svn: head/sys/i386/conf

[Maxim Sobolev]

Maxim Sobolev wrote:
> Luigi Rizzo wrote:
>> On Tue, Jan 06, 2009 at 04:08:59PM -0800, Maxim Sobolev wrote:
>>> Luigi Rizzo wrote:
>>>> On Tue, Jan 06, 2009 at 02:02:17PM -0800, Maxim Sobolev wrote:
>>>>> Luigi Rizzo wrote:
>>>>>> +# through getenv() (or kenv(1) in userland). The format of the file
>>>>>> +# is 'variable=value' , same as for hints files.
>>>>> What do you think about extending comment with the following:
>>>>>
>>>>> "hints files" -> "hints or loader.conf(5) files".
>>>> i don't know -- in fact, I have a curiosity here:
>>>> loader.conf is processed by some code in loader.4th which in turn
>>>> is interpreted by loader.conf, and this chain does some magic
>>>> on certain variable names (and can also do $variable expansion).
>>>>
>>>> Instead, I believe that 'hints' (and presumably 'env' values) are
>>>> passed directly to the kernel, so there are no special manipulation
>>>> of variable names or values. Is that correct ?
>>> That's true, however if loader doesn't have any handling logic for a 
>>> certain valuable it simply sets kenv (aka kernel tunable). Take a 
>>> look at the loader.conf(5) for example.
>>
>> ok, but all we need to say is the following:
>>
>>     The file can contain lines of the form
>>
>>         name = "value"    # this is a coment
>>
>>     where whitespace around name and '=' is ignored, and so is
>>     everything after a '#' character.  Almost any printable
>>     character except '=' is acceptable as part of a name.  Quotes
>>     are optional and necessary only if the value contains
>>     whitespace.
>>
>> so why don't we just say that in the kenv(1) manpage (and refer to
>> that) instead of referring to loader.conf which contains a lot of
>> stuff that does not apply in this case ?
> 
> My main point is that usually people set those tunables not in "hints 
> files" but in loader.conf, so that if you refer to hints you should also 
> need to mention loader.conf. In fact I guess that many people may not 
> even know about what "hints files" are.

Forgot to mention that IMHO another reason why loader.conf(5) is a good 
reference is that it describes purpose of many of the commonly used 
tunables.

-Maxim