xref: /freebsd/share/man/man9/sysctl.9 (revision a0409676120c1e558d0ade943019934e0f15118d)
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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 I
581.Li "int"
582.It Cm IK Ns Op Ar n
583temperature in Kelvin, multiplied by an optional single digit
584power of ten scaling factor: 1 (default) gives deciKelvin, 0 gives Kelvin, 3
585gives milliKelvin
586.It Cm IU
587.Li "unsigned int"
588.It Cm L
589.Li "long"
590.It Cm LU
591.Li "unsigned long"
592.It Cm Q
593.Li "quad_t"
594.It Cm QU
595.Li "u_quad_t"
596.It Cm "S,TYPE"
597.Li "struct TYPE"
598structures
599.El
600.It Fa descr
601A pointer to a textual description of the OID.
602.It Fa label
603A pointer to an aggregation label for this component of the OID.
604To make it easier to export sysctl data to monitoring systems that
605support aggregations through labels (e.g., Prometheus),
606this argument can be used to attach a label name to an OID.
607The label acts as a hint that this component's name should not be part
608of the metric's name,
609but attached to the metric as a label instead.
610.Pp
611Labels should only be applied to siblings that are structurally similar
612and encode the same type of value,
613as aggregation is of no use otherwise.
614.El
615.Sh NODE VALUE TYPES
616Most of the macros and functions used to create sysctl nodes export a
617read-only constant or in-kernel variable whose type matches the type
618of the node's value.
619For example,
620.Fn SYSCTL_INT
621reports the raw value of an associated variable of type
622.Vt int .
623However, nodes may also export a value that is a translatation of an internal
624representation.
625.Pp
626The
627.Fn sysctl_msec_to_ticks
628handler can be used with
629.Fn SYSCTL_PROC
630or
631.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_PROC
632to export a millisecond time interval.
633When using this handler,
634the
635.Fa arg2
636parameter points to an in-kernel variable of type
637.Vt int
638which stores a tick count suitable for use with functions like
639.Xr tsleep 9 .
640The
641.Fn sysctl_msec_to_ticks
642function converts this value to milliseconds when reporting the node's value.
643Similarly,
644.Fn sysctl_msec_to_ticks
645accepts new values in milliseconds and stores an equivalent value in ticks to
646.Fa *arg2 .
647Note that new code should use kernel variables of type
648.Vt sbintime_t
649instead of tick counts.
650.Pp
651The
652.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_SBINTIME_MSEC
653and
654.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_SBINTIME_USEC
655functions and
656.Fn SYSCTL_SBINTIME_MSEC
657and
658.Fn SYSCTL_SBINTIME_USEC
659macros all create nodes which export an in-kernel variable of type
660.Vt sbintime_t .
661These nodes do not export the raw value of the associated variable.
662Instead, they export a 64-bit integer containing a count of either
663milliseconds (the MSEC variants) or microseconds (the USEC variants).
664.Pp
665The
666.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_TIMEVAL_SEC
667function and
668.Fn SYSCTL_TIMEVAL_SEC
669macro create nodes which export an in-kernel variable of type
670.Vt struct timeval .
671These nodes do not export full value of the associated structure.
672Instead, they export a count in seconds as a simple integer which is
673stored in the
674.Fa tv_sec
675field of the associated variable.
676This function and macro are intended to be used with variables which
677store a non-negative interval rather than an absolute time.
678As a result, they reject attempts to store negative values.
679.Sh CREATING ROOT NODES
680Sysctl MIBs or OIDs are created in a hierarchical tree.
681The nodes at the bottom of the tree are called root nodes, and have no
682parent OID.
683To create bottom tree nodes the
684.Fn SYSCTL_ROOT_NODE
685macro or the
686.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_ROOT_NODE
687function needs to be used.
688By default all static sysctl node OIDs are global and need a
689.Fn SYSCTL_DECL
690statement prior to their
691.Fn SYSCTL_NODE
692definition statement, typically in a so-called header file.
693.Sh CREATING SYSCTL STRINGS
694Zero terminated character strings sysctls are created either using the
695.Fn SYSCTL_STRING
696macro or the
697.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_STRING
698function.
699If the
700.Fa len
701argument in zero, the string length is computed at every access to the OID using
702.Xr strlen 3 .
703Use the
704.Fn SYSCTL_CONST_STRING
705macro or the
706.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_CONST_STRING
707function to add a sysctl for a constant string.
708.Sh CREATING OPAQUE SYSCTLS
709The
710.Fn SYSCTL_OPAQUE
711or
712.Fn SYSCTL_STRUCT
713macros or the
714.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_OPAQUE
715or
716.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_STRUCT
717functions create an OID that handle any chunk of data
718of the size specified by the
719.Fa len
720argument and data pointed to by the
721.Fa ptr
722argument.
723When using the structure version the type is encoded as part of the
724created sysctl.
725.Sh CREATING CUSTOM SYSCTLS
726The
727.Fn SYSCTL_PROC
728macro and the
729.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_PROC
730function
731create OIDs with the specified
732.Pa handler
733function.
734The handler is responsible for handling all read and write requests to
735the OID.
736This OID type is especially useful if the kernel data is not easily
737accessible, or needs to be processed before exporting.
738.Sh CREATING A STATIC SYSCTL
739Static sysctls are declared using one of the
740.Fn SYSCTL_BOOL ,
741.Fn SYSCTL_COUNTER_U64 ,
742.Fn SYSCTL_COUNTER_U64_ARRAY ,
743.Fn SYSCTL_INT ,
744.Fn SYSCTL_INT_WITH_LABEL ,
745.Fn SYSCTL_LONG ,
746.Fn SYSCTL_NODE ,
747.Fn SYSCTL_NODE_WITH_LABEL ,
748.Fn SYSCTL_OPAQUE ,
749.Fn SYSCTL_PROC ,
750.Fn SYSCTL_QUAD ,
751.Fn SYSCTL_ROOT_NODE ,
752.Fn SYSCTL_S8 ,
753.Fn SYSCTL_S16 ,
754.Fn SYSCTL_S32 ,
755.Fn SYSCTL_S64 ,
756.Fn SYSCTL_SBINTIME_MSEC ,
757.Fn SYSCTL_SBINTIME_USEC ,
758.Fn SYSCTL_STRING ,
759.Fn SYSCTL_CONST_STRING ,
760.Fn SYSCTL_STRUCT ,
761.Fn SYSCTL_TIMEVAL_SEC ,
762.Fn SYSCTL_U8 ,
763.Fn SYSCTL_U16 ,
764.Fn SYSCTL_U32 ,
765.Fn SYSCTL_U64 ,
766.Fn SYSCTL_UINT ,
767.Fn SYSCTL_ULONG ,
768.Fn SYSCTL_UQUAD ,
769.Fn SYSCTL_UMA_CUR
770or
771.Fn SYSCTL_UMA_MAX
772macros.
773.Sh CREATING A DYNAMIC SYSCTL
774Dynamic nodes are created using one of the
775.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_BOOL ,
776.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_COUNTER_U64 ,
777.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_COUNTER_U64_ARRAY ,
778.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_INT ,
779.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_LONG ,
780.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_NODE ,
781.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_NODE_WITH_LABEL ,
782.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_OPAQUE ,
783.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_PROC ,
784.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_QUAD ,
785.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_ROOT_NODE ,
786.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_S8 ,
787.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_S16 ,
788.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_S32 ,
789.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_S64 ,
790.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_SBINTIME_MSEC ,
791.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_SBINTIME_USEC ,
792.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_STRING ,
793.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_CONST_STRING ,
794.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_STRUCT ,
795.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_TIMEVAL_SEC ,
796.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_U8 ,
797.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_U16 ,
798.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_U32 ,
799.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_U64 ,
800.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_UAUTO ,
801.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_UINT ,
802.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_ULONG ,
803.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_UQUAD ,
804.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_UMA_CUR
805or
806.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_UMA_MAX
807functions.
808See
809.Xr sysctl_remove_oid 9
810or
811.Xr sysctl_ctx_free 9
812for more information on how to destroy a dynamically created OID.
813.Sh CONTROL FLAGS
814For most of the above functions and macros, declaring a type as part
815of the access flags is not necessary \[em] however, when declaring a
816sysctl implemented by a function, including a type in the access mask
817is required:
818.Bl -tag -width ".Dv CTLTYPE_NOFETCH"
819.It Dv CTLTYPE_NODE
820This is a node intended to be a parent for other nodes.
821.It Dv CTLTYPE_INT
822This is a signed integer.
823.It Dv CTLTYPE_STRING
824This is a nul-terminated string stored in a character array.
825.It Dv CTLTYPE_S8
826This is an 8-bit signed integer.
827.It Dv CTLTYPE_S16
828This is a 16-bit signed integer.
829.It Dv CTLTYPE_S32
830This is a 32-bit signed integer.
831.It Dv CTLTYPE_S64
832This is a 64-bit signed integer.
833.It Dv CTLTYPE_OPAQUE
834This is an opaque data structure.
835.It Dv CTLTYPE_STRUCT
836Alias for
837.Dv CTLTYPE_OPAQUE .
838.It Dv CTLTYPE_U8
839This is an 8-bit unsigned integer.
840.It Dv CTLTYPE_U16
841This is a 16-bit unsigned integer.
842.It Dv CTLTYPE_U32
843This is a 32-bit unsigned integer.
844.It Dv CTLTYPE_U64
845This is a 64-bit unsigned integer.
846.It Dv CTLTYPE_UINT
847This is an unsigned integer.
848.It Dv CTLTYPE_LONG
849This is a signed long.
850.It Dv CTLTYPE_ULONG
851This is an unsigned long.
852.El
853.Pp
854All sysctl types except for new node declarations require one of the following
855flags to be set indicating the read and write disposition of the sysctl:
856.Bl -tag -width ".Dv CTLFLAG_ANYBODY"
857.It Dv CTLFLAG_RD
858This is a read-only sysctl.
859.It Dv CTLFLAG_RDTUN
860This is a read-only sysctl and tunable which is tried fetched once
861from the system environment early during module load or system boot.
862.It Dv CTLFLAG_WR
863This is a writable sysctl.
864.It Dv CTLFLAG_RW
865This sysctl is readable and writable.
866.It Dv CTLFLAG_RWTUN
867This is a readable and writeable sysctl and tunable which is tried
868fetched once from the system environment early during module load or
869system boot.
870.It Dv CTLFLAG_NOFETCH
871In case the node is marked as a tunable using the CTLFLAG_[XX]TUN,
872this flag will prevent fetching the initial value from the system
873environment.
874Typically this flag should only be used for very early
875low level system setup code, and not by common drivers and modules.
876.It Dv CTLFLAG_MPSAFE
877This
878.Xr sysctl 9
879handler is MP safe.
880Do not grab Giant around calls to this handler.
881This should only be used for
882.Fn SYSCTL_PROC
883entries.
884.El
885.Pp
886Additionally, any of the following optional flags may also be specified:
887.Bl -tag -width ".Dv CTLFLAG_ANYBODY"
888.It Dv CTLFLAG_ANYBODY
889Any user or process can write to this sysctl.
890.It Dv CTLFLAG_CAPRD
891A process in capability mode can read from this sysctl.
892.It Dv CTLFLAG_CAPWR
893A process in capability mode can write to this sysctl.
894.It Dv CTLFLAG_SECURE
895This sysctl can be written to only if the effective securelevel of the
896process is \[<=] 0.
897.It Dv CTLFLAG_PRISON
898This sysctl can be written to by processes in
899.Xr jail 2 .
900.It Dv CTLFLAG_SKIP
901When iterating the sysctl name space, do not list this sysctl.
902.It Dv CTLFLAG_TUN
903Advisory flag that a system tunable also exists for this variable.
904The initial sysctl value is tried fetched once from the system
905environment early during module load or system boot.
906.It Dv CTLFLAG_DYN
907Dynamically created OIDs automatically get this flag set.
908.It Dv CTLFLAG_VNET
909OID references a VIMAGE-enabled variable.
910.El
911.Sh EXAMPLES
912Sample use of
913.Fn SYSCTL_DECL
914to declare the
915.Va security
916sysctl tree for use by new nodes:
917.Bd -literal -offset indent
918SYSCTL_DECL(_security);
919.Ed
920.Pp
921Examples of integer, opaque, string, and procedure sysctls follow:
922.Bd -literal -offset indent
923/*
924 * Example of a constant integer value.  Notice that the control
925 * flags are CTLFLAG_RD, the variable pointer is SYSCTL_NULL_INT_PTR,
926 * and the value is declared.
927 */
928SYSCTL_INT(_debug_sizeof, OID_AUTO, bio, CTLFLAG_RD, SYSCTL_NULL_INT_PTR,
929    sizeof(struct bio), "sizeof(struct bio)");
930
931/*
932 * Example of a variable integer value.  Notice that the control
933 * flags are CTLFLAG_RW, the variable pointer is set, and the
934 * value is 0.
935 */
936static int	doingcache = 1;		/* 1 => enable the cache */
937SYSCTL_INT(_debug, OID_AUTO, vfscache, CTLFLAG_RW, &doingcache, 0,
938    "Enable name cache");
939
940/*
941 * Example of a variable string value.  Notice that the control
942 * flags are CTLFLAG_RW, that the variable pointer and string
943 * size are set.  Unlike newer sysctls, this older sysctl uses a
944 * static oid number.
945 */
946char kernelname[MAXPATHLEN] = "/kernel";	/* XXX bloat */
947SYSCTL_STRING(_kern, KERN_BOOTFILE, bootfile, CTLFLAG_RW,
948    kernelname, sizeof(kernelname), "Name of kernel file booted");
949
950/*
951 * Example of an opaque data type exported by sysctl.  Notice that
952 * the variable pointer and size are provided, as well as a format
953 * string for sysctl(8).
954 */
955static l_fp pps_freq;	/* scaled frequency offset (ns/s) */
956SYSCTL_OPAQUE(_kern_ntp_pll, OID_AUTO, pps_freq, CTLFLAG_RD,
957    &pps_freq, sizeof(pps_freq), "I", "");
958
959/*
960 * Example of a procedure based sysctl exporting string
961 * information.  Notice that the data type is declared, the NULL
962 * variable pointer and 0 size, the function pointer, and the
963 * format string for sysctl(8).
964 */
965SYSCTL_PROC(_kern_timecounter, OID_AUTO, hardware, CTLTYPE_STRING |
966    CTLFLAG_RW, NULL, 0, sysctl_kern_timecounter_hardware, "A",
967    "");
968.Ed
969.Pp
970The following is an example of
971how to create a new top-level category
972and how to hook up another subtree to an existing static node.
973This example does not use contexts,
974which results in tedious management of all intermediate oids,
975as they need to be freed later on:
976.Bd -literal -offset indent
977#include <sys/sysctl.h>
978 ...
979/*
980 * Need to preserve pointers to newly created subtrees,
981 * to be able to free them later:
982 */
983static struct sysctl_oid *root1;
984static struct sysctl_oid *root2;
985static struct sysctl_oid *oidp;
986static int a_int;
987static char *string = "dynamic sysctl";
988 ...
989
990root1 = SYSCTL_ADD_ROOT_NODE(NULL,
991	OID_AUTO, "newtree", CTLFLAG_RW, 0, "new top level tree");
992oidp = SYSCTL_ADD_INT(NULL, SYSCTL_CHILDREN(root1),
993	OID_AUTO, "newint", CTLFLAG_RW, &a_int, 0, "new int leaf");
994 ...
995root2 = SYSCTL_ADD_NODE(NULL, SYSCTL_STATIC_CHILDREN(_debug),
996	OID_AUTO, "newtree", CTLFLAG_RW, 0, "new tree under debug");
997oidp = SYSCTL_ADD_STRING(NULL, SYSCTL_CHILDREN(root2),
998	OID_AUTO, "newstring", CTLFLAG_RD, string, 0, "new string leaf");
999.Ed
1000.Pp
1001This example creates the following subtrees:
1002.Bd -literal -offset indent
1003debug.newtree.newstring
1004newtree.newint
1005.Ed
1006.Pp
1007.Em "Care should be taken to free all OIDs once they are no longer needed!"
1008.Sh SYSCTL NAMING
1009When adding, modifying, or removing sysctl names, it is important to be
1010aware that these interfaces may be used by users, libraries, applications,
1011or documentation (such as published books), and are implicitly published application interfaces.
1012As with other application interfaces, caution must be taken not to break
1013existing applications, and to think about future use of new name spaces so as
1014to avoid the need to rename or remove interfaces that might be depended on in
1015the future.
1016.Pp
1017The semantics chosen for a new sysctl should be as clear as possible,
1018and the name of the sysctl must closely reflect its semantics.
1019Therefore the sysctl name deserves a fair amount of consideration.
1020It should be short but yet representative of the sysctl meaning.
1021If the name consists of several words, they should be separated by
1022underscore characters, as in
1023.Va compute_summary_at_mount .
1024Underscore characters may be omitted only if the name consists of not more
1025than two words, each being not longer than four characters, as in
1026.Va bootfile .
1027For boolean sysctls, negative logic should be totally avoided.
1028That is, do not use names like
1029.Va no_foobar
1030or
1031.Va foobar_disable .
1032They are confusing and lead to configuration errors.
1033Use positive logic instead:
1034.Va foobar ,
1035.Va foobar_enable .
1036.Pp
1037A temporary sysctl node OID that should not be relied upon must be designated
1038as such by a leading underscore character in its name.
1039For example:
1040.Va _dirty_hack .
1041.Sh SEE ALSO
1042.Xr sysctl 3 ,
1043.Xr sysctl 8 ,
1044.Xr device_get_sysctl 9 ,
1045.Xr sysctl_add_oid 9 ,
1046.Xr sysctl_ctx_free 9 ,
1047.Xr sysctl_ctx_init 9 ,
1048.Xr sysctl_remove_oid 9
1049.Sh HISTORY
1050The
1051.Xr sysctl 8
1052utility first appeared in
1053.Bx 4.4 .
1054.Sh AUTHORS
1055.An -nosplit
1056The
1057.Nm sysctl
1058implementation originally found in
1059.Bx
1060has been extensively rewritten by
1061.An Poul-Henning Kamp
1062in order to add support for name lookups, name space iteration, and dynamic
1063addition of MIB nodes.
1064.Pp
1065This man page was written by
1066.An Robert N. M. Watson .
1067.Sh SECURITY CONSIDERATIONS
1068When creating new sysctls, careful attention should be paid to the security
1069implications of the monitoring or management interface being created.
1070Most sysctls present in the kernel are read-only or writable only by the
1071superuser.
1072Sysctls exporting extensive information on system data structures and
1073operation, especially those implemented using procedures, will wish to
1074implement access control to limit the undesired exposure of information about
1075other processes, network connections, etc.
1076.Pp
1077The following top level sysctl name spaces are commonly used:
1078.Bl -tag -width ".Va regression"
1079.It Va compat
1080Compatibility layer information.
1081.It Va debug
1082Debugging information.
1083Various name spaces exist under
1084.Va debug .
1085.It Va hw
1086Hardware and device driver information.
1087.It Va kern
1088Kernel behavior tuning; generally deprecated in favor of more specific
1089name spaces.
1090.It Va machdep
1091Machine-dependent configuration parameters.
1092.It Va net
1093Network subsystem.
1094Various protocols have name spaces under
1095.Va net .
1096.It Va regression
1097Regression test configuration and information.
1098.It Va security
1099Security and security-policy configuration and information.
1100.It Va sysctl
1101Reserved name space for the implementation of sysctl.
1102.It Va user
1103Configuration settings relating to user application behavior.
1104Generally, configuring applications using kernel sysctls is discouraged.
1105.It Va vfs
1106Virtual file system configuration and information.
1107.It Va vm
1108Virtual memory subsystem configuration and information.
1109.El
1110