Why no sysctl (Was: Re: /proc/cpuinfo verbiage ...)

Jason Nordwick (nordwick@erdos.askjeeves.com)
Fri, 03 Sep 1999 22:58:33 -0700

>Whenever this comes up though people say cpuinfo is for human eyes
>only, it should not be parsed. But when someone suggests making a syscall
>for it, everyone decries that idea too.
>

I have always wanted to ask this question, and this seems like an
appropriate thread.

Coming from a Free/OpenBSD background, I have always really liked
the sysctl MIB. The sysctl command line too allows values to be manipulated
and read easily (much easier than parsing the /proc entries).

Why does Linux deprecate that use? Why has is opted for a /proc
interface?

I do wish that BSD would implement a /sysctl or something interface for
browsing, but then again, that is what 'sysctl -a | grep' is for :)

-jason

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