---
name: "Net::Config"
section: "3p"
platform: "openbsd"
package: "man"
version: "8.0-current-20261101"
release: "OpenBSD 8.0-current (2026-11-01)"
platforms: ["openbsd"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/Net::Config"
---

# Net::Config(3p)

Local configuration data for libnet

## NAME

Net::Config - Local configuration data for libnet

## SYNOPSIS

```
    use Net::Config qw(%NetConfig);
```

## DESCRIPTION

`"Net::Config"` holds configuration data for the modules in the libnet distribution. During installation you will be asked for these values.

The configuration data is held globally in a file in the perl installation tree, but a user may override any of these values by providing their own. This can be done by having a `".libnetrc"` file in their home directory. This file should return a reference to a HASH containing the keys described below. For example

```
    # .libnetrc
    {
        nntp_hosts => [ "my_preferred_host" ],
        ph_hosts   => [ "my_ph_server" ],
    }
    __END__
```

### Class Methods

`"Net::Config"` defines the following methods. They are methods as they are invoked as class methods. This is because `"Net::Config"` inherits from `"Net::LocalCfg"` so you can override these methods if you want.

- requires\_firewall($host)

  Attempts to determine if a given host is outside your firewall. Possible return values are.

  ```
    -1  Cannot lookup hostname
     0  Host is inside firewall (or there is no ftp_firewall entry)
     1  Host is outside the firewall
  ```

  This is done by using hostname lookup and the `"local_netmask"` entry in the configuration data.

### NetConfig Values

- nntp\_hosts

  - snpp\_hosts

  - pop3\_hosts

  - smtp\_hosts

  - ph\_hosts

  - daytime\_hosts

  - time\_hosts

  Each is a reference to an array of hostnames (in order of preference), which should be used for the given protocol

- inet\_domain

  Your internet domain name

- ftp\_firewall

  If you have an FTP proxy firewall (**NOT** an HTTP or SOCKS firewall) then this value should be set to the firewall hostname. If your firewall does not listen to port 21, then this value should be set to `"hostname:port"` (eg `"hostname:99"`)

- ftp\_firewall\_type

  There are many different ftp firewall products available. But unfortunately there is no standard for how to traverse a firewall.  The list below shows the sequence of commands that Net::FTP will use

  ```
    user        Username for remote host
    pass        Password for remote host
    fwuser      Username for firewall
    fwpass      Password for firewall
    remote.host The hostname of the remote ftp server
  ```

  - 0

    There is no firewall

  - 1

    ```
         USER user@remote.host
         PASS pass
    ```

  - 2

    ```
         USER fwuser
         PASS fwpass
         USER user@remote.host
         PASS pass
    ```

  - 3

    ```
         USER fwuser
         PASS fwpass
         SITE remote.site
         USER user
         PASS pass
    ```

  - 4

    ```
         USER fwuser
         PASS fwpass
         OPEN remote.site
         USER user
         PASS pass
    ```

  - 5

    ```
         USER user@fwuser@remote.site
         PASS pass@fwpass
    ```

  - 6

    ```
         USER fwuser@remote.site
         PASS fwpass
         USER user
         PASS pass
    ```

  - 7

    ```
         USER user@remote.host
         PASS pass
         AUTH fwuser
         RESP fwpass
    ```

- ftp\_ext\_passive

  - ftp\_int\_passive

  FTP servers can work in passive or active mode. Active mode is when you want to transfer data you have to tell the server the address and port to connect to.  Passive mode is when the server provide the address and port and you establish the connection.

  With some firewalls active mode does not work as the server cannot connect to your machine (because you are behind a firewall) and the firewall does not re-write the command. In this case you should set `"ftp_ext_passive"` to a *true* value.

  Some servers are configured to only work in passive mode. If you have one of these you can force `"Net::FTP"` to always transfer in passive mode; when not going via a firewall, by setting `"ftp_int_passive"` to a *true* value.

- local\_netmask

  A reference to a list of netmask strings in the form `"134.99.4.0/24"`. These are used by the `"requires_firewall"` function to determine if a given host is inside or outside your firewall.

The following entries are used during installation & testing on the libnet package

- test\_hosts

  If true then `"make test"` may attempt to connect to hosts given in the configuration.

- test\_exists

  If true then `"Configure"` will check each hostname given that it exists

## EXPORTS

The following symbols are, or can be, exported by this module:

- Default Exports

  `%NetConfig`.

- Optional Exports

  *None*.

- Export Tags

  *None*.

## KNOWN BUGS

*None*.

## AUTHOR

Graham Barr \<gbarr@pobox.com \<mailto:gbarr@pobox.com\>\>.

Steve Hay \<shay@cpan.org \<mailto:shay@cpan.org\>\> is now maintaining libnet as of version 1.22\_02.

## COPYRIGHT

Copyright (C) 2000 Graham Barr.  All rights reserved.

Copyright (C) 2013-2014, 2016, 2020 Steve Hay.  All rights reserved.

## LICENCE

This module is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the same terms as Perl itself, i.e. under the terms of either the GNU General Public License or the Artistic License, as specified in the *LICENCE* file.

## VERSION

Version 3.15

## DATE

20 March 2023

## HISTORY

See the *Changes* file.
