WPA_CLI(8) | System Manager's Manual | WPA_CLI(8)

# NAME

`wpa_cli` —
text-based frontend program for interacting with wpa_supplicant

# SYNOPSIS

`wpa_cli` | [commands]

# DESCRIPTION

The `wpa_cli` utility is a text-based frontend program for interacting with wpa_supplicant(8). It is used to query current status, change configuration, trigger events, and request interactive user input.

The `wpa_cli` utility can show the current authentication status, selected security mode, dot11 and dot1x MIBs, etc. In addition, `wpa_cli` can configure EAPOL state machine parameters and trigger events such as reassociation and IEEE 802.1X logoff/logon.

The `wpa_cli` utility provides an interface to supply authentication information such as username and password when it is not provided in the wpa_supplicant.conf(5) configuration file. This can be used, for example, to implement one-time passwords or generic token card authentication where the authentication is based on a challenge-response that uses an external device for generating the response.

The `wpa_cli` utility supports two modes: interactive and command line. Both modes share the same command set and the main difference is that in interactive mode, `wpa_cli` provides access to unsolicited messages (event messages, username/password requests).

Interactive mode is started when `wpa_cli` is executed without any parameters on the command line. Commands are then entered from the controlling terminal in response to the `wpa_cli` prompt. In command line mode, the same commands are entered as command line arguments.

The control interface of wpa_supplicant(8) can be configured to allow non-root user access by using the ctrl_interface_group parameter in the wpa_supplicant.conf(5) configuration file. This makes it possible to run `wpa_cli` with a normal user account.

# AUTHENTICATION PARAMETERS

When wpa_supplicant(8) needs authentication parameters, such as username and password, that are not present in the configuration file, it sends a request message to all attached frontend programs, e.g., `wpa_cli` in interactive mode. The `wpa_cli` utility shows these requests with a “`CTRL-REQ-`⟨type⟩`-`⟨id⟩:⟨text⟩” prefix, where ⟨type⟩ is `IDENTITY`, `PASSWORD`, or `OTP` (one-time password), ⟨id⟩ is a unique identifier for the current network, and ⟨text⟩ is description of the request. In the case of a `OTP` (One Time Password) request, it includes the challenge from the authentication server.

A user must supply wpa_supplicant(8) the needed parameters in response to these requests.

For example,

    CTRL-REQ-PASSWORD-1:Password needed for SSID foobar
    > password 1 mysecretpassword

    Example request for generic token card challenge-response:

    CTRL-REQ-OTP-2:Challenge 1235663 needed for SSID foobar
    > otp 2 9876

# COMMANDS

The following commands may be supplied on the command line or at a prompt when operating interactively.

`status`
  Report the current WPA/EAPOL/EAP status for the current interface.
`mib`
  Report MIB variables (dot1x, dot11) for the current interface.
`help`
  Show usage help.
`status`
  Get current WPA/EAPOL/EAP status.
`add_network`
  Add a network. Returns a number to be used in set_network commands.
`set_network` network_id ssid my_ssid_name
  Make network_id use the SSID my_ssid_name.
`set_network` network_id psk my_ssid_password
  Make network_id use the password my_ssid_password
`enable_network` network_id
  Begin using the network at network_id.
`list_network`
  List the networks configured.
`scan`
  Begin a scan of nearby APs. Results can be obtained with `scan_results`.
`interface` [ifname]
  Show available interfaces and/or set the current interface when multiple are available.
`level` debug_level
  Change the debugging level in wpa_supplicant(8). Larger numbers generate more messages.
`license`
  Display the full license for `wpa_cli`.
`logoff`
  Send the IEEE 802.1X EAPOL state machine into the “logoff” state.
`logon`
  Send the IEEE 802.1X EAPOL state machine into the “logon” state.
`set` [settings]
  Set variables. When no arguments are supplied, the known variables and their settings are displayed.
`pmksa`
  Show the contents of the PMKSA cache.
`reassociate`
  Force a reassociation to the current access point.
`reconfigure`
  Force wpa_supplicant(8) to re-read its configuration file.
`preauthenticate` BSSID
  Force preauthentication of the specified BSSID.
`identity` network_id identity
  Configure an identity for an SSID.
`password` network_id password
  Configure a password for an SSID.
`otp` network_id password
  Configure a one-time password for an SSID.
`terminate`
  Force wpa_supplicant(8) to terminate.
`quit`
  Exit `wpa_cli`.

# SEE ALSO

wpa_supplicant.conf(5), wpa_passphrase(8), wpa_supplicant(8)

# EXAMPLES

A sample run of discovering and connecting to a network with SSID "MyWifiNetwork" and with a password "MyWifiPassword".

If wpa_supplicant isn't already running, start it with the command `service wpa_supplicant onestart`.

Find the network

    scan

    scan_results

    17:07:08.868: bssid / frequency / signal level / flags / ssid
    14:aa:ff:ee:aa:cc	2437	187	[WPA-PSK-CCMP+TKIP][ESS]	MyWifiNetwork
    44:ee:ff:bb:33:33	2452	168	[WPA2-PSK-CCMP][ESS]	SomeOtherNetwork

Now, let's create a network and configure it.

    add_network

    17:08:13.047: 1

That means the new network_id we should use is 1.

    set_network 1 ssid "MyWifiNetwork"

    set_network 1 psk "MyWifiPassword"

    enable_network 1

After this point, you should be connected, but no IP address is configured. You will likely want to configure the address using dhcpcd(8).

# HISTORY

The `wpa_cli` utility first appeared in NetBSD 4.0.

# AUTHORS

The `wpa_cli` utility was written by Jouni Malinen <jkmaline@cc.hut.fi>. This manual page is derived from the README file included in the `wpa_supplicant` distribution.

June 19, 2019 | NetBSD 10.0