OS X El Capitan scutil man page

SCUTIL(8) BSD System Manager’s Manual SCUTIL(8)

NAME

scutil — Manage system configuration parameters

SYNOPSIS

scutil
scutil −-prefs [preference-file]
scutil −r [−W] {

nodename | address | local-address remote-address }

scutil −w dynamic-store-key [−t timeout]
scutil −-get pref
scutil −-set pref [newval]
scutil −-dns
scutil −-proxy
scutil −-nc nc-arguments

DESCRIPTION

Invoked with no options, scutil provides a command line interface to the "dynamic store" data maintained by configd(8). Interaction with this data (using the SystemConfiguration.framework SCDynamicStore APIs) is handled with a set of commands read from standard input. A list of the available commands is available by entering the help directive.

The −-prefs option provides a command line interface to the [raw] stored preference data. Interaction with this data (using the SystemConfiguration.framework SCPreferences APIs) is handled with a set of commands read from standard input. A list of the available commands is availble by entering the help directive.

The −r option provides a means of checking the network reachability of a host, an IP address, or a pair of local and remote IP addresses. Network "reachability" is a term that indicates whether network communication is possible between the current host and the specified host.

The −w option provides a means of checking for (and optionally waiting for the creation of or posting of a notification to) a dynamic store key.

The −-get and −-set options provide a means of reporting and updating a select group of persistent system preferences.

The −-dns option reports the current DNS configuration. The first listed resolver(5) configuration is considered to be the "default" configuration. Additional "supplemental" configurations follow. Those containing a "domain" name will be used for queries matching the specified domain. Those without will be used as a "default" configuration in addition to the first listed.

The −-proxy option reports the current system proxy configuration.

The −-nc option provides a set of commands for monitoring and interacting with VPN connections. Use −-nc help for a full list of commands.

OPTIONS
−r [ −W] { nodename | address | local-address remote-address }

Check the network reachability of the specified host name, IP address, or a pair of local and remote IP addresses. One or more of the following strings will be reported to standard output.

Not Reachable	The specified nodename/address cannot be reached using the current network configuration.
Reachable	The specified nodename/address can be reached using the current network configuration.
Transient Connection	The specified nodename/address can be reached via a transient (e.g. PPP) connection.
Connection Required	The specified nodename/address can be reached using the current network configuration but a connection must first be established. As an example, this status would be returned for a dialup connection that was not currently active but could handle network traffic for the target system.
Connection Automatic	The specified nodename/address can be reached using the current network configuration but a connection must first be established. Any traffic directed to the specified name/address will initiate the connection
Local Address	The specified nodename/address is one associated with a network interface on the system.
Directly Reachable Addresss	Network traffic to the specified nodename/address will not go through a gateway but is routed directly to one of the interfaces on the system.

The reachability can also be monitored by specifying the −W (watch) option. This will result in the current status being reported as well as the status when/if the network configuration changes.

A zero exit status will be returned when the reachability status is reported correctly. A non-zero exit status will be returned if errors are detected with an error reported to standard error.

−w dynamic-store-key [−t timeout]

Check if the specified key exists in the "dynamic store" data maintained by configd(8). If present, scutil will return with a zero exit status. If not present, scutil will wait for the specified time for data to be associated with or a notification to be posted using the key. A non-zero exit status will be returned if the key was not created/posted within the specified time.

scutil will wait indefinitely if a timeout of 0 seconds is specified. The default timeout is 15 seconds.

−-get pref

Retrieves the specified preference. The current value will be reported on standard output.

Supported preferences include:

ComputerName	The user-friendly name for the system.
LocalHostName	The local (Bonjour) host name.
HostName	The name associated with hostname(1) and gethost name(3).

−-set pref [newval]

Updates the specified preference with the new value. If the new value is not specified on the command line then it will be read from standard input.

Supported preferences include: ComputerName LocalHostName HostName

The −-set option requires super-user access.

−-dns

Reports the current DNS configuration.

−-proxy

Reports the current proxy configuration.

−-nc nc-arguments

Provides a set of commands for monitoring and interacting with VPN connections. Use −-nc help for a full list of commands.

SEE ALSO

configd(8)