Abstract
The getconf command is available in AIX 5L and enhanced in Version 5.2. The command provides information about system configuration variables. The main information intended from the enhancement refers to memory, disk size, last boot device, and hardware check for 32-bit or 64-bit, and the same for the kernel.
For related information about this topic, refer to the following IBM Redbooks publication:
AIX 5L Differences Guide Version 5.2 Edition, SG24-5765-02
Contents
The getconf command is available in AIX 5L and enhanced in Version 5.2. The command provides information about system configuration variables. The main information intended from the enhancement refers to memory, disk size, last boot device, and hardware check for 32-bit or 64-bit, and the same for the kernel. The getconf command is enhanced to provide extra information that is currently available with the unsupported bootinfo command. The getconf command uses the ODM library routines to extract information from the device configuration database. The getconf command issues a setuid root to access privileged configuration variables.
The syntax of the command is as follows:
getconf [ -v specification ] [ SystemwideConfiguration | PathConfiguration PathName ] [ DeviceVariable DeviceName]
Where the variable names are defined as provided in the following table:
Table 1. System wide configuration names
| Variable | Description |
| System wide configuration names |  |
| BOOT_DEVICE | Displays last boot device |
| MACHINE_ARCHITECTURE | Displays machine architecture type (chrp) |
| MODEL_CODE | Displays model code |
| KERNEL_BITMODE | Bit mode of the kernel, 32-bit or 64-bit |
| REAL_MEMORY | Real memory size in KB |
| HARDWARE_BITMODE | Bit mode of the machine hardware, 32-bit or 64-bit |
| MP_CAPABLE | MP Capability of the machine |
| Path configuration names | |
| DISK_PARTITION | Physical partition size of the disk |
| DISK_SIZE | Disk size in MB |
| Device variables names | |
| DISK_DEVNAME | Device name or location of the device |
An example of the getconf command is shown in the following:
# getconf KERNEL_BITMODE
64
# getconf HARDWARE_BITMODE
64
# getconf DISK_SIZE /dev/hdisk0
8678
Special Notices
This material has not been submitted to any formal IBM test and is published AS IS. It has not been the subject of rigorous review. IBM assumes no responsibility for its accuracy or completeness. The use of this information or the implementation of any of these techniques is a client responsibility and depends upon the client's ability to evaluate and integrate them into the client's operational environment.