---
name: "genl-ctrl-list"
section: "8"
platform: "linux"
package: "libnl"
version: "3.12.0-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/genl-ctrl-list"
---

# genl-ctrl-list(8)

List available kernel-side Generic Netlink families

## NAME

genl-ctrl-list - List available kernel-side Generic Netlink families

## SYNOPSIS

**genl-ctrl-list \[-d\]**

## DESCRIPTION

Queries the Generic Netlink controller in kernel and prints a list of all registered Generic Netlink families including the version of the interface that has been registered.

## OPTIONS

- **-h** or **--help**

  Print help text to console and exit.

- **-v** or **--version**

  Print versioning information to console and exit.

- **-d** or **--details**

  Include additional detailed information for each Generic Netlink family that is printed.

  The information includes:

  - **hdrsize N**

    The size of the user specific header.

  - **maxattr N**

    The maximum Netlink attribute identifier expected by the interface.

  - **op NAME (ID) \<FLAGS\>**

    A list of available operations including their name, numeric identifier and the flags indicating the capabilities of the opertion.

    Available flags:

    - *admin-perm*

      Requires administrative privileges

    - *has-doit*

      Command can handle request

    - *has-dump*

      Command can handle a dump request

    - *has-policy*

      Command enforces attribute validation policy

  - **grp NAME (ID)**

    A list of registered multicast groups including name (if available) and identifier.

  **Example:**

  0x0010 nlctrl version 2

      hdrsize 0 maxattr 7

        op GETFAMILY (0x03) \<has-doit,has-dump,has-policy\>

        grp notify (0x10)

## EXAMPLE

$ genl-ctrl-list

0x0010 nlctrl version 2

0x0011 NLBL\_MGMT version 3

0x0012 NLBL\_CIPSOv4 version 3

0x0013 NLBL\_UNLBL version 3

0x0014 acpi\_event version 1

0x0015 thermal\_event version 1

0x0016 VFS\_DQUOT version 1

0x0017 TASKSTATS version 1

0x0018 NET\_DM version 2

## AUTHOR

Thomas Graf is the original author and current maintainer of libnl and libnl tools. Many people have contributed to it since.