SYSCTL.CONF(5) | File Formats Manual | SYSCTL.CONF(5)

# NAME

`sysctl.conf` — sysctl variables to set at system startup

# DESCRIPTION

`sysctl.conf` is made up of sysctl(8) variable assignments (variable=value) with comments designated by a hash mark (‘#’).

/etc/sysctl.conf is read at system startup by rc(8) early on in the boot sequence.

# FILES

/etc/sysctl.conf
/etc/examples/sysctl.conf

# EXAMPLES

To turn on IP forwarding, one would use the following line:

    net.inet.ip.forwarding=1

To cause the kernel to reboot on a panic, instead of dropping into the debugger, the following can be used:

    ddb.panic=0

# SEE ALSO

sysctl(2), rc(8), sysctl(8)

# HISTORY

A `sysctl.conf` file first appeared in OpenBSD 2.3.

April 5, 2025 | Debian