---
name: "kvm_mkdb"
section: "8"
platform: "openbsd"
package: "man"
version: "8.0-current-20261101"
release: "OpenBSD 8.0-current (2026-11-01)"
platforms: ["openbsd"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/kvm_mkdb"
---

# kvm\_mkdb(8)

create kernel database

## NAME

**kvm\_mkdb** – create kernel database

## SYNOPSIS

**kvm\_mkdb** \[**-v**\] \[**-o** *directory*\] \[*file*\]

## DESCRIPTION

**kvm\_mkdb** creates a database in */var/db* containing information about the specified file. If no file is specified, */bsd* is used by default. The file is named *kvm\_filename.db*, where *filename* is the name of the file read. Various library routines consult this database. The only information currently stored is the kernel namelist, which is used by the [kvm\_nlist(3)](/kvm_nlist/3.md) function. However, in the future the database may contain other static information about the current system.

The options are as follows:

- **-o** *directory*

  Allows the specification of a *directory* other than */var/db* for the database to be created in.

- **-v**

  Yields slightly more verbose operation.

## FILES

- */bsd*

  - */var/db/kvm\_bsd.db*

  ## SEE ALSO

[kvm\_nlist(3)](/kvm_nlist/3.md)

## HISTORY

The **kvm\_mkdb** utility first appeared in 4.3BSD-Reno.