def persist(name, value, config='/etc/sysctl.conf'):
    '''
    Assign and persist a simple sysctl parameter for this minion

    CLI Example:

    .. code-block:: bash

        salt '*' sysctl.persist net.inet.icmp.icmplim 50
    '''
    nlines = []
    edited = False
    value = six.text_type(value)

    # create /etc/sysctl.conf if not present
    if not os.path.isfile(config):
        try:
            with salt.utils.files.fopen(config, 'w+'):
                pass
        except (IOError, OSError):
            msg = 'Could not create {0}'
            raise CommandExecutionError(msg.format(config))

    with salt.utils.files.fopen(config, 'r') as ifile:
        for line in ifile:
            line = salt.utils.stringutils.to_unicode(line)
            m = re.match(r'{0}(\??=)'.format(name), line)
            if not m:
                nlines.append(line)
                continue
            else:
                key, rest = line.split('=', 1)
                if rest.startswith('"'):
                    _, rest_v, rest = rest.split('"', 2)
                elif rest.startswith('\''):
                    _, rest_v, rest = rest.split('\'', 2)
                else:
                    rest_v = rest.split()[0]
                    rest = rest[len(rest_v):]
                if rest_v == value:
                    return 'Already set'
                new_line = '{0}{1}{2}{3}'.format(name, m.group(1), value, rest)
                nlines.append(new_line)
                edited = True

    if not edited:
        newline = '{0}={1}'.format(name, value)
        nlines.append("{0}\n".format(newline))

    with salt.utils.files.fopen(config, 'wb') as ofile:
        ofile.writelines(
            salt.utils.data.encode(nlines)
        )

    assign(name, value)

    return 'Updated'