xref: /freebsd/share/man/man9/sysctl.9 (revision 640235e2c2ba32947f7c59d168437ffa1280f1e6)
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28.Dd October 23, 2015
29.Dt SYSCTL 9
30.Os
31.Sh NAME
32.Nm SYSCTL_DECL ,
33.Nm SYSCTL_ADD_INT ,
34.Nm SYSCTL_ADD_LONG ,
35.Nm SYSCTL_ADD_NODE ,
36.Nm SYSCTL_ADD_OPAQUE ,
37.Nm SYSCTL_ADD_PROC ,
38.Nm SYSCTL_ADD_QUAD ,
39.Nm SYSCTL_ADD_ROOT_NODE ,
40.Nm SYSCTL_ADD_S8 ,
41.Nm SYSCTL_ADD_S16 ,
42.Nm SYSCTL_ADD_S32 ,
43.Nm SYSCTL_ADD_S64 ,
44.Nm SYSCTL_ADD_STRING ,
45.Nm SYSCTL_ADD_STRUCT ,
46.Nm SYSCTL_ADD_U8 ,
47.Nm SYSCTL_ADD_U16 ,
48.Nm SYSCTL_ADD_U32 ,
49.Nm SYSCTL_ADD_U64 ,
50.Nm SYSCTL_ADD_UAUTO ,
51.Nm SYSCTL_ADD_UINT ,
52.Nm SYSCTL_ADD_ULONG ,
53.Nm SYSCTL_ADD_UQUAD ,
54.Nm SYSCTL_CHILDREN ,
55.Nm SYSCTL_STATIC_CHILDREN ,
56.Nm SYSCTL_NODE_CHILDREN ,
57.Nm SYSCTL_PARENT ,
58.Nm SYSCTL_INT ,
59.Nm SYSCTL_LONG ,
60.Nm SYSCTL_NODE ,
61.Nm SYSCTL_OPAQUE ,
62.Nm SYSCTL_PROC ,
63.Nm SYSCTL_QUAD ,
64.Nm SYSCTL_ROOT_NODE ,
65.Nm SYSCTL_S8 ,
66.Nm SYSCTL_S16 ,
67.Nm SYSCTL_S32 ,
68.Nm SYSCTL_S64 ,
69.Nm SYSCTL_STRING ,
70.Nm SYSCTL_STRUCT ,
71.Nm SYSCTL_U8 ,
72.Nm SYSCTL_U16 ,
73.Nm SYSCTL_U32 ,
74.Nm SYSCTL_U64 ,
75.Nm SYSCTL_UINT ,
76.Nm SYSCTL_ULONG ,
77.Nm SYSCTL_UQUAD
78.Nd Dynamic and static sysctl MIB creation functions
79.Sh SYNOPSIS
80.In sys/types.h
81.In sys/sysctl.h
82.Fn SYSCTL_DECL name
83.Ft struct sysctl_oid *
84.Fo SYSCTL_ADD_INT
85.Fa "struct sysctl_ctx_list *ctx"
86.Fa "struct sysctl_oid_list *parent"
87.Fa "int number"
88.Fa "const char *name"
89.Fa "int ctlflags"
90.Fa "int *ptr"
91.Fa "int val"
92.Fa "const char *descr"
93.Fc
94.Ft struct sysctl_oid *
95.Fo SYSCTL_ADD_LONG
96.Fa "struct sysctl_ctx_list *ctx"
97.Fa "struct sysctl_oid_list *parent"
98.Fa "int number"
99.Fa "const char *name"
100.Fa "int ctlflags"
101.Fa "long *ptr"
102.Fa "const char *descr"
103.Fc
104.Ft struct sysctl_oid *
105.Fo SYSCTL_ADD_NODE
106.Fa "struct sysctl_ctx_list *ctx"
107.Fa "struct sysctl_oid_list *parent"
108.Fa "int number"
109.Fa "const char *name"
110.Fa "int ctlflags"
111.Fa "int (*handler)(SYSCTL_HANDLER_ARGS)"
112.Fa "const char *descr"
113.Fc
114.Ft struct sysctl_oid *
115.Fo SYSCTL_ADD_OPAQUE
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 "void *ptr"
122.Fa "intptr_t len"
123.Fa "const char *format"
124.Fa "const char *descr"
125.Fc
126.Ft struct sysctl_oid *
127.Fo SYSCTL_ADD_PROC
128.Fa "struct sysctl_ctx_list *ctx"
129.Fa "struct sysctl_oid_list *parent"
130.Fa "int number"
131.Fa "const char *name"
132.Fa "int ctlflags"
133.Fa "void *arg1"
134.Fa "intptr_t arg2"
135.Fa "int (*handler) (SYSCTL_HANDLERARGS)"
136.Fa "const char *format"
137.Fa "const char *descr"
138.Fc
139.Ft struct sysctl_oid *
140.Fo SYSCTL_ADD_QUAD
141.Fa "struct sysctl_ctx_list *ctx"
142.Fa "struct sysctl_oid_list *parent"
143.Fa "int number"
144.Fa "const char *name"
145.Fa "int ctlflags"
146.Fa "int64_t *ptr"
147.Fa "const char *descr"
148.Fc
149.Ft struct sysctl_oid *
150.Fo SYSCTL_ADD_ROOT_NODE
151.Fa "struct sysctl_ctx_list *ctx"
152.Fa "int number"
153.Fa "const char *name"
154.Fa "int ctlflags"
155.Fa "int (*handler)(SYSCTL_HANDLER_ARGS)"
156.Fa "const char *descr"
157.Fc
158.Ft struct sysctl_oid *
159.Fo SYSCTL_ADD_S8
160.Fa "struct sysctl_ctx_list *ctx"
161.Fa "struct sysctl_oid_list *parent"
162.Fa "int number"
163.Fa "const char *name"
164.Fa "int ctlflags"
165.Fa "int8_t *ptr"
166.Fa "int8_t val"
167.Fa "const char *descr"
168.Fc
169.Ft struct sysctl_oid *
170.Fo SYSCTL_ADD_S16
171.Fa "struct sysctl_ctx_list *ctx"
172.Fa "struct sysctl_oid_list *parent"
173.Fa "int number"
174.Fa "const char *name"
175.Fa "int ctlflags"
176.Fa "int16_t *ptr"
177.Fa "int16_t val"
178.Fa "const char *descr"
179.Fc
180.Ft struct sysctl_oid *
181.Fo SYSCTL_ADD_S32
182.Fa "struct sysctl_ctx_list *ctx"
183.Fa "struct sysctl_oid_list *parent"
184.Fa "int number"
185.Fa "const char *name"
186.Fa "int ctlflags"
187.Fa "int32_t *ptr"
188.Fa "int32_t val"
189.Fa "const char *descr"
190.Fc
191.Ft struct sysctl_oid *
192.Fo SYSCTL_ADD_S64
193.Fa "struct sysctl_ctx_list *ctx"
194.Fa "struct sysctl_oid_list *parent"
195.Fa "int number"
196.Fa "const char *name"
197.Fa "int ctlflags"
198.Fa "int64_t *ptr"
199.Fa "int64_t val"
200.Fa "const char *descr"
201.Fc
202.Ft struct sysctl_oid *
203.Fo SYSCTL_ADD_STRING
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 "char *ptr"
210.Fa "intptr_t len"
211.Fa "const char *descr"
212.Fc
213.Ft struct sysctl_oid *
214.Fo SYSCTL_ADD_STRUCT
215.Fa "struct sysctl_ctx_list *ctx"
216.Fa "struct sysctl_oid_list *parent"
217.Fa "int number"
218.Fa "const char *name"
219.Fa "int ctlflags"
220.Fa "void *ptr"
221.Fa struct_type
222.Fa "const char *descr"
223.Fc
224.Ft struct sysctl_oid *
225.Fo SYSCTL_ADD_U8
226.Fa "struct sysctl_ctx_list *ctx"
227.Fa "struct sysctl_oid_list *parent"
228.Fa "int number"
229.Fa "const char *name"
230.Fa "int ctlflags"
231.Fa "uint8_t *ptr"
232.Fa "uint8_t val"
233.Fa "const char *descr"
234.Fc
235.Ft struct sysctl_oid *
236.Fo SYSCTL_ADD_U16
237.Fa "struct sysctl_ctx_list *ctx"
238.Fa "struct sysctl_oid_list *parent"
239.Fa "int number"
240.Fa "const char *name"
241.Fa "int ctlflags"
242.Fa "uint16_t *ptr"
243.Fa "uint16_t val"
244.Fa "const char *descr"
245.Fc
246.Ft struct sysctl_oid *
247.Fo SYSCTL_ADD_U32
248.Fa "struct sysctl_ctx_list *ctx"
249.Fa "struct sysctl_oid_list *parent"
250.Fa "int number"
251.Fa "const char *name"
252.Fa "int ctlflags"
253.Fa "uint32_t *ptr"
254.Fa "uint32_t val"
255.Fa "const char *descr"
256.Fc
257.Ft struct sysctl_oid *
258.Fo SYSCTL_ADD_U64
259.Fa "struct sysctl_ctx_list *ctx"
260.Fa "struct sysctl_oid_list *parent"
261.Fa "int number"
262.Fa "const char *name"
263.Fa "int ctlflags"
264.Fa "uint64_t *ptr"
265.Fa "uint64_t val"
266.Fa "const char *descr"
267.Fc
268.Ft struct sysctl_oid *
269.Fo SYSCTL_ADD_UINT
270.Fa "struct sysctl_ctx_list *ctx"
271.Fa "struct sysctl_oid_list *parent"
272.Fa "int number"
273.Fa "const char *name"
274.Fa "int ctlflags"
275.Fa "unsigned int *ptr"
276.Fa "unsigned int val"
277.Fa "const char *descr"
278.Fc
279.Ft struct sysctl_oid *
280.Fo SYSCTL_ADD_ULONG
281.Fa "struct sysctl_ctx_list *ctx"
282.Fa "struct sysctl_oid_list *parent"
283.Fa "int number"
284.Fa "const char *name"
285.Fa "int ctlflags"
286.Fa "unsigned long *ptr"
287.Fa "const char *descr"
288.Fc
289.Ft struct sysctl_oid *
290.Fo SYSCTL_ADD_UQUAD
291.Fa "struct sysctl_ctx_list *ctx"
292.Fa "struct sysctl_oid_list *parent"
293.Fa "int number"
294.Fa "const char *name"
295.Fa "int ctlflags"
296.Fa "uint64_t *ptr"
297.Fa "const char *descr"
298.Fc
299.Ft struct sysctl_oid *
300.Fo SYSCTL_ADD_UAUTO
301.Fa "struct sysctl_ctx_list *ctx"
302.Fa "struct sysctl_oid_list *parent"
303.Fa "int number"
304.Fa "const char *name"
305.Fa "int ctlflags"
306.Fa "void *ptr"
307.Fa "const char *descr"
308.Fc
309.Ft struct sysctl_oid_list *
310.Fo SYSCTL_CHILDREN
311.Fa "struct sysctl_oid *oidp"
312.Fc
313.Ft struct sysctl_oid_list *
314.Fo SYSCTL_STATIC_CHILDREN
315.Fa "struct sysctl_oid_list OID_NAME"
316.Fc
317.Ft struct sysctl_oid_list *
318.Fo SYSCTL_NODE_CHILDREN
319.Fa "parent"
320.Fa "name"
321.Fc
322.Ft struct sysctl_oid *
323.Fo SYSCTL_PARENT
324.Fa "struct sysctl_oid *oid"
325.Fc
326.Fn SYSCTL_INT parent number name ctlflags ptr val descr
327.Fn SYSCTL_LONG parent number name ctlflags ptr val descr
328.Fn SYSCTL_NODE parent number name ctlflags handler descr
329.Fn SYSCTL_OPAQUE parent number name ctlflags ptr len format descr
330.Fn SYSCTL_PROC parent number name ctlflags arg1 arg2 handler format descr
331.Fn SYSCTL_QUAD parent number name ctlflags ptr val descr
332.Fn SYSCTL_ROOT_NODE number name ctlflags handler descr
333.Fn SYSCTL_S8 parent number name ctlflags ptr val descr
334.Fn SYSCTL_S16 parent number name ctlflags ptr val descr
335.Fn SYSCTL_S32 parent number name ctlflags ptr val descr
336.Fn SYSCTL_S64 parent number name ctlflags ptr val descr
337.Fn SYSCTL_STRING parent number name ctlflags arg len descr
338.Fn SYSCTL_STRUCT parent number name ctlflags ptr struct_type descr
339.Fn SYSCTL_U8 parent number name ctlflags ptr val descr
340.Fn SYSCTL_U16 parent number name ctlflags ptr val descr
341.Fn SYSCTL_U32 parent number name ctlflags ptr val descr
342.Fn SYSCTL_U64 parent number name ctlflags ptr val descr
343.Fn SYSCTL_UINT parent number name ctlflags ptr val descr
344.Fn SYSCTL_ULONG parent number name ctlflags ptr val descr
345.Fn SYSCTL_UQUAD parent number name ctlflags ptr val descr
346.Sh DESCRIPTION
347The
348.Nm SYSCTL
349kernel interface allows dynamic or static creation of
350.Xr sysctl 8
351MIB entries.
352All static sysctls are automatically destroyed when the module which
353they are part of is unloaded.
354Most top level categories are created statically and are available to
355all kernel code and its modules.
356.Sh DESCRIPTION OF ARGUMENTS
357.Bl -tag -width ctlflags
358.It Fa ctx
359Pointer to sysctl context or NULL, if no context.
360See
361.Xr sysctl_ctx_init 9
362for how to create a new sysctl context.
363Programmers are strongly advised to use contexts to organize the
364dynamic OIDs which they create because when a context is destroyed all
365belonging sysctls are destroyed as well.
366This makes the sysctl cleanup code much simpler.
367Else deletion of all created OIDs is required at module unload.
368.It Fa parent
369A pointer to a
370.Li struct sysctl_oid_list ,
371which is the head of the parent's list of children.
372This pointer is retrieved using the
373.Fn SYSCTL_STATIC_CHILDREN
374macro for static sysctls and the
375.Fn SYSCTL_CHILDREN
376macro for dynamic sysctls.
377The
378.Fn SYSCTL_PARENT
379macro can be used to get the parent of an OID.
380The macro returns NULL if there is no parent.
381.It Fa number
382The OID number that will be assigned to this OID.
383In almost all cases this should be set to
384.Dv OID_AUTO ,
385which will result in the assignment of the next available OID number.
386.It Fa name
387The name of the OID.
388The newly created OID will contain a copy of the name.
389.It Fa ctlflags
390A bit mask of sysctl control flags.
391See the section below describing all the control flags.
392.It Fa arg1
393First callback argument for procedure sysctls.
394.It Fa arg2
395Second callback argument for procedure sysctls.
396.It Fa len
397The length of the data pointed to by the
398.Fa ptr
399argument.
400For string type OIDs a length of zero means that
401.Xr strlen 3
402will be used to get the length of the string at each access to the OID.
403.It Fa ptr
404Pointer to sysctl variable or string data.
405For 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
406.Fa val
407argument.
408.It Fa val
409If the
410.Fa ptr
411argument is SYSCTL_NULL_XXX_PTR, gives the constant value returned by this OID.
412Else this argument is not used.
413.It Fa struct_type
414Name of structure type.
415.It Fa handler
416A pointer to the function
417that is responsible for handling read and write requests
418to this OID.
419There are several standard handlers
420that support operations on nodes,
421integers, strings and opaque objects.
422It is possible to define custom handlers using the
423.Fn SYSCTL_PROC
424macro or the
425.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_PROC
426function.
427.It Fa format
428A pointer to a string
429which specifies the format of the OID in a symbolic way.
430This format is used as a hint by
431.Xr sysctl 8
432to apply proper data formatting for display purposes.
433.Pp
434Current formats:
435.Bl -tag -width "S,TYPE" -compact -offset indent
436.It Cm N
437node
438.It Cm A
439.Li "char *"
440.It Cm I
441.Li "int"
442.It Cm IK Ns Op Ar n
443temperature in Kelvin, multiplied by an optional single digit
444power of ten scaling factor: 1 (default) gives deciKelvin, 0 gives Kelvin, 3
445gives milliKelvin
446.It Cm IU
447.Li "unsigned int"
448.It Cm L
449.Li "long"
450.It Cm LU
451.Li "unsigned long"
452.It Cm Q
453.Li "quad_t"
454.It Cm QU
455.Li "u_quad_t"
456.It Cm "S,TYPE"
457.Li "struct TYPE"
458structures
459.El
460.It Fa descr
461A pointer to a textual description of the OID.
462.El
463.Sh CREATING ROOT NODES
464Sysctl MIBs or OIDs are created in a hierarchical tree.
465The nodes at the bottom of the tree are called root nodes, and have no
466parent OID.
467To create bottom tree nodes the
468.Fn SYSCTL_ROOT_NODE
469macro or the
470.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_ROOT_NODE
471function needs to be used.
472By default all static sysctl node OIDs are global and need a
473.Fn SYSCTL_DECL
474statement prior to their
475.Fn SYSCTL_NODE
476definition statement, typically in a so-called header file.
477.Sh CREATING SYSCTL STRINGS
478Zero terminated character strings sysctls are created either using the
479.Fn SYSCTL_STRING
480macro or the
481.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_STRING
482function.
483If the
484.Fa len
485argument in zero, the string length is computed at every access to the OID using
486.Xr strlen 3 .
487.Sh CREATING OPAQUE SYSCTLS
488The
489.Fn SYSCTL_OPAQUE
490or
491.Fn SYSCTL_STRUCT
492macros or the
493.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_OPAQUE
494or
495.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_STRUCT
496functions create an OID that handle any chunk of data
497of the size specified by the
498.Fa len
499argument and data pointed to by the
500.Fa ptr
501argument.
502When using the structure version the type is encoded as part of the
503created sysctl.
504.Sh CREATING CUSTOM SYSCTLS
505The
506.Fn SYSCTL_PROC
507macro and the
508.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_PROC
509function
510create OIDs with the specified
511.Pa handler
512function.
513The handler is responsible for handling all read and write requests to
514the OID.
515This OID type is especially useful if the kernel data is not easily
516accessible, or needs to be processed before exporting.
517.Sh CREATING A STATIC SYSCTL
518Static sysctls are declared using one of the
519.Fn SYSCTL_INT ,
520.Fn SYSCTL_LONG ,
521.Fn SYSCTL_NODE ,
522.Fn SYSCTL_OPAQUE ,
523.Fn SYSCTL_PROC ,
524.Fn SYSCTL_QUAD ,
525.Fn SYSCTL_ROOT_NODE ,
526.Fn SYSCTL_S8 ,
527.Fn SYSCTL_S16 ,
528.Fn SYSCTL_S32 ,
529.Fn SYSCTL_S64 ,
530.Fn SYSCTL_STRING ,
531.Fn SYSCTL_STRUCT ,
532.Fn SYSCTL_U8 ,
533.Fn SYSCTL_U16 ,
534.Fn SYSCTL_U32 ,
535.Fn SYSCTL_U64 ,
536.Fn SYSCTL_UINT ,
537.Fn SYSCTL_ULONG
538or
539.Fn SYSCTL_UQUAD
540macros.
541.Sh CREATING A DYNAMIC SYSCTL
542Dynamic nodes are created using one of the
543.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_INT ,
544.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_LONG ,
545.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_NODE ,
546.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_OPAQUE ,
547.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_PROC ,
548.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_QUAD ,
549.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_ROOT_NODE ,
550.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_S8 ,
551.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_S16 ,
552.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_S32 ,
553.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_S64 ,
554.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_STRING ,
555.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_STRUCT ,
556.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_U8 ,
557.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_U16 ,
558.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_U32 ,
559.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_U64 ,
560.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_UAUTO ,
561.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_UINT ,
562.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_ULONG ,
563or
564.Fn SYSCTL_UQUAD
565functions.
566See
567.Xr sysctl_remove_oid 9
568or
569.Xr sysctl_ctx_free 9
570for more information on how to destroy a dynamically created OID.
571.Sh CONTROL FLAGS
572For most of the above functions and macros, declaring a type as part
573of the access flags is not necessary \[em] however, when declaring a
574sysctl implemented by a function, including a type in the access mask
575is required:
576.Bl -tag -width ".Dv CTLTYPE_NOFETCH"
577.It Dv CTLTYPE_NODE
578This is a node intended to be a parent for other nodes.
579.It Dv CTLTYPE_INT
580This is a signed integer.
581.It Dv CTLTYPE_STRING
582This is a nul-terminated string stored in a character array.
583.It Dv CTLTYPE_S8
584This is an 8-bit signed integer.
585.It Dv CTLTYPE_S16
586This is a 16-bit signed integer.
587.It Dv CTLTYPE_S32
588This is a 32-bit signed integer.
589.It Dv CTLTYPE_S64
590This is a 64-bit signed integer.
591.It Dv CTLTYPE_OPAQUE
592This is an opaque data structure.
593.It Dv CTLTYPE_STRUCT
594Alias for
595.Dv CTLTYPE_OPAQUE .
596.It Dv CTLTYPE_U8
597This is an 8-bit unsigned integer.
598.It Dv CTLTYPE_U16
599This is a 16-bit unsigned integer.
600.It Dv CTLTYPE_U32
601This is a 32-bit unsigned integer.
602.It Dv CTLTYPE_U64
603This is a 64-bit unsigned integer.
604.It Dv CTLTYPE_UINT
605This is an unsigned integer.
606.It Dv CTLTYPE_LONG
607This is a signed long.
608.It Dv CTLTYPE_ULONG
609This is an unsigned long.
610.El
611.Pp
612All sysctl types except for new node declarations require one of the following
613flags to be set indicating the read and write disposition of the sysctl:
614.Bl -tag -width ".Dv CTLFLAG_ANYBODY"
615.It Dv CTLFLAG_RD
616This is a read-only sysctl.
617.It Dv CTLFLAG_RDTUN
618This is a read-only sysctl and tunable which is tried fetched once
619from the system environment early during module load or system boot.
620.It Dv CTLFLAG_WR
621This is a writable sysctl.
622.It Dv CTLFLAG_RW
623This sysctl is readable and writable.
624.It Dv CTLFLAG_RWTUN
625This is a readable and writeable sysctl and tunable which is tried
626fetched once from the system environment early during module load or
627system boot.
628.It Dv CTLFLAG_NOFETCH
629In case the node is marked as a tunable using the CTLFLAG_[XX]TUN,
630this flag will prevent fetching the initial value from the system
631environment.
632Typically this flag should only be used for very early
633low level system setup code, and not by common drivers and modules.
634.El
635.Pp
636Additionally, any of the following optional flags may also be specified:
637.Bl -tag -width ".Dv CTLFLAG_ANYBODY"
638.It Dv CTLFLAG_ANYBODY
639Any user or process can write to this sysctl.
640.It Dv CTLFLAG_SECURE
641This sysctl can be written to only if the effective securelevel of the
642process is \[<=] 0.
643.It Dv CTLFLAG_PRISON
644This sysctl can be written to by processes in
645.Xr jail 2 .
646.It Dv CTLFLAG_SKIP
647When iterating the sysctl name space, do not list this sysctl.
648.It Dv CTLFLAG_TUN
649Advisory flag that a system tunable also exists for this variable.
650The initial sysctl value is tried fetched once from the system
651environment early during module load or system boot.
652.It Dv CTLFLAG_DYN
653Dynamically created OIDs automatically get this flag set.
654.It Dv CTLFLAG_VNET
655OID references a VIMAGE-enabled variable.
656.El
657.Sh EXAMPLES
658Sample use of
659.Fn SYSCTL_DECL
660to declare the
661.Va security
662sysctl tree for use by new nodes:
663.Bd -literal -offset indent
664SYSCTL_DECL(_security);
665.Ed
666.Pp
667Examples of integer, opaque, string, and procedure sysctls follow:
668.Bd -literal -offset indent
669/*
670 * Example of a constant integer value.  Notice that the control
671 * flags are CTLFLAG_RD, the variable pointer is SYSCTL_NULL_INT_PTR,
672 * and the value is declared.
673 */
674SYSCTL_INT(_debug_sizeof, OID_AUTO, bio, CTLFLAG_RD, SYSCTL_NULL_INT_PTR,
675    sizeof(struct bio), "sizeof(struct bio)");
676
677/*
678 * Example of a variable integer value.  Notice that the control
679 * flags are CTLFLAG_RW, the variable pointer is set, and the
680 * value is 0.
681 */
682static int	doingcache = 1;		/* 1 => enable the cache */
683SYSCTL_INT(_debug, OID_AUTO, vfscache, CTLFLAG_RW, &doingcache, 0,
684    "Enable name cache");
685
686/*
687 * Example of a variable string value.  Notice that the control
688 * flags are CTLFLAG_RW, that the variable pointer and string
689 * size are set.  Unlike newer sysctls, this older sysctl uses a
690 * static oid number.
691 */
692char kernelname[MAXPATHLEN] = "/kernel";	/* XXX bloat */
693SYSCTL_STRING(_kern, KERN_BOOTFILE, bootfile, CTLFLAG_RW,
694    kernelname, sizeof(kernelname), "Name of kernel file booted");
695
696/*
697 * Example of an opaque data type exported by sysctl.  Notice that
698 * the variable pointer and size are provided, as well as a format
699 * string for sysctl(8).
700 */
701static l_fp pps_freq;	/* scaled frequency offset (ns/s) */
702SYSCTL_OPAQUE(_kern_ntp_pll, OID_AUTO, pps_freq, CTLFLAG_RD,
703    &pps_freq, sizeof(pps_freq), "I", "");
704
705/*
706 * Example of a procedure based sysctl exporting string
707 * information.  Notice that the data type is declared, the NULL
708 * variable pointer and 0 size, the function pointer, and the
709 * format string for sysctl(8).
710 */
711SYSCTL_PROC(_kern_timecounter, OID_AUTO, hardware, CTLTYPE_STRING |
712    CTLFLAG_RW, NULL, 0, sysctl_kern_timecounter_hardware, "A",
713    "");
714.Ed
715.Pp
716The following is an example of
717how to create a new top-level category
718and how to hook up another subtree to an existing static node.
719This example does not use contexts,
720which results in tedious management of all intermediate oids,
721as they need to be freed later on:
722.Bd -literal -offset indent
723#include <sys/sysctl.h>
724 ...
725/*
726 * Need to preserve pointers to newly created subtrees,
727 * to be able to free them later:
728 */
729static struct sysctl_oid *root1;
730static struct sysctl_oid *root2;
731static struct sysctl_oid *oidp;
732static int a_int;
733static char *string = "dynamic sysctl";
734 ...
735
736root1 = SYSCTL_ADD_ROOT_NODE(NULL,
737	OID_AUTO, "newtree", CTLFLAG_RW, 0, "new top level tree");
738oidp = SYSCTL_ADD_INT(NULL, SYSCTL_CHILDREN(root1),
739	OID_AUTO, "newint", CTLFLAG_RW, &a_int, 0, "new int leaf");
740 ...
741root2 = SYSCTL_ADD_NODE(NULL, SYSCTL_STATIC_CHILDREN(_debug),
742	OID_AUTO, "newtree", CTLFLAG_RW, 0, "new tree under debug");
743oidp = SYSCTL_ADD_STRING(NULL, SYSCTL_CHILDREN(root2),
744	OID_AUTO, "newstring", CTLFLAG_RD, string, 0, "new string leaf");
745.Ed
746.Pp
747This example creates the following subtrees:
748.Bd -literal -offset indent
749debug.newtree.newstring
750newtree.newint
751.Ed
752.Pp
753.Em "Care should be taken to free all OIDs once they are no longer needed!"
754.Sh SYSCTL NAMING
755When adding, modifying, or removing sysctl names, it is important to be
756aware that these interfaces may be used by users, libraries, applications,
757or documentation (such as published books), and are implicitly published application interfaces.
758As with other application interfaces, caution must be taken not to break
759existing applications, and to think about future use of new name spaces so as
760to avoid the need to rename or remove interfaces that might be depended on in
761the future.
762.Pp
763The semantics chosen for a new sysctl should be as clear as possible,
764and the name of the sysctl must closely reflect its semantics.
765Therefore the sysctl name deserves a fair amount of consideration.
766It should be short but yet representative of the sysctl meaning.
767If the name consists of several words, they should be separated by
768underscore characters, as in
769.Va compute_summary_at_mount .
770Underscore characters may be omitted only if the name consists of not more
771than two words, each being not longer than four characters, as in
772.Va bootfile .
773For boolean sysctls, negative logic should be totally avoided.
774That is, do not use names like
775.Va no_foobar
776or
777.Va foobar_disable .
778They are confusing and lead to configuration errors.
779Use positive logic instead:
780.Va foobar ,
781.Va foobar_enable .
782.Pp
783A temporary sysctl node OID that should not be relied upon must be designated
784as such by a leading underscore character in its name.
785For example:
786.Va _dirty_hack .
787.Sh SEE ALSO
788.Xr sysctl 3 ,
789.Xr sysctl 8 ,
790.Xr sysctl_add_oid 9 ,
791.Xr sysctl_ctx_free 9 ,
792.Xr sysctl_ctx_init 9 ,
793.Xr sysctl_remove_oid 9
794.Sh HISTORY
795The
796.Xr sysctl 8
797utility first appeared in
798.Bx 4.4 .
799.Sh AUTHORS
800.An -nosplit
801The
802.Nm sysctl
803implementation originally found in
804.Bx
805has been extensively rewritten by
806.An Poul-Henning Kamp
807in order to add support for name lookups, name space iteration, and dynamic
808addition of MIB nodes.
809.Pp
810This man page was written by
811.An Robert N. M. Watson .
812.Sh SECURITY CONSIDERATIONS
813When creating new sysctls, careful attention should be paid to the security
814implications of the monitoring or management interface being created.
815Most sysctls present in the kernel are read-only or writable only by the
816superuser.
817Sysctls exporting extensive information on system data structures and
818operation, especially those implemented using procedures, will wish to
819implement access control to limit the undesired exposure of information about
820other processes, network connections, etc.
821.Pp
822The following top level sysctl name spaces are commonly used:
823.Bl -tag -width ".Va regression"
824.It Va compat
825Compatibility layer information.
826.It Va debug
827Debugging information.
828Various name spaces exist under
829.Va debug .
830.It Va hw
831Hardware and device driver information.
832.It Va kern
833Kernel behavior tuning; generally deprecated in favor of more specific
834name spaces.
835.It Va machdep
836Machine-dependent configuration parameters.
837.It Va net
838Network subsystem.
839Various protocols have name spaces under
840.Va net .
841.It Va regression
842Regression test configuration and information.
843.It Va security
844Security and security-policy configuration and information.
845.It Va sysctl
846Reserved name space for the implementation of sysctl.
847.It Va user
848Configuration settings relating to user application behavior.
849Generally, configuring applications using kernel sysctls is discouraged.
850.It Va vfs
851Virtual file system configuration and information.
852.It Va vm
853Virtual memory subsystem configuration and information.
854.El
855