To see the boot arguments used to start the currently running Linux kernel, run cat /proc/cmdline. If by “kernel parameters” you mean live, changeable sysctl values instead, use sysctl -a. These commands show different kinds of information.
View the running kernel’s boot arguments
Run:
cat /proc/cmdline/proc/cmdline exposes the arguments passed to the Linux kernel at boot time. The output is a space-separated string, for example:
BOOT_IMAGE=/vmlinuz root=UUID=... ro quietThe example is illustrative; the actual arguments depend on how the system was started. The file can contain arguments supplied by the boot manager and, when CONFIG_BOOT_CONFIG is used, arguments embedded in the kernel image or initramfs. See the proc_cmdline(5) manual.
For easier scanning, put each space-separated token on its own line:
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tr ' ' 'n' < /proc/cmdlineThis only reformats the same contents; it does not reveal additional settings.
Know what the arguments mean
Not every token in /proc/cmdline is necessarily an option interpreted by the kernel. Some arguments are consumed by the kernel, some by initrd programs, and others by userspace. Check the documentation for the component that uses a particular token before treating it as an active kernel setting. The Linux kernel parameters documentation describes kernel-recognized options.
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Systemd also reads /proc/cmdline when running outside a Linux container. In a container, its arguments are parsed from the command line passed to systemd, so the host’s boot arguments may not be the right source for understanding the container’s behavior. See systemd’s kernel command line documentation.
Check live sysctl values instead
If you want current runtime values rather than the original boot arguments, list available sysctl variables with:
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sysctl -aThis can produce a large output. To narrow it to variables whose names begin with kernel., use:
sysctl -a 2>/dev/null | grep '^kernel.'To inspect one known value, such as the system hostname, use either command:
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sysctl kernel.hostnamecat /proc/sys/kernel/hostnameThe sysctl interface reads variables exposed under /proc/sys; it is not a complete inventory of kernel state or a replacement for /proc/cmdline. See the sysctl(8) manual and proc_sys(5) manual.
Boot configuration is not the same as current state
A configuration file can describe values intended to be applied during startup, but it does not by itself prove that a value is currently active. Boot services apply configuration, while sysctl reads live values. The procps sysctl --system command and systemd-sysctl also differ in whether they read /etc/sysctl.conf; consult the relevant sysctl(8) documentation and systemd-sysctl documentation for the system in question.
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Reading /proc/cmdline, sysctl output, or files under /proc/sys is observational. Although some /proc/sys values can be changed at runtime, writing them changes configuration rather than merely viewing it. For details, see proc_sys(5).
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