October 4, 2007 SYSCTL.CONF 5

### NAME

sysctl.conf - sysctl configuration file

### SYNOPSIS

sysctl.conf

### DESCRIPTION

The sysctl.conf file defines the sysctl(7) kernel state tunables that can be set at boot time using sysctl(8) (using the -f switch) via the ```/etc/rc.d/sysctl` startup script.

The state to be set is described using a ``Management Information Base'' (``MIB'') style name. The MIB and value must be separated by `=' with no whitespace, for example:

name```=`value

Blank lines, lines with just name, and comments (beginning with `#') are ignored. Line continuations using backslash `\' are permitted. Only integral and string values can be set.

### FILES

```/etc/sysctl.conf`
  The file sysctl.conf resides in ```/etc`.

### EXAMPLES

The following is an example ```/etc/sysctl.conf` file:

``

    # Change max open files
    kern.maxfiles=1792

    # Run Veriexec in IDS mode
    kern.veriexec.strict=1

    # Enable IP packet forwarding
    net.inet.ip.forwarding=1

### SEE ALSO

sysctl(3), rc.conf(5), sysctl(7), sysctl(8)

### HISTORY

Support for sysctl.conf first appeared in NetBSD1.5.