---
name: "fam.conf"
section: "5"
platform: "linux"
package: "fam"
version: "2.7.0-17.3"
release: "Debian 11 (Bullseye)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/fam.conf"
---

# fam.conf(5)

The File Alteration Monitor (FAM) configuration file

## NAME

fam.conf - The File Alteration Monitor (FAM) configuration file

## SYNOPSIS

In addition to its command line options, **famd**'s behavior can also be controlled through its configuration file.  By default, this is */etc/fam.conf*.  The **-c** command line option can be used to specify an alternate file.

## FILE FORMAT

Configuration lines are in the format **option=value**. Lines beginning with **#** or **!** are ignored. **famd** recognizes the following options:

- **insecure\_compatibility**

  If set to *true*, this disables authentication and reduces access security as described under SECURITY below.  This is *false* by default.  Setting this option to *true* is the same as using the **-C** command line option.

- **untrusted\_user**

  This is the user name or UID of the user account which **famd** will use for unauthenticated clients.  If a file can't be **stat**ed by this user, **famd** will not tell unauthenticated clients about the file's existence. If an untrusted user is not given in the configuration file, **famd** will write an error message to the system log and terminate.

- **local\_only**

  If set to *true*, **famd** will ignore requests from remote **famd**s. This is *false* by default.  Setting this option to **true** is the same as using the **-L** command line option.  This option is ignored if **famd** is started by **inetd**.

- **idle\_timeout**

  This is the time in seconds that famd will wait before exiting after its last client disconnects.  The default is *5* seconds.  This option is overridden by the **-T** command line option.

- **nfs\_polling\_interval**

  This is the interval in seconds between polling files over an NFS filesystem. The default is *6* seconds.  This option is overridden by the **-t** command line option.

- **xtab\_verification**

  If set to *true*, **famd** will check the list of exported filesystems when remote requests are received to verify that the requests fall on filesystems which are exported to the requesting hosts.  This is *true* by default.  If this option is set to *false*, **famd** will service remote requests without attempting to perform the verification.  If the **local\_only** configuration option or **-L** command line option is used, **xtab\_verification** has no effect.

- **detect\_readonly\_filesystems**

  If set to *true*, **famd** will try to detect read-only filesystems. Such filesystems are assumed to never change. This is *false* by default. Setting this option to **true** is the same as using the **-r** command line option.

## SEE ALSO