sysconf -- a sysctl(8)-like utility for managing /etc/rc.conf et. al.

[Devin Teske]

On Wed, 2010-10-06 at 18:09 -0500, Brandon Gooch wrote:
> On Wed, Oct 6, 2010 at 3:45 PM, Devin Teske <dteske at vicor.com> wrote:
> > Hello fellow freebsd-hackers,
> >
> > Long-time hacker, first-time poster.
> >
> > I'd like to share a shell script that I wrote for FreeBSD system
> > administration.
> >
> > The attached shell script works similar to sysctl(8), but rather than
> > querying or working on sysctl MIBs, it instead works on the /etc/rc.conf
> > (and /etc/rc.conf.local) files.
> >
> > Syntax shown below (available by running the script without arguments):
> >
> > Usage: sysconf [OPTIONS] name[=value] ...
> > OPTIONS:
> >        -h --help   Print this message to stderr and exit.
> >        -d          Print list of internal dependencies before exit.
> >        -e          Print query results as `var=value' (useful for producing
> >                    output to be fed back in). Ignored if -n is specified.
> >        -n          Show only variable values, not their names.
> >
> > ENVIRONMENT:
> >        SYSCONF_SHOW_DEPS     Dump list of dependencies. Must be zero or one
> >                              (default: `0')
> >        RC_DEFAULTS           Location of `/etc/defaults/rc.conf' file.
> >
> > Examples:
> >
> > root at mymachine ~ $ sysconf hostname
> > hostname: mymachine.localdomain
> > root at mymachine ~ $ sysconf hostname=foomaster.deluxe.com
> > hostname: mymachine.localdomain -> foomaster.deluex.com
> > root at mymachine ~ $ sysconf -e hostname
> > hostname="foomaster.deluxe.com"
> > root at mymachine ~ $ sysconf -n hostname
> > foomaster.deluxe.com
> >
> > The script has zero external dependencies. None. Period. It will use
> > grep(1) if installed, but it is not required.
> >
> > Tested extensively on FreeBSD-4.8, FreeBSD-4.11, FreeBSD-8.0, and
> > FreeBSD-8.1.
> 
> It seems the list ate the attachment :(

I'll post it as the body of the e-mail tomorrow (can't do it right now,
just got a call from the wife -- the car broke down and I have to rush
out to get her).


> Also, take a look at sysconf(3). I think there may be a certain amount
> of hesitation to welcome a utility with the same name as a
> POSIX-compliant C library function...
> 
> ...how about a name like 'sysrc' or 'rcconfig' or something indicating
> a relationship with the rc.conf file or rc system?
> 
> Anyway, sounds cool, as I've had a need recently to do some automated
> configuring of several rc.conf files -- my method was very hackish,
> and will never see the light of public scrutiny :)

Thanks (to yourself and Garrett Cooper) for pointing out sysconf(3). I
do agree with the possible confusion.

I like the name suggestions. Let me throw out a couple more before
sleeping on them tonight.

rcctl (like sysctl but for rc stuffs)
rcconf (pretty succinct -- too succinct?)

sysrc was a great suggestion.


> 
> -Brandon
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-- 
Cheers,
Devin Teske

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