gated(8) System Manager's Manual gated(8)
NAME
gated - gateway routing daemon
SYNOPSIS
/usr/sbin/gated [-c] [-C] [-n] [-N] [-t trace_options]
[-f config_file] [trace_file]
FLAGS
Specifies that gated parse the configuration file for syntax, then exit. If there are no errors, gated leaves a dump file in
/usr/tmp/gated_dump.
You do not need root privileges to use the -c option. However, if you do not have root privileges, gated might not be able to read
the kernel forwarding table and interface configuration. The -c option implies -tgeneral. All trace_option clauses in the configu-
ration file are ignored. Specifies that gated parse the configuration file for syntax errors. If no errors occur, gated exits with
a status 0. Otherwise, it exits with a status 1.
You do not need root privileges to use the -C option. However, if you do not have root privileges, gated might not be able to read
the kernel forwarding table and interface configuration. Specifies that gated not modify the kernel forwarding table. This is used
for testing gated configurations with actual routing data. Specifies that gated run as a user process. Normally, if tracing to
stderr is not specified and if the parent process is not init, gated runs as a daemon process. This allows the use of an /etc/init-
tab-like method of invoking gated. Specifies a comma-separated list of trace options to be enabled on startup. If no flags are
specified, general is assumed. No space is allowed between this option and its arguments.
Use this to trace events that take place before the configuration file is parsed, such as determining the interface configuration
and reading routes from the kernel.
See gated.conf(4) for valid trace options and a more detailed explanation of tracing. Specifies an alternate configuration file. By
default, gated uses /etc/gated.conf.
If a trace file is specified on the command line, or no trace flags are specified on the command line, gated detaches from the ter-
minal and runs in the background. If trace flags are specified without specifying a trace file, gated assumes that tracing is
desired to stderr and remains in the foreground.
DESCRIPTION
The gated routing daemon is based on Release 4.0.6 from the Merit GateD Consortium. The gated daemon replaces routed and egpup, and cur-
rently handles the RIP, BGP, EGP, HELLO, and OSPF routing protocols. The gated process can be configured to perform all routing protocols
or any subset of them.
SIGNAL PROCESSING
You can use the following signals to control gated: Causes gated to reread the configuration file. The gated daemon first performs a
clean-up of all allocated policy structures. All BGP and EGP peers are flagged for deletion and the configuration file is reparsed.
If the reparse is successful, any BGP and EGP peers that are no longer in the configuration are shut down, and new peers are
started. Gated attempts to determine if changes to existing peers require a shutdown and restart. OSPF is not capable of reconfigur-
ing, it is shutdown and restarted during a reconfiguration. This may have an adverse impact on the routing system.
It should also be possible to enable/disable any protocol without restarting gated. Causes gated to write the current state of all
tasks, timers, protocols, and tables to the /usr/tmp/gated_dump file.
On systems supporting fork(), this is done by forking a subprocess to dump the table information. This does not affect gated's
routing functions. On systems where memory management does not support copy-on-write, fork() causes the gated address space to be
duplicated; this might cause a noticeable impact on the system. On systems not supporting fork(), the main process immediately pro-
cesses the dump, which might impact gated's routing functions. Causes gated to shut down. All tasks and protocols are asked to
shutdown. Most terminate immediately, except EGP peers, which waits for confirmation. You might have to send SIGTERM once or twice
if it this process takes too long to shut down.
All protocol routes are removed from the kernel forwarding table on receipt of a SIGTERM. Interface routes, routes with RTF_STATIC
set (from the route command where supported) and static routes specifying retain will remain. To terminate gated with the exterior
routes intact, use SIGKILL. Causes gated to close the trace file. A subsequent SIGUSR1 reopens the trace file. This allows the
file to be moved regularly.
You cannot use SIGUSR1 if a trace file has not been specified or if tracing is being performed to stderr. Causes gated to rescan
the kernel interface list for changes.
FILES
Contains gated status information. Contains the gated configuration information. Contains the gated process id (PID).
RELATED INFORMATION
Commands: arp(8), gdc(8), ifconfig(8), netstat(1), ospf_monitor(8), ripquery(8), routed(8), route(8)
Functions: fork(2)
Files: gated.conf(4), gated.proto(4), gated.control(4) delim off
gated(8)