DOKK / manpages / debian 10 / procps / sysctl.conf.5.en
SYSCTL.CONF(5) File Formats SYSCTL.CONF(5)

sysctl.conf - sysctl preload/configuration file

sysctl.conf is a simple file containing sysctl values to be read in and set by sysctl. The syntax is simply as follows:

# comment
; comment
token = value

Note that blank lines are ignored, and whitespace before and after a token or value is ignored, although a value can contain whitespace within. Lines which begin with a # or ; are considered comments and ignored.

As the /etc/sysctl.conf file is used to override default kernel parameter values, only a small number of parameters is predefined in the file. Use /sbin/sysctl -a or follow sysctl(8) to list all possible parameters. The description of individual parameters can be found in the kernel documentation.

# sysctl.conf sample
#

kernel.domainname = example.com ; this one has a space which will be written to the sysctl!
kernel.modprobe = /sbin/mod probe

/run/sysctl.d/*.conf
/etc/sysctl.d/*.conf
/usr/local/lib/sysctl.d/*.conf
/usr/lib/sysctl.d/*.conf
/lib/sysctl.d/*.conf
/etc/sysctl.conf
The paths where sysctl preload files usually exist. See also sysctl option --system.

sysctl(8)

George Staikos

Please send bug reports to procps@freelists.org

January 2012 procps-ng