sysctl Command Examples

List and change kernel runtime variables. More information: https://manned.org/sysctl.8.

• Show all available variables and their values:

sysctl -a

• Set a changeable kernel state variable:

sysctl -w {{section.tunable}}={{value}}

• Get currently open file handlers:

sysctl fs.file-nr

• Get limit for simultaneous open files:

sysctl fs.file-max

• Apply changes from /etc/sysctl.conf:

sysctl -p