KEXTD(8) BSD System Manager's Manual KEXTD(8)

NAME
     kkeexxttdd - loads kexts on demand from kernel or client processes

SYNOPSIS
     kkeexxttdd [-cc] [-dd] [-ff] [-hh] [-jj] [-rr directory] ...  [-vv [1-6]] [-xx]

DESCRIPTION
     kkeexxttdd runs as a daemon process to handle requests from the kernel to load
     kernel extensions (kexts).  For proper operation kkeexxttdd must be invoked as
     the superuser.

     kkeexxttdd should not be considered a formal interface in the Darwin OS or in
     Mac OS X.  Neither its usage nor its presence should be relied on by any
     software or software installer.

     The options available are these:

     -cc       Ignore any repository cache files and scan all kext bundles to
              gather information.  If this option is not given, kkeexxttdd will
              attempt to use cache files and to create them if they are out of
              date or don't exist.

     -dd       Debug mode; run in the foreground and print messages to std-
              out/stderr.

     -ff       Don't fork a child task when loading kexts.  This option is
              present for debugging kkeexxttdd and should never be used otherwise.

     -hh       Print a help message describing each option flag.

     -jj       Don't jettison kernel linker; load NDRVs in the kernel and exit,
              allowing the kernel to continue handling all load requests.
              This option is used in startup scripts for install CDs, along
              with a properly built mkext cache, in order to speed startup
              from the CD.

     -rr directory
              Use directory as a repository of known kexts for handling load
              requests.  This is not recursive; only the directory's immediate
              contents are scanned.  By default kkeexxttdd uses only the kexts in
              /System/Library/Extensions.

     -vv [1-6]
              Verbose mode; print information about the kext scanning and
              loading process (note that this is generally not useful when
              unloading).  See the man page for kextload(8) to see what each
              verbose level prints.

     -xx       Run kkeexxttdd in safe boot mode (indicating startup with the Shift
              key held down).  Kexts that don't specify a proper value for the
              OSBundleRequired info dictionary property will not be loaded.
              As of Mac OS X 10.5, kkeexxttdd determines from the kernel whether
              the system has started in safe boot mode, so this flag is no
              longer necessary (but may be used for testing).  In safe boot
              mode, kkeexxttdd does not use caches (that is, this option implies
              the use of the -cc option).

RREESSEETTTTIINNGG KKEEXXTTDD
     On Mac OS X 10.3 and later, it is possible to reset kkeexxttdd without termi-
     nating and restarting it, by sending it a HUP signal.  This causes kkeexxttdd
     to rescan the Extensions folder, rebuild all its caches, and send all
     driver personalities to the kernel for a new round of driver matching.
     In OS X 10.5, kkeexxttdd watches /System/Library/Extensions and automatically
     rebuilds their mkext caches.  It will send new drivers personalities to
     the kernel at this time.

     Installers that add new drivers can signal kkeexxttdd in these ways instead of
     requiring the computer to be restarted.  Note that if a hardware device
     has a driver attached when this is done, a newly-installed driver will
     not match on it.  See the Apple Developer Connection's Technical Q&A
     QA1319 for more information.

DIAGNOSTICS     kkeexxttdd normally never exits.  If an error occurs it exits with a nonzero
     status.  If invoked with the -jj option it exits with a zero status when
     no error occurs, or a nonzero status if an error does occur.

     kkeexxttdd logs all error and verbose messages to the system log, or to the
     console if the system log facility isn't available.  When running in
     debug mode all output is printed to the standard output and error
     streams.

SEE ALSO
     kextcache(8), kextload(8), kextstat(8), kextunload(8), syslogd(8)

Darwin                         February 14, 2002                        Darwin