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

# NAME

`hostapd` —
authenticator for IEEE 802.11 networks

# SYNOPSIS

`hostapd` | [`-BdhKtv`] config-file ...

# DESCRIPTION

The `hostapd` utility is an authenticator for IEEE 802.11 networks. It provides full support for WPA/IEEE 802.11i and can also act as an IEEE 802.1X Authenticator with a suitable backend Authentication Server (typically FreeRADIUS). The `hostapd` utility implements the authentication protocols that piggyback on top of the normal IEEE 802.11 protocol mechanisms. To use `hostapd` as an authenticator, the underlying device must support some basic functionality such as the ability to set security information in the 802.11 management frames. Beware that not all devices have this support.

The `hostapd` utility is designed to be a “daemon” program that runs in the background and acts as the backend component controlling the wireless connection. It supports separate frontend programs such as the text-based frontend, hostapd_cli(8).

The following arguments must be specified on the command line:

config-file
  Use the settings in the specified configuration file; the name of the specified wireless interface is contained in this file. See hostapd.conf(5) for a description of the configuration file syntax.

  Changes to the configuration file can be reloaded by sending a `SIGHUP` to the `hostapd` processor or with the hostapd_cli(8) utility, using “`hostapd_cli reconfigure`”.

# OPTIONS

The options are as follows:

`-d`
  Enable debugging messages. If this option is supplied twice, more verbose messages are displayed.
`-h`
  Show help text.
`-t`
  Include timestamps in debugging output.
`-v`
  Display version information on the terminal and exit.
`-B`
  Detach from the controlling terminal and run as a daemon process in the background.
`-K`
  Include key information in debugging output.

# SEE ALSO

ath(4), athn(4), atw(4), awi(4), bwi(4), ipw(4), iwi(4), ral(4), rtw(4), rum(4), run(4), wi(4), hostapd.conf(5), hostapd_cli(8), ifconfig(8)

# HISTORY

The `hostapd` utility first appeared in NetBSD 4.0.

# AUTHORS

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

March 21, 2013 | NetBSD 10.0