UINT
853This is an unsigned integer.
854.It Dv CTLTYPE_LONG
855This is a signed long.
856.It Dv CTLTYPE_ULONG
857This is an unsigned long.
858.El
859.Pp
860All sysctl types except for new node declarations require one of the following
861flags to be set indicating the read and write disposition of the sysctl:
862.Bl -tag -width ".Dv CTLFLAG_ANYBODY"
863.It Dv CTLFLAG_RD
864This is a read-only sysctl.
865.It Dv CTLFLAG_RDTUN
866This is a read-only sysctl and tunable which is tried fetched once
867from the system environment early during module load or system boot.
868.It Dv CTLFLAG_WR
869This is a writable sysctl.
870.It Dv CTLFLAG_RW
871This sysctl is readable and writable.
872.It Dv CTLFLAG_RWTUN
873This is a readable and writeable sysctl and tunable which is tried
874fetched once from the system environment early during module load or
875system boot.
876.It Dv CTLFLAG_NOFETCH
877In case the node is marked as a tunable using the CTLFLAG_[XX]TUN,
878this flag will prevent fetching the initial value from the system
879environment.
880Typically this flag should only be used for very early
881low level system setup code, and not by common drivers and modules.
882.It Dv CTLFLAG_MPSAFE
883This
884.Xr sysctl 9
885handler is MP safe.
886Do not grab Giant around calls to this handler.
887This should only be used for
888.Fn SYSCTL_PROC
889entries.
890.El
891.Pp
892Additionally, any of the following optional flags may also be specified:
893.Bl -tag -width ".Dv CTLFLAG_ANYBODY"
894.It Dv CTLFLAG_ANYBODY
895Any user or process can write to this sysctl.
896.It Dv CTLFLAG_CAPRD
897A process in capability mode can read from this sysctl.
898.It Dv CTLFLAG_CAPWR
899A process in capability mode can write to this sysctl.
900.It Dv CTLFLAG_SECURE
901This sysctl can be written to only if the effective securelevel of the
902process is \[<=] 0.
903.It Dv CTLFLAG_PRISON
904This sysctl can be written to by processes in
905.Xr jail 2 .
906.It Dv CTLFLAG_SKIP
907When iterating the sysctl name space, do not list this sysctl.
908.It Dv CTLFLAG_TUN
909Advisory flag that a system tunable also exists for this variable.
910The initial sysctl value is tried fetched once from the system
911environment early during module load or system boot.
912.It Dv CTLFLAG_DYN
913Dynamically created OIDs automatically get this flag set.
914.It Dv CTLFLAG_VNET
915OID references a VIMAGE-enabled variable.
916.El
917.Sh EXAMPLES
918Sample use of
919.Fn SYSCTL_DECL
920to declare the
921.Va security
922sysctl tree for use by new nodes:
923.Bd -literal -offset indent
924SYSCTL_DECL(_security);
925.Ed
926.Pp
927Examples of integer, opaque, string, and procedure sysctls follow:
928.Bd -literal -offset indent
929/*
930 * Example of a constant integer value.  Notice that the control
931 * flags are CTLFLAG_RD, the variable pointer is SYSCTL_NULL_INT_PTR,
932 * and the value is declared.
933 */
934SYSCTL_INT(_debug_sizeof, OID_AUTO, bio, CTLFLAG_RD, SYSCTL_NULL_INT_PTR,
935    sizeof(struct bio), "sizeof(struct bio)");
936
937/*
938 * Example of a variable integer value.  Notice that the control
939 * flags are CTLFLAG_RW, the variable pointer is set, and the
940 * value is 0.
941 */
942static int	doingcache = 1;		/* 1 => enable the cache */
943SYSCTL_INT(_debug, OID_AUTO, vfscache, CTLFLAG_RW, &doingcache, 0,
944    "Enable name cache");
945
946/*
947 * Example of a variable string value.  Notice that the control
948 * flags are CTLFLAG_RW, that the variable pointer and string
949 * size are set.  Unlike newer sysctls, this older sysctl uses a
950 * static oid number.
951 */
952char kernelname[MAXPATHLEN] = "/kernel";	/* XXX bloat */
953SYSCTL_STRING(_kern, KERN_BOOTFILE, bootfile, CTLFLAG_RW,
954    kernelname, sizeof(kernelname), "Name of kernel file booted");
955
956/*
957 * Example of an opaque data type exported by sysctl.  Notice that
958 * the variable pointer and size are provided, as well as a format
959 * string for sysctl(8).
960 */
961static l_fp pps_freq;	/* scaled frequency offset (ns/s) */
962SYSCTL_OPAQUE(_kern_ntp_pll, OID_AUTO, pps_freq, CTLFLAG_RD,
963    &pps_freq, sizeof(pps_freq), "I", "");
964
965/*
966 * Example of a procedure based sysctl exporting string
967 * information.  Notice that the data type is declared, the NULL
968 * variable pointer and 0 size, the function pointer, and the
969 * format string for sysctl(8).
970 */
971SYSCTL_PROC(_kern_timecounter, OID_AUTO, hardware, CTLTYPE_STRING |
972    CTLFLAG_RW, NULL, 0, sysctl_kern_timecounter_hardware, "A",
973    "");
974.Ed
975.Pp
976The following is an example of
977how to create a new top-level category
978and how to hook up another subtree to an existing static node.
979This example does not use contexts,
980which results in tedious management of all intermediate oids,
981as they need to be freed later on:
982.Bd -literal -offset indent
983#include <sys/sysctl.h>
984 ...
985/*
986 * Need to preserve pointers to newly created subtrees,
987 * to be able to free them later:
988 */
989static struct sysctl_oid *root1;
990static struct sysctl_oid *root2;
991static struct sysctl_oid *oidp;
992static int a_int;
993static char *string = "dynamic sysctl";
994 ...
995
996root1 = SYSCTL_ADD_ROOT_NODE(NULL,
997	OID_AUTO, "newtree", CTLFLAG_RW, 0, "new top level tree");
998oidp = SYSCTL_ADD_INT(NULL, SYSCTL_CHILDREN(root1),
999	OID_AUTO, "newint", CTLFLAG_RW, &a_int, 0, "new int leaf");
1000 ...
1001root2 = SYSCTL_ADD_NODE(NULL, SYSCTL_STATIC_CHILDREN(_debug),
1002	OID_AUTO, "newtree", CTLFLAG_RW, 0, "new tree under debug");
1003oidp = SYSCTL_ADD_STRING(NULL, SYSCTL_CHILDREN(root2),
1004	OID_AUTO, "newstring", CTLFLAG_RD, string, 0, "new string leaf");
1005.Ed
1006.Pp
1007This example creates the following subtrees:
1008.Bd -literal -offset indent
1009debug.newtree.newstring
1010newtree.newint
1011.Ed
1012.Pp
1013.Em "Care should be taken to free all OIDs once they are no longer needed!"
1014.Sh SYSCTL NAMING
1015When adding, modifying, or removing sysctl names, it is important to be
1016aware that these interfaces may be used by users, libraries, applications,
1017or documentation (such as published books), and are implicitly published application interfaces.
1018As with other application interfaces, caution must be taken not to break
1019existing applications, and to think about future use of new name spaces so as
1020to avoid the need to rename or remove interfaces that might be depended on in
1021the future.
1022.Pp
1023The semantics chosen for a new sysctl should be as clear as possible,
1024and the name of the sysctl must closely reflect its semantics.
1025Therefore the sysctl name deserves a fair amount of consideration.
1026It should be short but yet representative of the sysctl meaning.
1027If the name consists of several words, they should be separated by
1028underscore characters, as in
1029.Va compute_summary_at_mount .
1030Underscore characters may be omitted only if the name consists of not more
1031than two words, each being not longer than four characters, as in
1032.Va bootfile .
1033.Pp
1034For boolean sysctls, negative logic should be totally avoided.
1035That is, do not use names like
1036.Va no_foobar
1037or
1038.Va foobar_disable .
1039They are confusing and lead to configuration errors.
1040Use positive logic instead:
1041.Va foobar ,
1042.Va foobar_enable .
1043.Pp
1044A temporary sysctl node OID that should not be relied upon must be designated
1045as such by a leading underscore character in its name.
1046For example:
1047.Va _dirty_hack .
1048.Sh SEE ALSO
1049.Xr sysctl 3 ,
1050.Xr sysctl 8 ,
1051.Xr device_get_sysctl 9 ,
1052.Xr sysctl_add_oid 9 ,
1053.Xr sysctl_ctx_free 9 ,
1054.Xr sysctl_ctx_init 9 ,
1055.Xr sysctl_remove_oid 9
1056.Sh HISTORY
1057The
1058.Xr sysctl 8
1059utility first appeared in
1060.Bx 4.4 .
1061.Sh AUTHORS
1062.An -nosplit
1063The
1064.Nm sysctl
1065implementation originally found in
1066.Bx
1067has been extensively rewritten by
1068.An Poul-Henning Kamp
1069in order to add support for name lookups, name space iteration, and dynamic
1070addition of MIB nodes.
1071.Pp
1072This man page was written by
1073.An Robert N. M. Watson .
1074.Sh SECURITY CONSIDERATIONS
1075When creating new sysctls, careful attention should be paid to the security
1076implications of the monitoring or management interface being created.
1077Most sysctls present in the kernel are read-only or writable only by the
1078superuser.
1079Sysctls exporting extensive information on system data structures and
1080operation, especially those implemented using procedures, will wish to
1081implement access control to limit the undesired exposure of information about
1082other processes, network connections, etc.
1083.Pp
1084The following top level sysctl name spaces are commonly used:
1085.Bl -tag -width ".Va regression"
1086.It Va compat
1087Compatibility layer information.
1088.It Va debug
1089Debugging information.
1090Various name spaces exist under
1091.Va debug .
1092.It Va hw
1093Hardware and device driver information.
1094.It Va kern
1095Kernel behavior tuning; generally deprecated in favor of more specific
1096name spaces.
1097.It Va machdep
1098Machine-dependent configuration parameters.
1099.It Va net
1100Network subsystem.
1101Various protocols have name spaces under
1102.Va net .
1103.It Va regression
1104Regression test configuration and information.
1105.It Va security
1106Security and security-policy configuration and information.
1107.It Va sysctl
1108Reserved name space for the implementation of sysctl.
1109.It Va user
1110Configuration settings relating to user application behavior.
1111Generally, configuring applications using kernel sysctls is discouraged.
1112.It Va vfs
1113Virtual file system configuration and information.
1114.It Va vm
1115Virtual memory subsystem configuration and information.
1116.El
1117