---
name: "changelist"
section: "5"
platform: "openbsd"
package: "man"
version: "8.0-current-20261101"
release: "OpenBSD 8.0-current (2026-11-01)"
platforms: ["openbsd"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/changelist"
---

# changelist(5)

list of backup files

## NAME

**changelist** – list of backup files

## DESCRIPTION

The */etc/changelist* file is a simple text file containing the names of files to be backed up and checked [daily(8)](/daily/8.md) by the system [security(8)](/security/8.md) script.

Each line of the file contains the absolute pathname of one file. By default, several configuration files in */etc*, */root*, and */var* are added during system install. Administrators may add additional files at their discretion. Shell globbing is supported in pathnames.

Backup files are held in the directory */var/backups*. A backup of the current version of a file is kept in this directory, marked "current". When the file is altered, the old version is marked as "backup" and the new version becomes "current".

For example, the system shell database, */etc/shells*, is held as */var/backups/etc\_shells.current*. When this file is modified, it is renamed to */var/backups/etc\_shells.backup* and the new version becomes */var/backups/etc\_shells.current*. Thereafter, these files are rotated.

Diffs are mailed to the root administrator, in unified [diff(1)](/diff/1.md) format, via [daily(8)](/daily/8.md), in the following format:

```
=====
/etc/shells diffs (-OLD  +NEW)
=====
```

Files in */etc/changelist* prefixed by a ‘+’ character are stored as [sha256(1)](/sha256/1.md) checksums. During installation, that prefix is used for non-text files and for files that may contain secrets. Results are mailed in the following format:

```
======
/etc/ssh/ssh_host_ed25519_key SHA-256 checksums
======
OLD:
NEW:
```

Lines beginning with the comment character (‘#’), blank lines, and non-existent files are all silently ignored.

## FILES

- */etc/changelist*

  Default changelist.

- */etc/daily*

  Maintenance script which runs [security(8)](/security/8.md).

- */var/backups/*

  Directory containing file backups.

## SEE ALSO

[diff(1)](/diff/1.md), [sha256(1)](/sha256/1.md), [daily(8)](/daily/8.md), [security(8)](/security/8.md)

## HISTORY

The **changelist** manual page first appeared in OpenBSD 3.5.

## CAVEATS

Anyone with the privileges to alter system configuration files could also alter the backup files in */var/backups*. It is important that this directory be owned by root:wheel and have permissions 0700 set.

Removal of the */etc/changelist* file itself could cause confusion.

**changelist** cannot warn about files being added to the system, although [security(8)](/security/8.md) will pick up on any files listed in */etc/changelist* being added or deleted. Removals are only noticed for files listed explicitly, but not for files matched by globbing.

If you hose your system configuration files, you just might be able to find the information you need in */var/backups*. This is not a CAVEAT, but we had to let you know somehow!