automounting cd-rom & cd-rw devices

[Rob]

Malcolm Kay wrote:
> On Sunday 28 March 2004 11:43, Jay Moore wrote:
> 
>>2) What is the "best way" to allow ordinary users to mount cd's?
>>
> 
> 
> The best way is inevitably a matter of opinion.
> But it can be done without installing any additional ports.
> 
> First:
> # sysctl vfs.usermount=1
> allows users to mount and then unmount drives provided other things 
> are in order. You can make this happen during the normal boot by adding 
>   vfs.usermount=1
> to /etc/ sysctl.conf

Remotely, I was following this discussion; I'm suprised by this solution
and I wonder how I ever would be able to find out myself about this misterious
sysctl-magic.

I did 'apropos usermount', 'man sysctl' and 'man sysctl.conf', and all did not
give me any hint to the above vfs.usermount solution.
Also 'sysctl -ad | grep vfs.usermount' outputs no info.

Actually, I had this feeling with other answers on this list: 'set this-or-that
sysctl variable'. I never could find any info on my FreeBSD box, to help me
further understand.

What is this sysctl-black-magic about and where is more information?

Thanks,
Rob.