---
name: "rctl.conf"
section: "5"
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/rctl.conf"
---

# rctl.conf(5)

resource limits database defaults

## NAME

**rctl.conf** – resource limits database defaults

## DESCRIPTION

The */etc/rctl.conf* file is read in when the system goes into multi-user mode to set default contents of the RCTL database. The */etc/rctl.conf* is in the format of the [rctl(8)](/rctl/8.md) command, i.e.

```
subject:subject-id:resource:action=amount/per
```

Comments are denoted by a “#” at the beginning of a line. Comments can also exist at the end of a line, as seen in the EXAMPLES section, below.

## FILES

- */etc/rctl.conf*

  Initial settings for [rctl(8)](/rctl/8.md).

## EXAMPLES

To limit the number of processes for users in login class "testing", use a rule like

```
# Resource limits for the "testing" class.
loginclass:testing:maxproc:deny=100/user # At most 100 processes per user
```

## SEE ALSO

[rctl(8)](/rctl/8.md)

## HISTORY

The **rctl.conf** file appeared in FreeBSD 9.0.