xref: /freebsd/share/man/man9/sysctl.9 (revision c6e475ff5ab177d1bfa2fe8eaf9678fd165649fa)
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28.Dd June 11, 2019
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_UQUAD ,
62.Nm SYSCTL_ADD_UMA_CUR ,
63.Nm SYSCTL_ADD_UMA_MAX ,
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_UQUAD ,
98.Nm SYSCTL_UMA_CUR ,
99.Nm SYSCTL_UMA_MAX
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
486.Sh DESCRIPTION
487The
488.Nm SYSCTL
489kernel interface allows dynamic or static creation of
490.Xr sysctl 8
491MIB entries.
492All static sysctls are automatically destroyed when the module which
493they are part of is unloaded.
494Most top level categories are created statically and are available to
495all kernel code and its modules.
496.Sh DESCRIPTION OF ARGUMENTS
497.Bl -tag -width ctlflags
498.It Fa ctx
499Pointer to sysctl context or NULL, if no context.
500See
501.Xr sysctl_ctx_init 9
502for how to create a new sysctl context.
503Programmers are strongly advised to use contexts to organize the
504dynamic OIDs which they create because when a context is destroyed all
505belonging sysctls are destroyed as well.
506This makes the sysctl cleanup code much simpler.
507Else deletion of all created OIDs is required at module unload.
508.It Fa parent
509A pointer to a
510.Li struct sysctl_oid_list ,
511which is the head of the parent's list of children.
512This pointer is retrieved using the
513.Fn SYSCTL_STATIC_CHILDREN
514macro for static sysctls and the
515.Fn SYSCTL_CHILDREN
516macro for dynamic sysctls.
517The
518.Fn SYSCTL_PARENT
519macro can be used to get the parent of an OID.
520The macro returns NULL if there is no parent.
521.It Fa number
522The OID number that will be assigned to this OID.
523In almost all cases this should be set to
524.Dv OID_AUTO ,
525which will result in the assignment of the next available OID number.
526.It Fa name
527The name of the OID.
528The newly created OID will contain a copy of the name.
529.It Fa ctlflags
530A bit mask of sysctl control flags.
531See the section below describing all the control flags.
532.It Fa arg1
533First callback argument for procedure sysctls.
534.It Fa arg2
535Second callback argument for procedure sysctls.
536.It Fa len
537The length of the data pointed to by the
538.Fa ptr
539argument.
540For string type OIDs a length of zero means that
541.Xr strlen 3
542will be used to get the length of the string at each access to the OID.
543For array type OIDs the length must be greater than zero.
544.It Fa ptr
545Pointer to sysctl variable or string data.
546For 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
547.Fa val
548argument.
549.It Fa val
550If the
551.Fa ptr
552argument is SYSCTL_NULL_XXX_PTR, gives the constant value returned by this OID.
553Else this argument is not used.
554.It Fa struct_type
555Name of structure type.
556.It Fa handler
557A pointer to the function
558that is responsible for handling read and write requests
559to this OID.
560There are several standard handlers
561that support operations on nodes,
562integers, strings and opaque objects.
563It is possible to define custom handlers using the
564.Fn SYSCTL_PROC
565macro or the
566.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_PROC
567function.
568.It Fa format
569A pointer to a string
570which specifies the format of the OID in a symbolic way.
571This format is used as a hint by
572.Xr sysctl 8
573to apply proper data formatting for display purposes.
574.Pp
575Current formats:
576.Bl -tag -width "S,TYPE" -compact -offset indent
577.It Cm N
578node
579.It Cm A
580.Li "char *"
581.It Cm I
582.Li "int"
583.It Cm IK Ns Op Ar n
584temperature in Kelvin, multiplied by an optional single digit
585power of ten scaling factor: 1 (default) gives deciKelvin, 0 gives Kelvin, 3
586gives milliKelvin
587.It Cm IU
588.Li "unsigned int"
589.It Cm L
590.Li "long"
591.It Cm LU
592.Li "unsigned long"
593.It Cm Q
594.Li "quad_t"
595.It Cm QU
596.Li "u_quad_t"
597.It Cm "S,TYPE"
598.Li "struct TYPE"
599structures
600.El
601.It Fa descr
602A pointer to a textual description of the OID.
603.It Fa label
604A pointer to an aggregation label for this component of the OID.
605To make it easier to export sysctl data to monitoring systems that
606support aggregations through labels (e.g., Prometheus),
607this argument can be used to attach a label name to an OID.
608The label acts as a hint that this component's name should not be part
609of the metric's name,
610but attached to the metric as a label instead.
611.Pp
612Labels should only be applied to siblings that are structurally similar
613and encode the same type of value,
614as aggregation is of no use otherwise.
615.El
616.Sh NODE VALUE TYPES
617Most of the macros and functions used to create sysctl nodes export a
618read-only constant or in-kernel variable whose type matches the type
619of the node's value.
620For example,
621.Fn SYSCTL_INT
622reports the raw value of an associated variable of type
623.Vt int .
624However, nodes may also export a value that is a translatation of an internal
625representation.
626.Pp
627The
628.Fn sysctl_msec_to_ticks
629handler can be used with
630.Fn SYSCTL_PROC
631or
632.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_PROC
633to export a millisecond time interval.
634When using this handler,
635the
636.Fa arg2
637parameter points to an in-kernel variable of type
638.Vt int
639which stores a tick count suitable for use with functions like
640.Xr tsleep 9 .
641The
642.Fn sysctl_msec_to_ticks
643function converts this value to milliseconds when reporting the node's value.
644Similarly,
645.Fn sysctl_msec_to_ticks
646accepts new values in milliseconds and stores an equivalent value in ticks to
647.Fa *arg2 .
648Note that new code should use kernel variables of type
649.Vt sbintime_t
650instead of tick counts.
651.Pp
652The
653.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_SBINTIME_MSEC
654and
655.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_SBINTIME_USEC
656functions and
657.Fn SYSCTL_SBINTIME_MSEC
658and
659.Fn SYSCTL_SBINTIME_USEC
660macros all create nodes which export an in-kernel variable of type
661.Vt sbintime_t .
662These nodes do not export the raw value of the associated variable.
663Instead, they export a 64-bit integer containing a count of either
664milliseconds (the MSEC variants) or microseconds (the USEC variants).
665.Pp
666The
667.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_TIMEVAL_SEC
668function and
669.Fn SYSCTL_TIMEVAL_SEC
670macro create nodes which export an in-kernel variable of type
671.Vt struct timeval .
672These nodes do not export full value of the associated structure.
673Instead, they export a count in seconds as a simple integer which is
674stored in the
675.Fa tv_sec
676field of the associated variable.
677This function and macro are intended to be used with variables which
678store a non-negative interval rather than an absolute time.
679As a result, they reject attempts to store negative values.
680.Sh CREATING ROOT NODES
681Sysctl MIBs or OIDs are created in a hierarchical tree.
682The nodes at the bottom of the tree are called root nodes, and have no
683parent OID.
684To create bottom tree nodes the
685.Fn SYSCTL_ROOT_NODE
686macro or the
687.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_ROOT_NODE
688function needs to be used.
689By default all static sysctl node OIDs are global and need a
690.Fn SYSCTL_DECL
691statement prior to their
692.Fn SYSCTL_NODE
693definition statement, typically in a so-called header file.
694.Sh CREATING SYSCTL STRINGS
695Zero terminated character strings sysctls are created either using the
696.Fn SYSCTL_STRING
697macro or the
698.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_STRING
699function.
700If the
701.Fa len
702argument in zero, the string length is computed at every access to the OID using
703.Xr strlen 3 .
704Use the
705.Fn SYSCTL_CONST_STRING
706macro or the
707.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_CONST_STRING
708function to add a sysctl for a constant string.
709.Sh CREATING OPAQUE SYSCTLS
710The
711.Fn SYSCTL_OPAQUE
712or
713.Fn SYSCTL_STRUCT
714macros or the
715.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_OPAQUE
716or
717.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_STRUCT
718functions create an OID that handle any chunk of data
719of the size specified by the
720.Fa len
721argument and data pointed to by the
722.Fa ptr
723argument.
724When using the structure version the type is encoded as part of the
725created sysctl.
726.Sh CREATING CUSTOM SYSCTLS
727The
728.Fn SYSCTL_PROC
729macro and the
730.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_PROC
731function
732create OIDs with the specified
733.Pa handler
734function.
735The handler is responsible for handling all read and write requests to
736the OID.
737This OID type is especially useful if the kernel data is not easily
738accessible, or needs to be processed before exporting.
739.Sh CREATING A STATIC SYSCTL
740Static sysctls are declared using one of the
741.Fn SYSCTL_BOOL ,
742.Fn SYSCTL_COUNTER_U64 ,
743.Fn SYSCTL_COUNTER_U64_ARRAY ,
744.Fn SYSCTL_INT ,
745.Fn SYSCTL_INT_WITH_LABEL ,
746.Fn SYSCTL_LONG ,
747.Fn SYSCTL_NODE ,
748.Fn SYSCTL_NODE_WITH_LABEL ,
749.Fn SYSCTL_OPAQUE ,
750.Fn SYSCTL_PROC ,
751.Fn SYSCTL_QUAD ,
752.Fn SYSCTL_ROOT_NODE ,
753.Fn SYSCTL_S8 ,
754.Fn SYSCTL_S16 ,
755.Fn SYSCTL_S32 ,
756.Fn SYSCTL_S64 ,
757.Fn SYSCTL_SBINTIME_MSEC ,
758.Fn SYSCTL_SBINTIME_USEC ,
759.Fn SYSCTL_STRING ,
760.Fn SYSCTL_CONST_STRING ,
761.Fn SYSCTL_STRUCT ,
762.Fn SYSCTL_TIMEVAL_SEC ,
763.Fn SYSCTL_U8 ,
764.Fn SYSCTL_U16 ,
765.Fn SYSCTL_U32 ,
766.Fn SYSCTL_U64 ,
767.Fn SYSCTL_UINT ,
768.Fn SYSCTL_ULONG ,
769.Fn SYSCTL_UQUAD ,
770.Fn SYSCTL_UMA_CUR
771or
772.Fn SYSCTL_UMA_MAX
773macros.
774.Sh CREATING A DYNAMIC SYSCTL
775Dynamic nodes are created using one of the
776.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_BOOL ,
777.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_COUNTER_U64 ,
778.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_COUNTER_U64_ARRAY ,
779.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_INT ,
780.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_LONG ,
781.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_NODE ,
782.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_NODE_WITH_LABEL ,
783.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_OPAQUE ,
784.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_PROC ,
785.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_QUAD ,
786.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_ROOT_NODE ,
787.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_S8 ,
788.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_S16 ,
789.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_S32 ,
790.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_S64 ,
791.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_SBINTIME_MSEC ,
792.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_SBINTIME_USEC ,
793.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_STRING ,
794.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_CONST_STRING ,
795.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_STRUCT ,
796.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_TIMEVAL_SEC ,
797.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_U8 ,
798.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_U16 ,
799.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_U32 ,
800.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_U64 ,
801.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_UAUTO ,
802.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_UINT ,
803.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_ULONG ,
804.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_UQUAD ,
805.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_UMA_CUR
806or
807.Fn SYSCTL_ADD_UMA_MAX
808functions.
809See
810.Xr sysctl_remove_oid 9
811or
812.Xr sysctl_ctx_free 9
813for more information on how to destroy a dynamically created OID.
814.Sh CONTROL FLAGS
815For most of the above functions and macros, declaring a type as part
816of the access flags is not necessary \[em] however, when declaring a
817sysctl implemented by a function, including a type in the access mask
818is required:
819.Bl -tag -width ".Dv CTLTYPE_NOFETCH"
820.It Dv CTLTYPE_NODE
821This is a node intended to be a parent for other nodes.
822.It Dv CTLTYPE_INT
823This is a signed integer.
824.It Dv CTLTYPE_STRING
825This is a nul-terminated string stored in a character array.
826.It Dv CTLTYPE_S8
827This is an 8-bit signed integer.
828.It Dv CTLTYPE_S16
829This is a 16-bit signed integer.
830.It Dv CTLTYPE_S32
831This is a 32-bit signed integer.
832.It Dv CTLTYPE_S64
833This is a 64-bit signed integer.
834.It Dv CTLTYPE_OPAQUE
835This is an opaque data structure.
836.It Dv CTLTYPE_STRUCT
837Alias for
838.Dv CTLTYPE_OPAQUE .
839.It Dv CTLTYPE_U8
840This is an 8-bit unsigned integer.
841.It Dv CTLTYPE_U16
842This is a 16-bit unsigned integer.
843.It Dv CTLTYPE_U32
844This is a 32-bit unsigned integer.
845.It Dv CTLTYPE_U64
846This is a 64-bit unsigned integer.
847.It Dv CTLTYPE_UINT
848This is an unsigned integer.
849.It Dv CTLTYPE_LONG
850This is a signed long.
851.It Dv CTLTYPE_ULONG
852This is an unsigned long.
853.El
854.Pp
855All sysctl types except for new node declarations require one of the following
856flags to be set indicating the read and write disposition of the sysctl:
857.Bl -tag -width ".Dv CTLFLAG_ANYBODY"
858.It Dv CTLFLAG_RD
859This is a read-only sysctl.
860.It Dv CTLFLAG_RDTUN
861This is a read-only sysctl and tunable which is tried fetched once
862from the system environment early during module load or system boot.
863.It Dv CTLFLAG_WR
864This is a writable sysctl.
865.It Dv CTLFLAG_RW
866This sysctl is readable and writable.
867.It Dv CTLFLAG_RWTUN
868This is a readable and writeable sysctl and tunable which is tried
869fetched once from the system environment early during module load or
870system boot.
871.It Dv CTLFLAG_NOFETCH
872In case the node is marked as a tunable using the CTLFLAG_[XX]TUN,
873this flag will prevent fetching the initial value from the system
874environment.
875Typically this flag should only be used for very early
876low level system setup code, and not by common drivers and modules.
877.It Dv CTLFLAG_MPSAFE
878This
879.Xr sysctl 9
880handler is MP safe.
881Do not grab Giant around calls to this handler.
882This should only be used for
883.Fn SYSCTL_PROC
884entries.
885.El
886.Pp
887Additionally, any of the following optional flags may also be specified:
888.Bl -tag -width ".Dv CTLFLAG_ANYBODY"
889.It Dv CTLFLAG_ANYBODY
890Any user or process can write to this sysctl.
891.It Dv CTLFLAG_CAPRD
892A process in capability mode can read from this sysctl.
893.It Dv CTLFLAG_CAPWR
894A process in capability mode can write to this sysctl.
895.It Dv CTLFLAG_SECURE
896This sysctl can be written to only if the effective securelevel of the
897process is \[<=] 0.
898.It Dv CTLFLAG_PRISON
899This sysctl can be written to by processes in
900.Xr jail 2 .
901.It Dv CTLFLAG_SKIP
902When iterating the sysctl name space, do not list this sysctl.
903.It Dv CTLFLAG_TUN
904Advisory flag that a system tunable also exists for this variable.
905The initial sysctl value is tried fetched once from the system
906environment early during module load or system boot.
907.It Dv CTLFLAG_DYN
908Dynamically created OIDs automatically get this flag set.
909.It Dv CTLFLAG_VNET
910OID references a VIMAGE-enabled variable.
911.El
912.Sh EXAMPLES
913Sample use of
914.Fn SYSCTL_DECL
915to declare the
916.Va security
917sysctl tree for use by new nodes:
918.Bd -literal -offset indent
919SYSCTL_DECL(_security);
920.Ed
921.Pp
922Examples of integer, opaque, string, and procedure sysctls follow:
923.Bd -literal -offset indent
924/*
925 * Example of a constant integer value.  Notice that the control
926 * flags are CTLFLAG_RD, the variable pointer is SYSCTL_NULL_INT_PTR,
927 * and the value is declared.
928 */
929SYSCTL_INT(_debug_sizeof, OID_AUTO, bio, CTLFLAG_RD, SYSCTL_NULL_INT_PTR,
930    sizeof(struct bio), "sizeof(struct bio)");
931
932/*
933 * Example of a variable integer value.  Notice that the control
934 * flags are CTLFLAG_RW, the variable pointer is set, and the
935 * value is 0.
936 */
937static int	doingcache = 1;		/* 1 => enable the cache */
938SYSCTL_INT(_debug, OID_AUTO, vfscache, CTLFLAG_RW, &doingcache, 0,
939    "Enable name cache");
940
941/*
942 * Example of a variable string value.  Notice that the control
943 * flags are CTLFLAG_RW, that the variable pointer and string
944 * size are set.  Unlike newer sysctls, this older sysctl uses a
945 * static oid number.
946 */
947char kernelname[MAXPATHLEN] = "/kernel";	/* XXX bloat */
948SYSCTL_STRING(_kern, KERN_BOOTFILE, bootfile, CTLFLAG_RW,
949    kernelname, sizeof(kernelname), "Name of kernel file booted");
950
951/*
952 * Example of an opaque data type exported by sysctl.  Notice that
953 * the variable pointer and size are provided, as well as a format
954 * string for sysctl(8).
955 */
956static l_fp pps_freq;	/* scaled frequency offset (ns/s) */
957SYSCTL_OPAQUE(_kern_ntp_pll, OID_AUTO, pps_freq, CTLFLAG_RD,
958    &pps_freq, sizeof(pps_freq), "I", "");
959
960/*
961 * Example of a procedure based sysctl exporting string
962 * information.  Notice that the data type is declared, the NULL
963 * variable pointer and 0 size, the function pointer, and the
964 * format string for sysctl(8).
965 */
966SYSCTL_PROC(_kern_timecounter, OID_AUTO, hardware, CTLTYPE_STRING |
967    CTLFLAG_RW, NULL, 0, sysctl_kern_timecounter_hardware, "A",
968    "");
969.Ed
970.Pp
971The following is an example of
972how to create a new top-level category
973and how to hook up another subtree to an existing static node.
974This example does not use contexts,
975which results in tedious management of all intermediate oids,
976as they need to be freed later on:
977.Bd -literal -offset indent
978#include <sys/sysctl.h>
979 ...
980/*
981 * Need to preserve pointers to newly created subtrees,
982 * to be able to free them later:
983 */
984static struct sysctl_oid *root1;
985static struct sysctl_oid *root2;
986static struct sysctl_oid *oidp;
987static int a_int;
988static char *string = "dynamic sysctl";
989 ...
990
991root1 = SYSCTL_ADD_ROOT_NODE(NULL,
992	OID_AUTO, "newtree", CTLFLAG_RW, 0, "new top level tree");
993oidp = SYSCTL_ADD_INT(NULL, SYSCTL_CHILDREN(root1),
994	OID_AUTO, "newint", CTLFLAG_RW, &a_int, 0, "new int leaf");
995 ...
996root2 = SYSCTL_ADD_NODE(NULL, SYSCTL_STATIC_CHILDREN(_debug),
997	OID_AUTO, "newtree", CTLFLAG_RW, 0, "new tree under debug");
998oidp = SYSCTL_ADD_STRING(NULL, SYSCTL_CHILDREN(root2),
999	OID_AUTO, "newstring", CTLFLAG_RD, string, 0, "new string leaf");
1000.Ed
1001.Pp
1002This example creates the following subtrees:
1003.Bd -literal -offset indent
1004debug.newtree.newstring
1005newtree.newint
1006.Ed
1007.Pp
1008.Em "Care should be taken to free all OIDs once they are no longer needed!"
1009.Sh SYSCTL NAMING
1010When adding, modifying, or removing sysctl names, it is important to be
1011aware that these interfaces may be used by users, libraries, applications,
1012or documentation (such as published books), and are implicitly published application interfaces.
1013As with other application interfaces, caution must be taken not to break
1014existing applications, and to think about future use of new name spaces so as
1015to avoid the need to rename or remove interfaces that might be depended on in
1016the future.
1017.Pp
1018The semantics chosen for a new sysctl should be as clear as possible,
1019and the name of the sysctl must closely reflect its semantics.
1020Therefore the sysctl name deserves a fair amount of consideration.
1021It should be short but yet representative of the sysctl meaning.
1022If the name consists of several words, they should be separated by
1023underscore characters, as in
1024.Va compute_summary_at_mount .
1025Underscore characters may be omitted only if the name consists of not more
1026than two words, each being not longer than four characters, as in
1027.Va bootfile .
1028For boolean sysctls, negative logic should be totally avoided.
1029That is, do not use names like
1030.Va no_foobar
1031or
1032.Va foobar_disable .
1033They are confusing and lead to configuration errors.
1034Use positive logic instead:
1035.Va foobar ,
1036.Va foobar_enable .
1037.Pp
1038A temporary sysctl node OID that should not be relied upon must be designated
1039as such by a leading underscore character in its name.
1040For example:
1041.Va _dirty_hack .
1042.Sh SEE ALSO
1043.Xr sysctl 3 ,
1044.Xr sysctl 8 ,
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