---
name: "dhcpleased"
section: "8"
platform: "openbsd"
package: "man"
version: "8.0-current-20261101"
release: "OpenBSD 8.0-current (2026-11-01)"
platforms: ["openbsd"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/dhcpleased"
---

# dhcpleased(8)

Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) client

## NAME

**dhcpleased** – Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) client

## SYNOPSIS

**dhcpleased** \[**-dnv**\] \[**-f** *file*\] \[**-s** *socket*\]

## DESCRIPTION

**dhcpleased** is a dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) daemon for clients. If an interface has the **AUTOCONF4** flag set (auto configuration is enabled), **dhcpleased** sends requests for IP configuration information from a DHCP server, such as [dhcpd(8)](/dhcpd/8.md), and uses that information to configure the relevant interface.

See [hostname.if(5)](/hostname.if/5.md) and [ifconfig(8)](/ifconfig/8.md) on how to enable auto configuration on an interface.

**dhcpleased** monitors network interface states (interface going up or down, auto configuration enabled or disabled, etc.) and sends requests when necessary. A running **dhcpleased** can be controlled with the [dhcpleasectl(8)](/dhcpleasectl/8.md) utility.

The options are as follows:

- **-d**

  Do not daemonize. If this option is specified, **dhcpleased** will run in the foreground and log to *stderr*.

- **-f** *file*

  Specify an alternative configuration file.

- **-n**

  Configtest mode. Only check the configuration file for validity.

- **-s** *socket*

  Use an alternate location for the default control socket.

- **-v**

  Produce more verbose output. Multiple **-v** options increase the verbosity.

## FILES

- */dev/dhcpleased.sock*

  UNIX-domain socket used for communication with [dhcpleasectl(8)](/dhcpleasectl/8.md).

- */etc/dhcpleased.conf*

  Default **dhcpleased** configuration file.

- */var/db/dhcpleased/*⟨*if*⟩

  Interface specific lease files.

## SEE ALSO

[dhcpleased.conf(5)](/dhcpleased.conf/5.md), [hostname.if(5)](/hostname.if/5.md), [dhcpd(8)](/dhcpd/8.md), [dhcpleasectl(8)](/dhcpleasectl/8.md), [ifconfig(8)](/ifconfig/8.md)

## STANDARDS

R. Droms, *Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol*, RFC 2131, March 1997.

S. Alexander and R. Droms, *DHCP Options and BOOTP Vendor Extensions*, RFC 2132, March 1997.

## HISTORY

The **dhcpleased** program first appeared in OpenBSD 6.9.

## AUTHORS

The **dhcpleased** program was written by Florian Obser ⟨*florian@openbsd.org*⟩.