SCUTIL

NAME
     scutil -- Manage system configuration parameters

SYNOPSIS
     scutil
     scutil -r { nodename | address | local-address remote-address }
     scutil -w dynamic-store-key [-t timeout]
     scutil --get pref
     scutil --set pref [newval]

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 -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) a dynamic store key.

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

OPTIONS
     -r { 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.

         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 the key to be established.  A non-zero exit status will be
         returned if the key was not created 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 LocalHostName

     --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

         The --set option requires super-user access.

SEE ALSO
     configd(8)

HISTORY
     The scutil command appeared in Mac OS X Public Beta.

Mac OS                         November 4, 2003                         Mac OS