gated(1M)

NAME

gated − gateway routing daemon

SYNOPSIS

gated [-c] [-n] [-t trace_options] [-f config_file] [trace_file]

DESCRIPTION

gated is a routing daemon that handles the RIP, BGP, EGP, and HELLO routing protocols. The gated process can be configured to perform all routing protocols or any combination of the four (see WARNINGS below).

Options

gated recognizes the following options and command-line arguments:

-c Parse the configuration file for syntax errors then exit. If there were no errors, leave a dump file in /usr/tmp/gated_dump. Running gated does not require super-user privilege when using the -c option, but gated may not be able to read the kernel’s routing table unless it is run as super user. The -c option implies -tierk.

-n Do not modify the kernel’s routing table. This option is used for testing gated configurations with actual routing data.

-ttrace_options Enable trace flags on startup. If no flags are specified, ier is assumed. No spaces are allowed between this option and its arguments.

This option must be used to trace events that occur before the configuration file is parsed, such as determining interface configuration and reading routes from the kernel.

trace_options can include one or more of the following values:

A	all	P	protocol
i	internal	u	update
e	external	R	RIP
k	kernel	H	hello
r	route	C	icmp
m	mark	p	EGP
t	nostamp	B	BGP

Trace options are explained in greater detail in the gated-config(4) manual entry.

-f config_file Use an alternate configuration file. By default, gated uses /etc/gated.conf.

trace_file Trace file in which to place trace information.

If no -t option is specified, or if a trace_file argument is specified, gated detaches from the terminal and runs in the background. If a -t option and accompanying trace flags are specified without specifying a trace file, gated assumes that tracing is to be sent to the console, and remains in the foreground.

Signal Processing

gated catches the following signals and processes them as indicated:

SIGHUP Re-read configuration.

A SIGHUP causes gated to reread the configuration file. gated first performs a clean-up of all allocated policy structures. All BGP and EGP peers are flagged for deletion and the configuration file is re-parsed.

If the re-parse 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 whether changes to existing peers require a shutdown and restart.

It should also be possible to enable or disable any protocol without restarting gated.

SIGINT Snapshot of current state.

The current state of all gated tasks, timers, protocols, and tables are written to /usr/tmp/gated_dump.

On systems supporting fork(), this is done by forking a subprocess to dump the table information so as not to impact gated’s routing functions. On systems where memory management does not support copy-on-write, this causes the gated address space to be duplicated which may be cause a noticable impact on the system. On systems not supporting fork(), the main process immediately processes the dump, which may impact gated’s routing functions.

SIGTERM Graceful shutdown.

On receipt of a SIGTERM, gated attempts a graceful shutdown. All tasks and protocols are asked to shut down. Most terminate immediately, the exception being EGP peers which wait for confirmation. It may be necessary to repeat the SIGTERM once or twice if it this process takes too long.

All exerior routes ( BGP and EGP ) are removed from the kernel’s routing table on receipt of a SIGTERM. Interior routes (all others) remain. To terminate gated with the exterior routes intact, use SIGKILL or SIGQUIT (which causes a core dump).

SIGUSR1 Toggle tracing.

On receipt of a SIGUSR1, gated closes the trace file. A subsequent SIGUSR1 causes it to be reopened. This allows the file to be moved regularly.

It is not possible to use SIGUSR1 if a trace file has not been specified, or if trace output is being sent to the console.

WARNINGS

gated contains provisions for BGP protocol, but it is not officially supported by HP at the present time.

AUTHORS

Mark Fedor, PSI
Jeffrey C Honig, Cornell University

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