getconf:tldr:fc058

The getconf -a command is used to display all the configuration variables and their values on a Unix-like system.

When you run getconf -a, it queries the system configuration database and retrieves information about various system parameters and limits. This can include information about file system limits, process limits, networking parameters, and other system configuration settings.

The output of the getconf -a command typically includes a list of configuration variables along with their respective values. This information can be useful for system administrators or developers who need to know the system's capabilities and constraints.

Here is an example of the output you might see when running getconf -a:

ARG_MAX                           2097152
ATEXIT_MAX                        2147483647
...
HOST_NAME_MAX                     255
...
NGROUPS_MAX                       65536
...
OPEN_MAX                          1024
...

In this example, you can see the values of different variables like ARG_MAX, ATEXIT_MAX, HOST_NAME_MAX, NGROUPS_MAX, and OPEN_MAX. These values represent various system limits and capabilities.

Overall, running getconf -a provides a comprehensive overview of the system configuration variables and their values, which can be helpful for understanding and managing the system's resources.