Unlike many other UNIX operating systems, AIX does not provide the ability to directly configure most kernel parameters. Instead, the AIX kernel dynamically allocates and reallocates resources as they are needed (up to a predefined limit).

To see all the current values assigned to the kernel parameters, enter:

# lsattr -E -l sys0

or

# smit chgsys ( Change / Show Characteristics of Operating System)

To see the current values assigned to for example maxuproc, enter:

# lsattr -E -l sys0 -a maxuproc
maxuproc 128 Maximum number of PROCESSES allowed per user True

To change the value assigned to maxuproc parameter, enter:

# chdev -l sys0 -a maxuproc=1000
sys0 changed

or

# smit chgsys

The following is another command that writes system wide configuration variable values to the standard output:

# getconf -a
AIO_LISTIO_MAX: 4096
AIO_MAX: 4096
AIO_PRIO_DELTA_MAX: 0
ARG_MAX: 24576
ATEXIT_MAX: 2048
BC_BASE_MAX: 99
BC_DIM_MAX: 2048
BC_SCALE_MAX: 99
BC_STRING_MAX: 2048
BOOT_DEVICE: hdisk0
CHARCLASS_NAME_MAX: 14
CHAR_BIT: 8
CHAR_MAX: 255
CHAR_MIN: 0
CHILD_MAX: 128
CLK_TCK: 100
COLL_WEIGHTS_MAX: 4
CS_PATH: /usr/bin:/usr/vac/bin
DELAYTIMER_MAX: 32
EXPR_NEST_MAX: 32
FILESIZEBITS: undefined
HARDWARE_BITMODE: 64
HOST_NAME_MAX: 256
…

To see the current value assigned to for example CS_PATH, enter:

getconf CS_PATH
/usr/bin:/usr/vac/bin

# getconf -a
AIO_LISTIO_MAX: 4096
AIO_MAX: 4096
AIO_PRIO_DELTA_MAX: 20
ARG_MAX: 1048576
ATEXIT_MAX: 2048
BC_BASE_MAX: 99
BC_DIM_MAX: 2048
BC_SCALE_MAX: 99
BC_STRING_MAX: 2048
BOOT_DEVICE: hdisk0
CHARCLASS_NAME_MAX: 14
CHAR_BIT: 8
CHAR_MAX: 255
CHAR_MIN: 0
CHILD_MAX: 128
CLK_TCK: 100
COLL_WEIGHTS_MAX: 4
CS_PATH: /usr/bin:/usr/vac/bin
DELAYTIMER_MAX: 32
EXPR_NEST_MAX: 32
FILESIZEBITS: undefined
HARDWARE_BITMODE: 64
HOST_NAME_MAX: 256
INT_MAX: 2147483647
INT_MIN: -2147483648
IOV_MAX: 16
KERNEL_BITMODE: 64
LINE_MAX: 2048
LINK_MAX: 32767
LOGIN_NAME_MAX: 20
LONG_BIT: 32
LONG_MAX: 2147483647
LONG_MIN: -2147483648
MACHINE_ARCHITECTURE: chrp
MAXIMPL_LOGIN_NAME_MAX: 256
MAX_CANON: 256
MAX_INPUT: 512
MB_LEN_MAX: 4
MODEL_CLASS:
MODEL_CODE: 134217804
MP_CAPABLE: 1
MQ_OPEN_MAX: 32768
MQ_PRIO_MAX: 128
NAME_MAX: 255
NGROUPS_MAX: 2048
NL_ARGMAX: 9
NL_LANGMAX: 14
NL_MSGMAX: 65535
NL_SETMAX: 65535
NL_TEXTMAX: 16384
NZERO: 20
OPEN_MAX: 65534
PAGESIZE: 4096
PAGE_SIZE: 4096
PASS_MAX: 8
PATH: /usr/bin:/usr/vac/bin
PATH_MAX: 1024
PIPE_BUF: 32768
POSIX2_BC_BASE_MAX: 99
POSIX2_BC_DIM_MAX: 2048
POSIX2_BC_SCALE_MAX: 99
POSIX2_BC_STRING_MAX: 1000
POSIX2_CHARCLASS_NAME_MAX: 14
POSIX2_CHAR_TERM: 200112
POSIX2_COLL_WEIGHTS_MAX: 2
POSIX2_C_BIND: 200809
POSIX2_C_DEV: 200809
POSIX2_C_VERSION: 200809
POSIX2_EXPR_NEST_MAX: 32
POSIX2_FORT_DEV: -1
POSIX2_FORT_RUN: -1
POSIX2_LINE_MAX: 2048
POSIX2_LOCALEDEF: 200809
POSIX2_PBS: -1
POSIX2_PBS_ACCOUNTING: -1
POSIX2_PBS_CHECKPOINT: -1
POSIX2_PBS_LOCATE: -1
POSIX2_PBS_MESSAGE: -1
POSIX2_PBS_TRACK: -1
POSIX2_RE_DUP_MAX: 255
POSIX2_SW_DEV: -1
POSIX2_SYMLINKS: 8
POSIX2_UPE: 200809
POSIX2_VERSION: 200809
POSIX_ALLOC_SIZE_MIN: undefined
POSIX_REC_INCR_XFER_SIZE: undefined
POSIX_REC_MAX_XFER_SIZE: undefined
POSIX_REC_MIN_XFER_SIZE: undefined
POSIX_REC_XFER_ALIGN: undefined
POSIX_V6_ILP32_OFF32: 1
POSIX_V6_ILP32_OFF32_CFLAGS:
POSIX_V6_ILP32_OFF32_LDFLAGS: -b32
POSIX_V6_ILP32_OFF32_LIBS: -lc -lpthread -lm
POSIX_V6_ILP32_OFFBIG: 1
POSIX_V6_ILP32_OFFBIG_CFLAGS: -q32 -D_LARGE_FILES -qlonglong
POSIX_V6_ILP32_OFFBIG_LDFLAGS: -b32
POSIX_V6_ILP32_OFFBIG_LIBS: -lc -lpthread -lm
POSIX_V6_LP64_OFF64: 1
POSIX_V6_LP64_OFF64_CFLAGS: -q64
POSIX_V6_LP64_OFF64_LDFLAGS: -b64
POSIX_V6_LP64_OFF64_LIBS: -lc -lpthread -lm
POSIX_V6_LPBIG_OFFBIG: 1
POSIX_V6_LPBIG_OFFBIG_CFLAGS: -q64
POSIX_V6_LPBIG_OFFBIG_LDFLAGS: -b64
POSIX_V6_LPBIG_OFFBIG_LIBS: -lc -lpthread -lm
POSIX_V6_WIDTH_RESTRICTED_ENVS: POSIX_V6_ILP32_OFF32
POSIX_V6_ILP32_OFFBIG
POSIX_V6_LP64_OFF64
POSIX_V6_LPBIG_OFFBIG
POSIX_V7_ILP32_OFF32: 1
POSIX_V7_ILP32_OFF32_CFLAGS: -q32
POSIX_V7_ILP32_OFF32_LDFLAGS: -b32
POSIX_V7_ILP32_OFF32_LIBS: -lc -lpthread -lm
POSIX_V7_ILP32_OFFBIG: 1
POSIX_V7_ILP32_OFFBIG_CFLAGS: -q32 -D_LARGE_FILES -qlonglong
POSIX_V7_ILP32_OFFBIG_LDFLAGS: -b32
POSIX_V7_ILP32_OFFBIG_LIBS: -lc -lpthread -lm
POSIX_V7_LP64_OFF64: 1
POSIX_V7_LP64_OFF64_CFLAGS: -q64
POSIX_V7_LP64_OFF64_LDFLAGS: -b64
POSIX_V7_LP64_OFF64_LIBS: -lc -lpthread -lm
POSIX_V7_LPBIG_OFFBIG: 1
POSIX_V7_LPBIG_OFFBIG_CFLAGS: -q64
POSIX_V7_LPBIG_OFFBIG_LDFLAGS: -b64
POSIX_V7_LPBIG_OFFBIG_LIBS: -lc -lpthread -lm
POSIX_V7_THREADS_CFLAGS: -lpthread
POSIX_V7_THREADS_LDFLAGS:
POSIX_V7_WIDTH_RESTRICTED_ENVS: POSIX_V7_ILP32_OFF32
POSIX_V7_ILP32_OFFBIG
POSIX_V7_LP64_OFF64
POSIX_V7_LPBIG_OFFBIG
PTHREAD_DESTRUCTOR_ITERATIONS: 4
PTHREAD_KEYS_MAX: 450
PTHREAD_STACK_MIN: 8192
PTHREAD_THREADS_MAX: 512
PW_GROUPNAME_LEN: 20
PW_USERNAME_LEN: 20
REAL_MEMORY: 16777216
RE_DUP_MAX: 255
RTSIG_MAX: 8
SCHAR_MAX: 127
SCHAR_MIN: -128
SEM_NSEMS_MAX: 32768
SEM_VALUE_MAX: 32767
SHRT_MAX: 32767
SHRT_MIN: -32768
SIGQUEUE_MAX: 32
SSIZE_MAX: 2147483647
STREAM_MAX: 32767
SYMLINK_MAX: 255
SYMLOOP_MAX: 20
TIMER_MAX: 32
TMP_MAX: 16384
TTY_NAME_MAX: 1023
TZNAME_MAX: 255
UCHAR_MAX: 255
UINT_MAX: 4294967295
ULONG_MAX: 4294967295
USHRT_MAX: 65535
V6_ILP32_OFF32: 1
V6_ILP32_OFFBIG: 1
V6_LP64_OFF64: 1
V6_LPBIG_OFFBIG: 1
WORD_BIT: 32
XBS5_ILP32_OFF32: 1
XBS5_ILP32_OFF32_CFLAGS:
XBS5_ILP32_OFF32_LDFLAGS: -b32
XBS5_ILP32_OFF32_LIBS: -lc -lpthread -lm
XBS5_ILP32_OFF32_LINTFLAGS:
XBS5_ILP32_OFFBIG: 1
XBS5_ILP32_OFFBIG_CFLAGS: -q32 -D_LARGE_FILES -qlonglong
XBS5_ILP32_OFFBIG_LDFLAGS: -b32
XBS5_ILP32_OFFBIG_LIBS: -lc -lpthread -lm
XBS5_ILP32_OFFBIG_LINTFLAGS: -D_LARGE_FILES -qlonglong
XBS5_LP64_OFF64: 1
XBS5_LP64_OFF64_CFLAGS: -q64
XBS5_LP64_OFF64_LDFLAGS: -b64
XBS5_LP64_OFF64_LIBS: -lc -lpthread -lm
XBS5_LP64_OFF64_LINTFLAGS: -D__64BIT__
XBS5_LPBIG_OFFBIG: 1
XBS5_LPBIG_OFFBIG_CFLAGS: -q64
XBS5_LPBIG_OFFBIG_LDFLAGS: -b64
XBS5_LPBIG_OFFBIG_LIBS: -lc -lpthread -lm
XBS5_LPBIG_OFFBIG_LINTFLAGS: -D__64BIT__
_CS_PATH: /usr/bin:/usr/vac/bin
_POSIX2_BC_BASE_MAX: 99
_POSIX2_BC_DIM_MAX: 2048
_POSIX2_BC_SCALE_MAX: 99
_POSIX2_BC_STRING_MAX: 1000
_POSIX2_CHARCLASS_NAME_MAX: 14
_POSIX2_CHAR_TERM: 200112
_POSIX2_COLL_WEIGHTS_MAX: 2
_POSIX2_C_BIND: 200809
_POSIX2_C_DEV: 200809
_POSIX2_C_VERSION: 200809
_POSIX2_EXPR_NEST_MAX: 32
_POSIX2_FORT_DEV: -1
_POSIX2_FORT_RUN: -1
_POSIX2_LINE_MAX: 2048
_POSIX2_LOCALEDEF: 200809
_POSIX2_PBS: -1
_POSIX2_PBS_ACCOUNTING: -1
_POSIX2_PBS_CHECKPOINT: -1
_POSIX2_PBS_LOCATE: -1
_POSIX2_PBS_MESSAGE: -1
_POSIX2_PBS_TRACK: -1
_POSIX2_RE_DUP_MAX: 255
_POSIX2_SW_DEV: -1
_POSIX2_SYMLINKS: undefined
_POSIX2_UPE: 200809
_POSIX2_VERSION: 200809
_POSIX_ADVISORY_INFO: 200809
_POSIX_AIO_LISTIO_MAX: 2
_POSIX_AIO_MAX: 1
_POSIX_ARG_MAX: 4096
_POSIX_ASYNCHRONOUS_IO: 200809
_POSIX_ASYNC_IO: undefined
_POSIX_BARRIERS: 200809
_POSIX_CHILD_MAX: 25
_POSIX_CHOWN_RESTRICTED: 0
_POSIX_CLOCKRES_MIN: 20000000
_POSIX_CLOCK_SELECTION: 200809
_POSIX_CPUTIME: 200809
_POSIX_DELAYTIMER_MAX: 32
_POSIX_FILE_LOCKING: undefined
_POSIX_FSYNC: 200809
_POSIX_HOST_NAME_MAX: 255
_POSIX_IPV6: 200809
_POSIX_JOB_CONTROL: 1
_POSIX_LINK_MAX: 8
_POSIX_LOGIN_NAME_MAX: 9
_POSIX_MAPPED_FILES: 200809
_POSIX_MAX_CANON: 255
_POSIX_MAX_INPUT: 255
_POSIX_MEMLOCK: 200809
_POSIX_MEMLOCK_RANGE: 200809
_POSIX_MEMORY_PROTECTION: 200809
_POSIX_MESSAGE_PASSING: 200809
_POSIX_MONOTONIC_CLOCK: 200809
_POSIX_MQ_OPEN_MAX: 8
_POSIX_MQ_PRIO_MAX: 32
_POSIX_MULTI_PROCESS: undefined
_POSIX_NAME_MAX: 14
_POSIX_NGROUPS_MAX: 8
_POSIX_NO_TRUNC: 0
_POSIX_OPEN_MAX: 20
_POSIX_PATH_MAX: 256
_POSIX_PIPE_BUF: 512
_POSIX_PRIORITIZED_IO: 200809
_POSIX_PRIORITY_SCHEDULING: 200809
_POSIX_PRIO_IO: undefined
_POSIX_RAW_SOCKETS: 200809
_POSIX_READER_WRITER_LOCKS: 200809
_POSIX_REALTIME_SIGNALS: 200809
_POSIX_REGEXP: 1
_POSIX_RE_DUP_MAX: 255
_POSIX_RTSIG_MAX: 8
_POSIX_SAVED_IDS: 1
_POSIX_SEMAPHORES: 200809
_POSIX_SEM_NSEMS_MAX: 256
_POSIX_SEM_VALUE_MAX: 32767
_POSIX_SHARED_MEMORY_OBJECTS: 200809
_POSIX_SHELL: 1
_POSIX_SIGQUEUE_MAX: 32
_POSIX_SPAWN: 200809
_POSIX_SPIN_LOCKS: 200809
_POSIX_SPORADIC_SERVER: -1
_POSIX_SSIZE_MAX: 32767
_POSIX_SS_REPL_MAX: undefined
_POSIX_STREAM_MAX: 8
_POSIX_SYMLINK_MAX: 255
_POSIX_SYMLOOP_MAX: 8
_POSIX_SYNCHRONIZED_IO: 200809
_POSIX_SYNC_IO: undefined
_POSIX_THREADS: 200809
_POSIX_THREAD_ATTR_STACKADDR: 200809
_POSIX_THREAD_ATTR_STACKSIZE: 200809
_POSIX_THREAD_CPUTIME: 200809
_POSIX_THREAD_DESTRUCTOR_ITERATIONS: 4
_POSIX_THREAD_KEYS_MAX: 128
_POSIX_THREAD_PRIORITY_SCHEDULING: -1
_POSIX_THREAD_PRIO_INHERIT: -1
_POSIX_THREAD_PRIO_PROTECT: -1
_POSIX_THREAD_PROCESS_SHARED: 200809
_POSIX_THREAD_SAFE_FUNCTIONS: 200809
_POSIX_THREAD_SPORADIC_SERVER: -1
_POSIX_THREAD_THREADS_MAX: 64
_POSIX_TIMEOUTS: 200809
_POSIX_TIMERS: 200809
_POSIX_TIMER_MAX: 32
_POSIX_TIMESTAMP_RESOLUTION: 1
_POSIX_TRACE: -1
_POSIX_TRACE_EVENT_FILTER: -1
_POSIX_TRACE_EVENT_NAME_MAX: 30
_POSIX_TRACE_INHERIT: -1
_POSIX_TRACE_LOG: -1
_POSIX_TRACE_NAME_MAX: 8
_POSIX_TRACE_SYS_MAX: 8
_POSIX_TRACE_USER_EVENT_MAX: 32
_POSIX_TTY_NAME_MAX: 9
_POSIX_TYPED_MEMORY_OBJECTS: -1
_POSIX_TZNAME_MAX: 6
_POSIX_V6_ILP32_OFF32: 1
_POSIX_V6_ILP32_OFF32_CFLAGS:
_POSIX_V6_ILP32_OFF32_LDFLAGS: -b32
_POSIX_V6_ILP32_OFF32_LIBS: -lc -lpthread -lm
_POSIX_V6_ILP32_OFFBIG: 1
_POSIX_V6_ILP32_OFFBIG_CFLAGS: -q32 -D_LARGE_FILES -qlonglong
_POSIX_V6_ILP32_OFFBIG_LDFLAGS: -b32
_POSIX_V6_ILP32_OFFBIG_LIBS: -lc -lpthread -lm
_POSIX_V6_LP64_OFF64: 1
_POSIX_V6_LP64_OFF64_CFLAGS: -q64
_POSIX_V6_LP64_OFF64_LDFLAGS: -b64
_POSIX_V6_LP64_OFF64_LIBS: -lc -lpthread -lm
_POSIX_V6_LPBIG_OFFBIG: 1
_POSIX_V6_LPBIG_OFFBIG_CFLAGS: -q64
_POSIX_V6_LPBIG_OFFBIG_LDFLAGS: -b64
_POSIX_V6_LPBIG_OFFBIG_LIBS: -lc -lpthread -lm
_POSIX_V6_WIDTH_RESTRICTED_ENVS: POSIX_V6_ILP32_OFF32
POSIX_V6_ILP32_OFFBIG
POSIX_V6_LP64_OFF64
POSIX_V6_LPBIG_OFFBIG
_POSIX_V7_ILP32_OFF32: 1
_POSIX_V7_ILP32_OFF32_CFLAGS: -q32
_POSIX_V7_ILP32_OFF32_LDFLAGS: -b32
_POSIX_V7_ILP32_OFF32_LIBS: -lc -lpthread -lm
_POSIX_V7_ILP32_OFFBIG: 1
_POSIX_V7_ILP32_OFFBIG_CFLAGS: -q32 -D_LARGE_FILES -qlonglong
_POSIX_V7_ILP32_OFFBIG_LDFLAGS: -b32
_POSIX_V7_ILP32_OFFBIG_LIBS: -lc -lpthread -lm
_POSIX_V7_LP64_OFF64: 1
_POSIX_V7_LP64_OFF64_CFLAGS: -q64
_POSIX_V7_LP64_OFF64_LDFLAGS: -b64
_POSIX_V7_LP64_OFF64_LIBS: -lc -lpthread -lm
_POSIX_V7_LPBIG_OFFBIG: 1
_POSIX_V7_LPBIG_OFFBIG_CFLAGS: -q64
_POSIX_V7_LPBIG_OFFBIG_LDFLAGS: -b64
_POSIX_V7_LPBIG_OFFBIG_LIBS: -lc -lpthread -lm
_POSIX_V7_THREADS_CFLAGS: -lpthread
_POSIX_V7_THREADS_LDFLAGS:
_POSIX_V7_WIDTH_RESTRICTED_ENVS: POSIX_V7_ILP32_OFF32
POSIX_V7_ILP32_OFFBIG
POSIX_V7_LP64_OFF64
POSIX_V7_LPBIG_OFFBIG
_POSIX_VDISABLE: 255
_POSIX_VERSION: 200809
_REGEX_VERSION: undefined
_XBS5_ILP32_OFF32: 1
_XBS5_ILP32_OFF32_CFLAGS:
_XBS5_ILP32_OFF32_LDFLAGS: -b32
_XBS5_ILP32_OFF32_LIBS: -lc -lpthread -lm
_XBS5_ILP32_OFF32_LINTFLAGS:
_XBS5_ILP32_OFFBIG: 1
_XBS5_ILP32_OFFBIG_CFLAGS: -q32 -D_LARGE_FILES -qlonglong
_XBS5_ILP32_OFFBIG_LDFLAGS: -b32
_XBS5_ILP32_OFFBIG_LIBS: -lc -lpthread -lm
_XBS5_ILP32_OFFBIG_LINTFLAGS: -D_LARGE_FILES -qlonglong
_XBS5_LP64_OFF64: 1
_XBS5_LP64_OFF64_CFLAGS: -q64
_XBS5_LP64_OFF64_LDFLAGS: -b64
_XBS5_LP64_OFF64_LIBS: -lc -lpthread -lm
_XBS5_LP64_OFF64_LINTFLAGS: -D__64BIT__
_XBS5_LPBIG_OFFBIG: 1
_XBS5_LPBIG_OFFBIG_CFLAGS: -q64
_XBS5_LPBIG_OFFBIG_LDFLAGS: -b64
_XBS5_LPBIG_OFFBIG_LIBS: -lc -lpthread -lm
_XBS5_LPBIG_OFFBIG_LINTFLAGS: -D__64BIT__
_XOPEN_CRYPT: 1
_XOPEN_ENH_I18N: 1
_XOPEN_IOV_MAX: 16
_XOPEN_LEGACY: -1
_XOPEN_NAME_MAX: 255
_XOPEN_PATH_MAX: 1024
_XOPEN_REALTIME: 200112
_XOPEN_REALTIME_THREADS: -1
_XOPEN_SHM: 1
_XOPEN_STREAMS: 1
_XOPEN_UNIX: 1
_XOPEN_VERSION: 700
_XOPEN_XCU_VERSION: 4
_XOPEN_XPG2: undefined
_XOPEN_XPG3: 1
_XOPEN_XPG4: 1

# lsattr -E -l sys0
SW_dist_intr false Enable SW distribution of interrupts True
autorestart true Automatically REBOOT OS after a crash True
boottype disk N/A False
capacity_inc 0.01 Processor capacity increment False
capped false Partition is capped False
chown_restrict true Chown Restriction Mode True
clouddev 0 Recreate ODM devices on next boot True
conslogin enable System Console Login False
cpuguard enable CPU Guard True
dedicated false Partition is dedicated False
enhanced_RBAC true Enhanced RBAC Mode True
ent_capacity 1.00 Entitled processor capacity False
ex_intr_virt false Enable external interrupt virtualization True
frequency 6400000000 System Bus Frequency False
fullcore false Enable full CORE dump True
fwversion IBM,AF783_037 Firmware version and revision levels False
ghostdev 0 Recreate ODM devices on system change / modify PVID True
id_to_partition 0X03DAE0916E160743 Partition ID False
id_to_system 0X03DAE0916E160700 System ID False
iostat false Continuously maintain DISK I/O history True
keylock normal State of system keylock at boot time False
log_pg_dealloc true Log predictive memory page deallocation events True
max_capacity 2.00 Maximum potential processor capacity False
max_logname 20 Maximum login name length at boot time True
maxbuf 20 Maximum number of pages in block I/O BUFFER CACHE True
maxmbuf 0 Maximum Kbytes of real memory allowed for MBUFS True
maxpout 8193 HIGH water mark for pending write I/Os per file True
maxuproc 2048 Maximum number of PROCESSES allowed per user True
min_capacity 0.50 Minimum potential processor capacity False
minpout 4096 LOW water mark for pending write I/Os per file True
modelname IBM,7895-43X Machine name False
ncargs 256 ARG/ENV list size in 4K byte blocks True
nfs4_acl_compat secure NFS4 ACL Compatibility Mode True
ngroups_allowed 128 Number of Groups Allowed True
os_uuid 027ac63b-afff-492f-8e1c-bda6ab0f9ff6 N/A True
partition_uuid 64fa4cf4-e3cf-48af-9a0e-cd869330bac3 Partition UUID False
pmuaccess all PMU access control True
pre430core false Use pre-430 style CORE dump True
pre520tune disable Pre-520 tuning compatibility mode True
realmem 16777216 Amount of usable physical memory in Kbytes False
rtasversion 1 Open Firmware RTAS version False
secure_boot Policy_0(Disabled) Secure Boot Mode False
sed_config select Stack Execution Disable (SED) Mode True
signpolicy none Digital Signature Policy True
systemid IBM,0310EA87B Hardware system identifier False
variable_weight 128 Variable processor capacity weight False