Subject: README: sysctl infrastructure overhauled
To: None <current-users@NetBSD.org>
From: Andrew Brown <atatat@atatdot.net>
List: current-users
Date: 03/24/2004 17:40:18
principally, i've churned the names of the flags, the way in which
sysctl_createv() is called (this should only matter to you if you're
writing kernel code that uses it), reorganized the sysctlnode
structure, and formalized the versioning of the node interface.

the latter two points are are the ones that bear some caution.  the
old node structure turned out to be rather platform dependent, so the
new node is intended to overcome that.  the only real change between
the kernel and userland the way in which tree discovery works, which
is how the sysctl binary currently figures out all the name-to-number
mappings, how to print things, etc.

things have been arranged such that both a new kernel and a new libc
can support an older sysctl binary, but not the other way around, so
keep this in mind if you upgrade your userland and then go back to an
older kernel.

so, if your typical update sequence is

    (1) build and boot a new kernel
    (2) rebuild userland (includes, then libraries, then binaries, etc)

everything should be seamless.

please let me know if you have any problems.

thanks.

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