- `sysctl` handles settings for kernel modules - allows you to view and change kernel parameters - `sudo systctl -a` shows all kernel modules and values ![[images/Pasted image 20250804202502.png]] - when you make changes with `sysctl` it saves changes in `/proc` fs in real time - `sysctl net.ipv4.ip_forward=1` updates `/proc/sys/net/ipv4/ip_forward` in real time - could also `echo 1` into the noted proc file - above changes don't persist unless placed in `/etc/sysctl.conf` - `/etc/sysctl.conf` has a line re: ipv4 packet forwarding that can be uncommented to enable the above changes with persistence - `sysctl -p` to reload `sysctl.conf` file instead of rebooting