xref: /freebsd/share/man/man9/sysctl.9 (revision 7ef62cebc2f965b0f640263e179276928885e33d)
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28.Dd September 1, 2020
29.Dt SYSCTL 9
30.Os
31.Sh NAME
32.Nm SYSCTL_DECL ,
33.Nm SYSCTL_ADD_BOOL ,
34.Nm SYSCTL_ADD_COUNTER_U64 ,
35.Nm SYSCTL_ADD_COUNTER_U64_ARRAY ,
36.Nm SYSCTL_ADD_INT ,
37.Nm SYSCTL_ADD_LONG ,
38.Nm SYSCTL_ADD_NODE ,
39.Nm SYSCTL_ADD_NODE_WITH_LABEL ,
40.Nm SYSCTL_ADD_OPAQUE ,
41.Nm SYSCTL_ADD_PROC ,
42.Nm SYSCTL_ADD_QUAD ,
43.Nm SYSCTL_ADD_ROOT_NODE ,
44.Nm SYSCTL_ADD_S8 ,
45.Nm SYSCTL_ADD_S16 ,
46.Nm SYSCTL_ADD_S32 ,
47.Nm SYSCTL_ADD_S64 ,
48.Nm SYSCTL_ADD_SBINTIME_MSEC ,
49.Nm SYSCTL_ADD_SBINTIME_USEC ,
50.Nm SYSCTL_ADD_STRING ,
51.Nm SYSCTL_ADD_CONST_STRING ,
52.Nm SYSCTL_ADD_STRUCT ,
53.Nm SYSCTL_ADD_TIMEVAL_SEC ,
54.Nm SYSCTL_ADD_U8 ,
55.Nm SYSCTL_ADD_U16 ,
56.Nm SYSCTL_ADD_U32 ,
57.Nm SYSCTL_ADD_U64 ,
58.Nm SYSCTL_ADD_UAUTO ,
59.Nm SYSCTL_ADD_UINT ,
60.Nm SYSCTL_ADD_ULONG ,
61.Nm SYSCTL_ADD_UMA_CUR ,
62.Nm SYSCTL_ADD_UMA_MAX ,
63.Nm SYSCTL_ADD_UQUAD ,
64.Nm SYSCTL_CHILDREN ,
65.Nm SYSCTL_STATIC_CHILDREN ,
66.Nm SYSCTL_NODE_CHILDREN ,
67.Nm SYSCTL_PARENT ,
68.Nm SYSCTL_BOOL ,
69.Nm SYSCTL_COUNTER_U64 ,
70.Nm SYSCTL_COUNTER_U64_ARRAY ,
71.Nm SYSCTL_INT ,
72.Nm SYSCTL_INT_WITH_LABEL ,
73.Nm SYSCTL_LONG ,
74.Nm sysctl_msec_to_ticks ,
75.Nm SYSCTL_NODE ,
76.Nm SYSCTL_NODE_WITH_LABEL ,
77.Nm SYSCTL_OPAQUE ,
78.Nm SYSCTL_PROC ,
79.Nm SYSCTL_QUAD ,
80.Nm SYSCTL_ROOT_NODE ,
81.Nm SYSCTL_S8 ,
82.Nm SYSCTL_S16 ,
83.Nm SYSCTL_S32 ,
84.Nm SYSCTL_S64 ,
85.Nm SYSCTL_SBINTIME_MSEC ,
86.Nm SYSCTL_SBINTIME_USEC ,
87.Nm SYSCTL_STRING ,
88.Nm SYSCTL_CONST_STRING ,
89.Nm SYSCTL_STRUCT ,
90.Nm SYSCTL_TIMEVAL_SEC ,
91.Nm SYSCTL_U8 ,
92.Nm SYSCTL_U16 ,
93.Nm SYSCTL_U32 ,
94.Nm SYSCTL_U64 ,
95.Nm SYSCTL_UINT ,
96.Nm SYSCTL_ULONG ,
97.Nm SYSCTL_UMA_CUR ,
98.Nm SYSCTL_UMA_MAX ,
99.Nm SYSCTL_UQUAD
100.Nd Dynamic and static sysctl MIB creation functions
101.Sh SYNOPSIS
102.In sys/param.h
103.In sys/sysctl.h
104.Fn SYSCTL_DECL name
105.Ft struct sysctl_oid *
106.Fo SYSCTL_ADD_BOOL
107.Fa "struct sysctl_ctx_list *ctx"
108.Fa "struct sysctl_oid_list *parent"
109.Fa "int number"
110.Fa "const char *name"
111.Fa "int ctlflags"
112.Fa "bool *ptr"
113.Fa "uint8_t val"
114.Fa "const char *descr"
115.Fc
116.Ft struct sysctl_oid *
117.Fo SYSCTL_ADD_COUNTER_U64
118.Fa "struct sysctl_ctx_list *ctx"
119.Fa "struct sysctl_oid_list *parent"
120.Fa "int number"
121.Fa "const char *name"
122.Fa "int ctlflags"
123.Fa "counter_u64_t *ptr"
124.Fa "const char *descr"
125.Fc
126.Ft struct sysctl_oid *
127.Fo SYSCTL_ADD_COUNTER_U64_ARRAY
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 "counter_u64_t *ptr"
134.Fa "intmax_t len"
135.Fa "const char *descr"
136.Fc
137.Ft struct sysctl_oid *
138.Fo SYSCTL_ADD_INT
139.Fa "struct sysctl_ctx_list *ctx"
140.Fa "struct sysctl_oid_list *parent"
141.Fa "int number"
142.Fa "const char *name"
143.Fa "int ctlflags"
144.Fa "int *ptr"
145.Fa "int val"
146.Fa "const char *descr"
147.Fc
148.Ft struct sysctl_oid *
149.Fo SYSCTL_ADD_LONG
150.Fa "struct sysctl_ctx_list *ctx"
151.Fa "struct sysctl_oid_list *parent"
152.Fa "int number"
153.Fa "const char *name"
154.Fa "int ctlflags"
155.Fa "long *ptr"
156.Fa "const char *descr"
157.Fc
158.Ft struct sysctl_oid *
159.Fo SYSCTL_ADD_NODE
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 "int (*handler)(SYSCTL_HANDLER_ARGS)"
166.Fa "const char *descr"
167.Fc
168.Ft struct sysctl_oid *
169.Fo SYSCTL_ADD_NODE_WITH_LABEL
170.Fa "struct sysctl_ctx_list *ctx"
171.Fa "struct sysctl_oid_list *parent"
172.Fa "int number"
173.Fa "const char *name"
174.Fa "int ctlflags"
175.Fa "int (*handler)(SYSCTL_HANDLER_ARGS)"
176.Fa "const char *descr"
177.Fa "const char *label"
178.Fc
179.Ft struct sysctl_oid *
180.Fo SYSCTL_ADD_OPAQUE
181.Fa "struct sysctl_ctx_list *ctx"
182.Fa "struct sysctl_oid_list *parent"
183.Fa "int number"
184.Fa "const char *name"
185.Fa "int ctlflags"
186.Fa "void *ptr"
187.Fa "intptr_t len"
188.Fa "const char *format"
189.Fa "const char *descr"
190.Fc
191.Ft struct sysctl_oid *
192.Fo SYSCTL_ADD_PROC
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 "void *arg1"
199.Fa "intptr_t arg2"
200.Fa "int (*handler) (SYSCTL_HANDLER_ARGS)"
201.Fa "const char *format"
202.Fa "const char *descr"
203.Fc
204.Ft struct sysctl_oid *
205.Fo SYSCTL_ADD_QUAD
206.Fa "struct sysctl_ctx_list *ctx"
207.Fa "struct sysctl_oid_list *parent"
208.Fa "int number"
209.Fa "const char *name"
210.Fa "int ctlflags"
211.Fa "int64_t *ptr"
212.Fa "const char *descr"
213.Fc
214.Ft struct sysctl_oid *
215.Fo SYSCTL_ADD_ROOT_NODE
216.Fa "struct sysctl_ctx_list *ctx"
217.Fa "int number"
218.Fa "const char *name"
219.Fa "int ctlflags"
220.Fa "int (*handler)(SYSCTL_HANDLER_ARGS)"
221.Fa "const char *descr"
222.Fc
223.Ft struct sysctl_oid *
224.Fo SYSCTL_ADD_S8
225.Fa "struct sysctl_ctx_list *ctx"
226.Fa "struct sysctl_oid_list *parent"
227.Fa "int number"
228.Fa "const char *name"
229.Fa "int ctlflags"
230.Fa "int8_t *ptr"
231.Fa "int8_t val"
232.Fa "const char *descr"
233.Fc
234.Ft struct sysctl_oid *
235.Fo SYSCTL_ADD_S16
236.Fa "struct sysctl_ctx_list *ctx"
237.Fa "struct sysctl_oid_list *parent"
238.Fa "int number"
239.Fa "const char *name"
240.Fa "int ctlflags"
241.Fa "int16_t *ptr"
242.Fa "int16_t val"
243.Fa "const char *descr"
244.Fc
245.Ft struct sysctl_oid *
246.Fo SYSCTL_ADD_S32
247.Fa "struct sysctl_ctx_list *ctx"
248.Fa "struct sysctl_oid_list *parent"
249.Fa "int number"
250.Fa "const char *name"
251.Fa "int ctlflags"
252.Fa "int32_t *ptr"
253.Fa "int32_t val"
254.Fa "const char *descr"
255.Fc
256.Ft struct sysctl_oid *
257.Fo SYSCTL_ADD_S64
258.Fa "struct sysctl_ctx_list *ctx"
259.Fa "struct sysctl_oid_list *parent"
260.Fa "int number"
261.Fa "const char *name"
262.Fa "int ctlflags"
263.Fa "int64_t *ptr"
264.Fa "int64_t val"
265.Fa "const char *descr"
266.Fc
267.Ft struct sysctl_oid *
268.Fo SYSCTL_ADD_SBINTIME_MSEC
269.Fa "struct sysctl_ctx_list *ctx"
270.Fa "struct sysctl_oid_list *parent"
271.Fa "int number"
272.Fa "const char *name"
273.Fa "int ctlflags"
274.Fa "sbintime_t *ptr"
275.Fa "const char *descr"
276.Fc
277.Ft struct sysctl_oid *
278.Fo SYSCTL_ADD_SBINTIME_USEC
279.Fa "struct sysctl_ctx_list *ctx"
280.Fa "struct sysctl_oid_list *parent"
281.Fa "int number"
282.Fa "const char *name"
283.Fa "int ctlflags"
284.Fa "sbintime_t *ptr"
285.Fa "const char *descr"
286.Fc
287.Ft struct sysctl_oid *
288.Fo SYSCTL_ADD_STRING
289.Fa "struct sysctl_ctx_list *ctx"
290.Fa "struct sysctl_oid_list *parent"
291.Fa "int number"
292.Fa "const char *name"
293.Fa "int ctlflags"
294.Fa "char *ptr"
295.Fa "intptr_t len"
296.Fa "const char *descr"
297.Fc
298.Ft struct sysctl_oid *
299.Fo SYSCTL_ADD_CONST_STRING
300.Fa "struct sysctl_ctx_list *ctx"
301.Fa "struct sysctl_oid_list *parent"
302.Fa "int number"
303.Fa "const char *name"
304.Fa "int ctlflags"
305.Fa "const char *ptr"
306.Fa "const char *descr"
307.Fc
308.Ft struct sysctl_oid *
309.Fo SYSCTL_ADD_STRUCT
310.Fa "struct sysctl_ctx_list *ctx"
311.Fa "struct sysctl_oid_list *parent"
312.Fa "int number"
313.Fa "const char *name"
314.Fa "int ctlflags"
315.Fa "void *ptr"
316.Fa struct_type
317.Fa "const char *descr"
318.Fc
319.Ft struct sysctl_oid *
320.Fo SYSCTL_ADD_TIMEVAL_SEC
321.Fa "struct sysctl_ctx_list *ctx"
322.Fa "struct sysctl_oid_list *parent"
323.Fa "int number"
324.Fa "const char *name"
325.Fa "int ctlflags"
326.Fa "struct timeval *ptr"
327.Fa "const char *descr"
328.Fc
329.Ft struct sysctl_oid *
330.Fo SYSCTL_ADD_U8
331.Fa "struct sysctl_ctx_list *ctx"
332.Fa "struct sysctl_oid_list *parent"
333.Fa "int number"
334.Fa "const char *name"
335.Fa "int ctlflags"
336.Fa "uint8_t *ptr"
337.Fa "uint8_t val"
338.Fa "const char *descr"
339.Fc
340.Ft struct sysctl_oid *
341.Fo SYSCTL_ADD_U16
342.Fa "struct sysctl_ctx_list *ctx"
343.Fa "struct sysctl_oid_list *parent"
344.Fa "int number"
345.Fa "const char *name"
346.Fa "int ctlflags"
347.Fa "uint16_t *ptr"
348.Fa "uint16_t val"
349.Fa "const char *descr"
350.Fc
351.Ft struct sysctl_oid *
352.Fo SYSCTL_ADD_U32
353.Fa "struct sysctl_ctx_list *ctx"
354.Fa "struct sysctl_oid_list *parent"
355.Fa "int number"
356.Fa "const char *name"
357.Fa "int ctlflags"
358.Fa "uint32_t *ptr"
359.Fa "uint32_t val"
360.Fa "const char *descr"
361.Fc
362.Ft struct sysctl_oid *
363.Fo SYSCTL_ADD_U64
364.Fa "struct sysctl_ctx_list *ctx"
365.Fa "struct sysctl_oid_list *parent"
366.Fa "int number"
367.Fa "const char *name"
368.Fa "int ctlflags"
369.Fa "uint64_t *ptr"
370.Fa "uint64_t val"
371.Fa "const char *descr"
372.Fc
373.Ft struct sysctl_oid *
374.Fo SYSCTL_ADD_UINT
375.Fa "struct sysctl_ctx_list *ctx"
376.Fa "struct sysctl_oid_list *parent"
377.Fa "int number"
378.Fa "const char *name"
379.Fa "int ctlflags"
380.Fa "unsigned int *ptr"
381.Fa "unsigned int val"
382.Fa "const char *descr"
383.Fc
384.Ft struct sysctl_oid *
385.Fo SYSCTL_ADD_ULONG
386.Fa "struct sysctl_ctx_list *ctx"
387.Fa "struct sysctl_oid_list *parent"
388.Fa "int number"
389.Fa "const char *name"
390.Fa "int ctlflags"
391.Fa "unsigned long *ptr"
392.Fa "const char *descr"
393.Fc
394.Ft struct sysctl_oid *
395.Fo SYSCTL_ADD_UQUAD
396.Fa "struct sysctl_ctx_list *ctx"
397.Fa "struct sysctl_oid_list *parent"
398.Fa "int number"
399.Fa "const char *name"
400.Fa "int ctlflags"
401.Fa "uint64_t *ptr"
402.Fa "const char *descr"
403.Fc
404.Ft struct sysctl_oid *
405.Fo SYSCTL_ADD_UMA_CUR
406.Fa "struct sysctl_ctx_list *ctx"
407.Fa "struct sysctl_oid_list *parent"
408.Fa "int number"
409.Fa "const char *name"
410.Fa "int ctlflags"
411.Fa "uma_zone_t ptr"
412.Fa "const char *descr"
413.Fc
414.Ft struct sysctl_oid *
415.Fo SYSCTL_ADD_UMA_MAX
416.Fa "struct sysctl_ctx_list *ctx"
417.Fa "struct sysctl_oid_list *parent"
418.Fa "int number"
419.Fa "const char *name"
420.Fa "int ctlflags"
421.Fa "uma_zone_t ptr"
422.Fa "const char *descr"
423.Fc
424.Fa "const char *descr"
425.Ft struct sysctl_oid *
426.Fo SYSCTL_ADD_UAUTO
427.Fa "struct sysctl_ctx_list *ctx"
428.Fa "struct sysctl_oid_list *parent"
429.Fa "int number"
430.Fa "const char *name"
431.Fa "int ctlflags"
432.Fa "void *ptr"
433.Fa "const char *descr"
434.Fc
435.Ft struct sysctl_oid_list *
436.Fo SYSCTL_CHILDREN
437.Fa "struct sysctl_oid *oidp"
438.Fc
439.Ft struct sysctl_oid_list *
440.Fo SYSCTL_STATIC_CHILDREN
441.Fa "struct sysctl_oid_list OID_NAME"
442.Fc
443.Ft struct sysctl_oid_list *
444.Fo SYSCTL_NODE_CHILDREN
445.Fa "parent"
446.Fa "name"
447.Fc
448.Ft struct sysctl_oid *
449.Fo SYSCTL_PARENT
450.Fa "struct sysctl_oid *oid"
451.Fc
452.Fn SYSCTL_BOOL parent number name ctlflags ptr val descr
453.Fn SYSCTL_COUNTER_U64 parent number name ctlflags ptr descr
454.Fn SYSCTL_COUNTER_U64_ARRAY parent number name ctlflags ptr len descr
455.Fn SYSCTL_INT parent number name ctlflags ptr val descr
456.Fn SYSCTL_INT_WITH_LABEL parent number name ctlflags ptr val descr label
457.Fn SYSCTL_LONG parent number name ctlflags ptr val descr
458.Ft int
459.Fn sysctl_msec_to_ticks SYSCTL_HANDLER_ARGS
460.Fn SYSCTL_NODE parent number name ctlflags handler descr
461.Fn SYSCTL_NODE_WITH_LABEL parent number name ctlflags handler descr label
462.Fn SYSCTL_OPAQUE parent number name ctlflags ptr len format descr
463.Fn SYSCTL_PROC parent number name ctlflags arg1 arg2 handler format descr
464.Fn SYSCTL_QUAD parent number name ctlflags ptr val descr
465.Fn SYSCTL_ROOT_NODE number name ctlflags handler descr
466.Fn SYSCTL_S8 parent number name ctlflags ptr val descr
467.Fn SYSCTL_S16 parent number name ctlflags ptr val descr
468.Fn SYSCTL_S32 parent number name ctlflags ptr val descr
469.Fn SYSCTL_S64 parent number name ctlflags ptr val descr
470.Fn SYSCTL_SBINTIME_MSEC parent number name ctlflags ptr descr
471.Fn SYSCTL_SBINTIME_USEC parent number name ctlflags ptr descr
472.Fn SYSCTL_STRING parent number name ctlflags arg len descr
473.Fn SYSCTL_CONST_STRING parent number name ctlflags arg descr
474.Fn SYSCTL_STRUCT parent number name ctlflags ptr struct_type descr
475.Fn SYSCTL_TIMEVAL_SEC parent number name ctlflags ptr descr
476.Fn SYSCTL_U8 parent number name ctlflags ptr val descr
477.Fn SYSCTL_U16 parent number name ctlflags ptr val descr
478.Fn SYSCTL_U32 parent number name ctlflags ptr val descr
479.Fn SYSCTL_U64 parent number name ctlflags ptr val descr
480.Fn SYSCTL_UINT parent number name ctlflags ptr val descr
481.Fn SYSCTL_ULONG parent number name ctlflags ptr val descr
482.Fn SYSCTL_UQUAD parent number name ctlflags ptr val descr
483.Fn SYSCTL_UMA_MAX parent number name ctlflags ptr descr
484.Fn SYSCTL_UMA_CUR parent number name ctlflags ptr descr
485.Sh DESCRIPTION
486The
487.Nm SYSCTL
488kernel interface allows dynamic or static creation of
489.Xr sysctl 8
490MIB entries.
491All static sysctls are automatically destroyed when the module which
492they are part of is unloaded.
493Most top level categories are created statically and are available to
494all kernel code and its modules.
495.Sh DESCRIPTION OF ARGUMENTS
496.Bl -tag -width ctlflags
497.It Fa ctx
498Pointer to sysctl context or NULL, if no context.
499See
500.Xr sysctl_ctx_init 9
501for how to create a new sysctl context.
502Programmers are strongly advised to use contexts to organize the
503dynamic OIDs which they create because when a context is destroyed all
504belonging sysctls are destroyed as well.
505This makes the sysctl cleanup code much simpler.
506Else deletion of all created OIDs is required at module unload.
507.It Fa parent
508A pointer to a
509.Li struct sysctl_oid_list ,
510which is the head of the parent's list of children.
511This pointer is retrieved using the
512.Fn SYSCTL_STATIC_CHILDREN
513macro for static sysctls and the
514.Fn SYSCTL_CHILDREN
515macro for dynamic sysctls.
516The
517.Fn SYSCTL_PARENT
518macro can be used to get the parent of an OID.
519The macro returns NULL if there is no parent.
520.It Fa number
521The OID number that will be assigned to this OID.
522In almost all cases this should be set to
523.Dv OID_AUTO ,
524which will result in the assignment of the next available OID number.
525.It Fa name
526The name of the OID.
527The newly created OID will contain a copy of the name.
528.It Fa ctlflags
529A bit mask of sysctl control flags.
530See the section below describing all the control flags.
531.It Fa arg1
532First callback argument for procedure sysctls.
533.It Fa arg2
534Second callback argument for procedure sysctls.
535.It Fa len
536The length of the data pointed to by the
537.Fa ptr
538argument.
539For string type OIDs a length of zero means that
540.Xr strlen 3
541will be used to get the length of the string at each access to the OID.
542For array type OIDs the length must be greater than zero.
543.It Fa ptr
544Pointer to sysctl variable or string data.
545For 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
546.Fa val
547argument.
548.It Fa val
549If the
550.Fa ptr
551argument is SYSCTL_NULL_XXX_PTR, gives the constant value returned by this OID.
552Else this argument is not used.
553.It Fa struct_type
554Name of structure type.
555.It Fa handler
556A pointer to the function
557that is responsible for handling read and write requests
558to this OID.
559There are several standard handlers
560that support operations on nodes,
561integers, strings and opaque objects.
562It is possible to define custom handlers using the
563.Fn SYSCTL_PROC
564macro or the
565.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_PROC
566function.
567.It Fa format
568A pointer to a string
569which specifies the format of the OID in a symbolic way.
570This format is used as a hint by
571.Xr sysctl 8
572to apply proper data formatting for display purposes.
573.Pp
574Current formats:
575.Bl -tag -width "S,TYPE" -compact -offset indent
576.It Cm N
577node
578.It Cm A
579.Li "char *"
580.It Cm C
581.Li "int8_t"
582.It Cm CU
583.Li "uint8_t"
584.It Cm I
585.Li "int"
586.It Cm IK Ns Op Ar n
587temperature in Kelvin, multiplied by an optional single digit
588power of ten scaling factor: 1 (default) gives deciKelvin, 0 gives Kelvin, 3
589gives milliKelvin
590.It Cm IU
591.Li "unsigned int"
592.It Cm L
593.Li "long"
594.It Cm LU
595.Li "unsigned long"
596.It Cm Q
597.Li "quad_t"
598.It Cm QU
599.Li "u_quad_t"
600.It Cm S
601.Li "int16_t"
602.It Cm SU
603.Li "uint16_t"
604.It Cm "S,TYPE"
605.Li "struct TYPE"
606structures
607.El
608.It Fa descr
609A pointer to a textual description of the OID.
610.It Fa label
611A pointer to an aggregation label for this component of the OID.
612To make it easier to export sysctl data to monitoring systems that
613support aggregations through labels (e.g., Prometheus),
614this argument can be used to attach a label name to an OID.
615The label acts as a hint that this component's name should not be part
616of the metric's name,
617but attached to the metric as a label instead.
618.Pp
619Labels should only be applied to siblings that are structurally similar
620and encode the same type of value,
621as aggregation is of no use otherwise.
622.El
623.Sh NODE VALUE TYPES
624Most of the macros and functions used to create sysctl nodes export a
625read-only constant or in-kernel variable whose type matches the type
626of the node's value.
627For example,
628.Fn SYSCTL_INT
629reports the raw value of an associated variable of type
630.Vt int .
631However, nodes may also export a value that is a translatation of an internal
632representation.
633.Pp
634The
635.Fn sysctl_msec_to_ticks
636handler can be used with
637.Fn SYSCTL_PROC
638or
639.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_PROC
640to export a millisecond time interval.
641When using this handler,
642the
643.Fa arg2
644parameter points to an in-kernel variable of type
645.Vt int
646which stores a tick count suitable for use with functions like
647.Xr tsleep 9 .
648The
649.Fn sysctl_msec_to_ticks
650function converts this value to milliseconds when reporting the node's value.
651Similarly,
652.Fn sysctl_msec_to_ticks
653accepts new values in milliseconds and stores an equivalent value in ticks to
654.Fa *arg2 .
655Note that new code should use kernel variables of type
656.Vt sbintime_t
657instead of tick counts.
658.Pp
659The
660.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_SBINTIME_MSEC
661and
662.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_SBINTIME_USEC
663functions and
664.Fn SYSCTL_SBINTIME_MSEC
665and
666.Fn SYSCTL_SBINTIME_USEC
667macros all create nodes which export an in-kernel variable of type
668.Vt sbintime_t .
669These nodes do not export the raw value of the associated variable.
670Instead, they export a 64-bit integer containing a count of either
671milliseconds (the MSEC variants) or microseconds (the USEC variants).
672.Pp
673The
674.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_TIMEVAL_SEC
675function and
676.Fn SYSCTL_TIMEVAL_SEC
677macro create nodes which export an in-kernel variable of type
678.Vt struct timeval .
679These nodes do not export full value of the associated structure.
680Instead, they export a count in seconds as a simple integer which is
681stored in the
682.Fa tv_sec
683field of the associated variable.
684This function and macro are intended to be used with variables which
685store a non-negative interval rather than an absolute time.
686As a result, they reject attempts to store negative values.
687.Sh CREATING ROOT NODES
688Sysctl MIBs or OIDs are created in a hierarchical tree.
689The nodes at the bottom of the tree are called root nodes, and have no
690parent OID.
691To create bottom tree nodes the
692.Fn SYSCTL_ROOT_NODE
693macro or the
694.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_ROOT_NODE
695function needs to be used.
696By default all static sysctl node OIDs are global and need a
697.Fn SYSCTL_DECL
698statement prior to their
699.Fn SYSCTL_NODE
700definition statement, typically in a so-called header file.
701.Sh CREATING SYSCTL STRINGS
702Zero terminated character strings sysctls are created either using the
703.Fn SYSCTL_STRING
704macro or the
705.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_STRING
706function.
707If the
708.Fa len
709argument in zero, the string length is computed at every access to the OID using
710.Xr strlen 3 .
711Use the
712.Fn SYSCTL_CONST_STRING
713macro or the
714.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_CONST_STRING
715function to add a sysctl for a constant string.
716.Sh CREATING OPAQUE SYSCTLS
717The
718.Fn SYSCTL_OPAQUE
719or
720.Fn SYSCTL_STRUCT
721macros or the
722.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_OPAQUE
723or
724.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_STRUCT
725functions create an OID that handle any chunk of data
726of the size specified by the
727.Fa len
728argument and data pointed to by the
729.Fa ptr
730argument.
731When using the structure version the type is encoded as part of the
732created sysctl.
733.Sh CREATING CUSTOM SYSCTLS
734The
735.Fn SYSCTL_PROC
736macro and the
737.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_PROC
738function
739create OIDs with the specified
740.Pa handler
741function.
742The handler is responsible for handling all read and write requests to
743the OID.
744This OID type is especially useful if the kernel data is not easily
745accessible, or needs to be processed before exporting.
746.Sh CREATING A STATIC SYSCTL
747Static sysctls are declared using one of the
748.Fn SYSCTL_BOOL ,
749.Fn SYSCTL_COUNTER_U64 ,
750.Fn SYSCTL_COUNTER_U64_ARRAY ,
751.Fn SYSCTL_INT ,
752.Fn SYSCTL_INT_WITH_LABEL ,
753.Fn SYSCTL_LONG ,
754.Fn SYSCTL_NODE ,
755.Fn SYSCTL_NODE_WITH_LABEL ,
756.Fn SYSCTL_OPAQUE ,
757.Fn SYSCTL_PROC ,
758.Fn SYSCTL_QUAD ,
759.Fn SYSCTL_ROOT_NODE ,
760.Fn SYSCTL_S8 ,
761.Fn SYSCTL_S16 ,
762.Fn SYSCTL_S32 ,
763.Fn SYSCTL_S64 ,
764.Fn SYSCTL_SBINTIME_MSEC ,
765.Fn SYSCTL_SBINTIME_USEC ,
766.Fn SYSCTL_STRING ,
767.Fn SYSCTL_CONST_STRING ,
768.Fn SYSCTL_STRUCT ,
769.Fn SYSCTL_TIMEVAL_SEC ,
770.Fn SYSCTL_U8 ,
771.Fn SYSCTL_U16 ,
772.Fn SYSCTL_U32 ,
773.Fn SYSCTL_U64 ,
774.Fn SYSCTL_UINT ,
775.Fn SYSCTL_ULONG ,
776.Fn SYSCTL_UQUAD ,
777.Fn SYSCTL_UMA_CUR
778or
779.Fn SYSCTL_UMA_MAX
780macros.
781.Sh CREATING A DYNAMIC SYSCTL
782Dynamic nodes are created using one of the
783.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_BOOL ,
784.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_COUNTER_U64 ,
785.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_COUNTER_U64_ARRAY ,
786.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_INT ,
787.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_LONG ,
788.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_NODE ,
789.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_NODE_WITH_LABEL ,
790.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_OPAQUE ,
791.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_PROC ,
792.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_QUAD ,
793.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_ROOT_NODE ,
794.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_S8 ,
795.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_S16 ,
796.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_S32 ,
797.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_S64 ,
798.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_SBINTIME_MSEC ,
799.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_SBINTIME_USEC ,
800.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_STRING ,
801.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_CONST_STRING ,
802.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_STRUCT ,
803.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_TIMEVAL_SEC ,
804.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_U8 ,
805.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_U16 ,
806.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_U32 ,
807.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_U64 ,
808.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_UAUTO ,
809.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_UINT ,
810.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_ULONG ,
811.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_UQUAD ,
812.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_UMA_CUR
813or
814.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_UMA_MAX
815functions.
816See
817.Xr sysctl_remove_oid 9
818or
819.Xr sysctl_ctx_free 9
820for more information on how to destroy a dynamically created OID.
821.Sh CONTROL FLAGS
822For most of the above functions and macros, declaring a type as part
823of the access flags is not necessary \[em] however, when declaring a
824sysctl implemented by a function, including a type in the access mask
825is required:
826.Bl -tag -width ".Dv CTLTYPE_NOFETCH"
827.It Dv CTLTYPE_NODE
828This is a node intended to be a parent for other nodes.
829.It Dv CTLTYPE_INT
830This is a signed integer.
831.It Dv CTLTYPE_STRING
832This is a nul-terminated string stored in a character array.
833.It Dv CTLTYPE_S8
834This is an 8-bit signed integer.
835.It Dv CTLTYPE_S16
836This is a 16-bit signed integer.
837.It Dv CTLTYPE_S32
838This is a 32-bit signed integer.
839.It Dv CTLTYPE_S64
840This is a 64-bit signed integer.
841.It Dv CTLTYPE_OPAQUE
842This is an opaque data structure.
843.It Dv CTLTYPE_STRUCT
844Alias for
845.Dv CTLTYPE_OPAQUE .
846.It Dv CTLTYPE_U8
847This is an 8-bit unsigned integer.
848.It Dv CTLTYPE_U16
849This is a 16-bit unsigned integer.
850.It Dv CTLTYPE_U32
851This is a 32-bit unsigned integer.
852.It Dv CTLTYPE_U64
853This is a 64-bit unsigned integer.
854.It Dv CTLTYPE_UINT
855This is an unsigned integer.
856.It Dv CTLTYPE_LONG
857This is a signed long.
858.It Dv CTLTYPE_ULONG
859This is an unsigned long.
860.El
861.Pp
862All sysctl types except for new node declarations require one of the following
863flags to be set indicating the read and write disposition of the sysctl:
864.Bl -tag -width ".Dv CTLFLAG_ANYBODY"
865.It Dv CTLFLAG_RD
866This is a read-only sysctl.
867.It Dv CTLFLAG_RDTUN
868This is a read-only sysctl and tunable which is tried fetched once
869from the system environment early during module load or system boot.
870.It Dv CTLFLAG_WR
871This is a writable sysctl.
872.It Dv CTLFLAG_RW
873This sysctl is readable and writable.
874.It Dv CTLFLAG_RWTUN
875This is a readable and writeable sysctl and tunable which is tried
876fetched once from the system environment early during module load or
877system boot.
878.It Dv CTLFLAG_NOFETCH
879In case the node is marked as a tunable using the CTLFLAG_[XX]TUN,
880this flag will prevent fetching the initial value from the system
881environment.
882Typically this flag should only be used for very early
883low level system setup code, and not by common drivers and modules.
884.It Dv CTLFLAG_MPSAFE
885This
886.Xr sysctl 9
887handler is MP safe.
888Do not grab Giant around calls to this handler.
889This should only be used for
890.Fn SYSCTL_PROC
891entries.
892.El
893.Pp
894Additionally, any of the following optional flags may also be specified:
895.Bl -tag -width ".Dv CTLFLAG_ANYBODY"
896.It Dv CTLFLAG_ANYBODY
897Any user or process can write to this sysctl.
898.It Dv CTLFLAG_CAPRD
899A process in capability mode can read from this sysctl.
900.It Dv CTLFLAG_CAPWR
901A process in capability mode can write to this sysctl.
902.It Dv CTLFLAG_SECURE
903This sysctl can be written to only if the effective securelevel of the
904process is \[<=] 0.
905.It Dv CTLFLAG_PRISON
906This sysctl can be written to by processes in
907.Xr jail 2 .
908.It Dv CTLFLAG_SKIP
909When iterating the sysctl name space, do not list this sysctl.
910.It Dv CTLFLAG_TUN
911Advisory flag that a system tunable also exists for this variable.
912The initial sysctl value is tried fetched once from the system
913environment early during module load or system boot.
914.It Dv CTLFLAG_DYN
915Dynamically created OIDs automatically get this flag set.
916.It Dv CTLFLAG_VNET
917OID references a VIMAGE-enabled variable.
918.El
919.Sh EXAMPLES
920Sample use of
921.Fn SYSCTL_DECL
922to declare the
923.Va security
924sysctl tree for use by new nodes:
925.Bd -literal -offset indent
926SYSCTL_DECL(_security);
927.Ed
928.Pp
929Examples of integer, opaque, string, and procedure sysctls follow:
930.Bd -literal -offset indent
931/*
932 * Example of a constant integer value.  Notice that the control
933 * flags are CTLFLAG_RD, the variable pointer is SYSCTL_NULL_INT_PTR,
934 * and the value is declared.
935 */
936SYSCTL_INT(_debug_sizeof, OID_AUTO, bio, CTLFLAG_RD, SYSCTL_NULL_INT_PTR,
937    sizeof(struct bio), "sizeof(struct bio)");
938
939/*
940 * Example of a variable integer value.  Notice that the control
941 * flags are CTLFLAG_RW, the variable pointer is set, and the
942 * value is 0.
943 */
944static int	doingcache = 1;		/* 1 => enable the cache */
945SYSCTL_INT(_debug, OID_AUTO, vfscache, CTLFLAG_RW, &doingcache, 0,
946    "Enable name cache");
947
948/*
949 * Example of a variable string value.  Notice that the control
950 * flags are CTLFLAG_RW, that the variable pointer and string
951 * size are set.  Unlike newer sysctls, this older sysctl uses a
952 * static oid number.
953 */
954char kernelname[MAXPATHLEN] = "/kernel";	/* XXX bloat */
955SYSCTL_STRING(_kern, KERN_BOOTFILE, bootfile, CTLFLAG_RW,
956    kernelname, sizeof(kernelname), "Name of kernel file booted");
957
958/*
959 * Example of an opaque data type exported by sysctl.  Notice that
960 * the variable pointer and size are provided, as well as a format
961 * string for sysctl(8).
962 */
963static l_fp pps_freq;	/* scaled frequency offset (ns/s) */
964SYSCTL_OPAQUE(_kern_ntp_pll, OID_AUTO, pps_freq, CTLFLAG_RD,
965    &pps_freq, sizeof(pps_freq), "I", "");
966
967/*
968 * Example of a procedure based sysctl exporting string
969 * information.  Notice that the data type is declared, the NULL
970 * variable pointer and 0 size, the function pointer, and the
971 * format string for sysctl(8).
972 */
973SYSCTL_PROC(_kern_timecounter, OID_AUTO, hardware, CTLTYPE_STRING |
974    CTLFLAG_RW, NULL, 0, sysctl_kern_timecounter_hardware, "A",
975    "");
976.Ed
977.Pp
978The following is an example of
979how to create a new top-level category
980and how to hook up another subtree to an existing static node.
981This example does not use contexts,
982which results in tedious management of all intermediate oids,
983as they need to be freed later on:
984.Bd -literal -offset indent
985#include <sys/sysctl.h>
986 ...
987/*
988 * Need to preserve pointers to newly created subtrees,
989 * to be able to free them later:
990 */
991static struct sysctl_oid *root1;
992static struct sysctl_oid *root2;
993static struct sysctl_oid *oidp;
994static int a_int;
995static char *string = "dynamic sysctl";
996 ...
997
998root1 = SYSCTL_ADD_ROOT_NODE(NULL,
999	OID_AUTO, "newtree", CTLFLAG_RW, 0, "new top level tree");
1000oidp = SYSCTL_ADD_INT(NULL, SYSCTL_CHILDREN(root1),
1001	OID_AUTO, "newint", CTLFLAG_RW, &a_int, 0, "new int leaf");
1002 ...
1003root2 = SYSCTL_ADD_NODE(NULL, SYSCTL_STATIC_CHILDREN(_debug),
1004	OID_AUTO, "newtree", CTLFLAG_RW, 0, "new tree under debug");
1005oidp = SYSCTL_ADD_STRING(NULL, SYSCTL_CHILDREN(root2),
1006	OID_AUTO, "newstring", CTLFLAG_RD, string, 0, "new string leaf");
1007.Ed
1008.Pp
1009This example creates the following subtrees:
1010.Bd -literal -offset indent
1011debug.newtree.newstring
1012newtree.newint
1013.Ed
1014.Pp
1015.Em "Care should be taken to free all OIDs once they are no longer needed!"
1016.Sh SYSCTL NAMING
1017When adding, modifying, or removing sysctl names, it is important to be
1018aware that these interfaces may be used by users, libraries, applications,
1019or documentation (such as published books), and are implicitly published application interfaces.
1020As with other application interfaces, caution must be taken not to break
1021existing applications, and to think about future use of new name spaces so as
1022to avoid the need to rename or remove interfaces that might be depended on in
1023the future.
1024.Pp
1025The semantics chosen for a new sysctl should be as clear as possible,
1026and the name of the sysctl must closely reflect its semantics.
1027Therefore the sysctl name deserves a fair amount of consideration.
1028It should be short but yet representative of the sysctl meaning.
1029If the name consists of several words, they should be separated by
1030underscore characters, as in
1031.Va compute_summary_at_mount .
1032Underscore characters may be omitted only if the name consists of not more
1033than two words, each being not longer than four characters, as in
1034.Va bootfile .
1035.Pp
1036For boolean sysctls, negative logic should be totally avoided.
1037That is, do not use names like
1038.Va no_foobar
1039or
1040.Va foobar_disable .
1041They are confusing and lead to configuration errors.
1042Use positive logic instead:
1043.Va foobar ,
1044.Va foobar_enable .
1045.Pp
1046A temporary sysctl node OID that should not be relied upon must be designated
1047as such by a leading underscore character in its name.
1048For example:
1049.Va _dirty_hack .
1050.Sh SEE ALSO
1051.Xr sysctl 3 ,
1052.Xr sysctl 8 ,
1053.Xr device_get_sysctl 9 ,
1054.Xr sysctl_add_oid 9 ,
1055.Xr sysctl_ctx_free 9 ,
1056.Xr sysctl_ctx_init 9 ,
1057.Xr sysctl_remove_oid 9
1058.Sh HISTORY
1059The
1060.Xr sysctl 8
1061utility first appeared in
1062.Bx 4.4 .
1063.Sh AUTHORS
1064.An -nosplit
1065The
1066.Nm sysctl
1067implementation originally found in
1068.Bx
1069has been extensively rewritten by
1070.An Poul-Henning Kamp
1071in order to add support for name lookups, name space iteration, and dynamic
1072addition of MIB nodes.
1073.Pp
1074This man page was written by
1075.An Robert N. M. Watson .
1076.Sh SECURITY CONSIDERATIONS
1077When creating new sysctls, careful attention should be paid to the security
1078implications of the monitoring or management interface being created.
1079Most sysctls present in the kernel are read-only or writable only by the
1080superuser.
1081Sysctls exporting extensive information on system data structures and
1082operation, especially those implemented using procedures, will wish to
1083implement access control to limit the undesired exposure of information about
1084other processes, network connections, etc.
1085.Pp
1086The following top level sysctl name spaces are commonly used:
1087.Bl -tag -width ".Va regression"
1088.It Va compat
1089Compatibility layer information.
1090.It Va debug
1091Debugging information.
1092Various name spaces exist under
1093.Va debug .
1094.It Va hw
1095Hardware and device driver information.
1096.It Va kern
1097Kernel behavior tuning; generally deprecated in favor of more specific
1098name spaces.
1099.It Va machdep
1100Machine-dependent configuration parameters.
1101.It Va net
1102Network subsystem.
1103Various protocols have name spaces under
1104.Va net .
1105.It Va regression
1106Regression test configuration and information.
1107.It Va security
1108Security and security-policy configuration and information.
1109.It Va sysctl
1110Reserved name space for the implementation of sysctl.
1111.It Va user
1112Configuration settings relating to user application behavior.
1113Generally, configuring applications using kernel sysctls is discouraged.
1114.It Va vfs
1115Virtual file system configuration and information.
1116.It Va vm
1117Virtual memory subsystem configuration and information.
1118.El
1119