---
name: "boottrace"
section: "8"
platform: "freebsd"
package: "base"
version: "16.0-CURRENT-20261027-61c70dc16a79"
release: "FreeBSD 16.0-CURRENT (2026-10-27)"
platforms: ["freebsd"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/boottrace"
---

# boottrace(8)

trace command execution with boottrace(4)

## NAME

**boottrace** – trace command execution with [boottrace(4)](/boottrace/4.md)

## SYNOPSIS

**boottrace** *utility* \[*argument* *...*\]

## DESCRIPTION

The **boottrace** utility executes the specified *utility*, creating two [boottrace(4)](/boottrace/4.md) trace entries before and after its execution.

## ENVIRONMENT

The PATH environment variable is used to locate the requested *utility* if the name contains no ‘/’ characters.

## EXIT STATUS

If *utility* was executed successfully, its exit status is returned.

If *utility* was found but could not be executed, an exit status of 126 is returned. If *utility* could not be found, an exit status of 127 is returned.

## EXAMPLES

Execute the [dumpon(8)](/dumpon/8.md) utility, logging the trace entries:

```
$ boottrace dumpon -z /dev/gpt/swap0
```

This will appear in the output of the *kern.boottrace.log* [sysctl(8)](/sysctl/8.md) node:

```
CPU      msecs    delta process     event                PID CPUtime IBlks OBlks
  0   63918567        0 kernel      sysinit 0x2100001      0    0.00     0     0
[...]
  0   64076940   120605 boottrace   dumpon start        1602    0.00     0     0
  0   64076942        2 boottrace   dumpon done         1602    0.00     0     0
```

## SEE ALSO

[boottrace(4)](/boottrace/4.md), [rc.subr(8)](/rc.subr/8.md)