Understanding kernel tuning

The Linux kernel exposes user-space tunable information and configurations through the /proc directory. The /proc filesystem acts as an interface to the kernel data structures and runtime information. It provides a way to access detailed information about processes, system configuration, hardware, and more, exposing this data through a hierarchy of virtual files.

The files in the /proc directory contain system information such as memory (meminfo), CPU (cpuinfo), and available filesystems.

The /proc/sys subdirectory contains configurable parameters to adjust kernel behavior and activity. Most files in /proc/sys can be modified by the root user. Modifying files in /proc/sys causes immediate changes to the running system.

Note

Changing the files in /proc/sys could improve the performance of the running system, but it could also degrade it. Be careful when applying any changes to these files. Remember to back up before making any changes to them...