---
name: "hcidump"
section: "8"
platform: "linux"
package: "bluez-hcidump"
version: "2.4-1"
release: "Debian 7 (Wheezy)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/hcidump/8"
---

# hcidump(8)

Parse HCI data

## NAME

hcidump - Parse HCI data

## SYNOPSIS

**hcidump \[-h\]**\
 **hcidump \[option \[option...\]\] \[filter\]**

## DESCRIPTION

**hcidump** reads raw HCI data coming from and going to a Bluetooth device (which can be specified with the option **-i**, default is the first available one) and prints to screen commands, events and data in a human-readable form. Optionally, the dump can be written to a file rather than parsed, and the dump file can be parsed in a subsequent moment.

## OPTIONS

- **-h**

  Prints usage info and exits

- **-i** *\<hciX\>*

  Data is read from *hciX*, which must be the name of an installed Bluetooth device. If not specified, and if **-r** option is not set, data is read from the first available Bluetooth device.

- **-l** *\<len\>***, --snap-len=***\<len\>*

  Sets max length of processed packets to *len*.

- **-p** *\<psm\>***, --psm=***\<psm\>*

  Sets default Protocol Service Multiplexer to *psm*.

- **-m** *\<compid\>***, --manufacturer=***\<compid\>*

  Sets default company id for manufacturer to *compid*.

- **-w** *\<file\>***, --save-dump=***\<file\>*

  Parse output is not printed to screen, instead data read from device is saved in file *file*. The saved dump file can be subsequently parsed with option **-r**.

- **-r** *\<file\>***, --read-dump=***\<file\>*

  Data is not read from a Bluetooth device, but from file *file*. *file* is created with option **-w**.

- **-s** *\<host\>***, --send-dump=***\<host\>*

  Parse output is not printed to screen, instead data read from device is sent to host *host*.

- **-n** *\<host\>***, --recv-dump=***\<host\>*

  Data is not read from a Bluetooth device, but from host *host*.

- **-d** *\<host\>***, --wait-dump=***\<host\>*

  Data is read from a Bluetooth device, but then send to *host* for processing. No data is read if no host is connected.

- **-t**, **--timestamp**

  Prepend a time stamp to every packet.

- **-a**, **--ascii**

  For every packet, not only is the packet type displayed, but also all data in ASCII.

- **-x**, **--hex**

  For every packet, not only is the packet type displayed, but also all data in hex.

- **-X**, **--ext**

  For every packet, not only is the packet type displayed, but also all data in hex and ASCII.

- **-R**, **--raw**

  For every packet, only the raw data is displayed.

- **-C**, **--cmtp=**\<psm\>

  Sets the PSM value for the CAPI Message Transport Protocol.

- **-H**, **--hcrp=**\<psm\>

  Sets the PSM value for the Hardcopy Control Channel.

- **-O**, **--obex=**\<channel\>

  Sets the RFCOMM channel value for the Object Exchange Protocol.

- **-P**, **--ppp=**\<channel\>

  Sets the RFCOMM channel value for the Point-to-Point Protocol.

- **-D**, **--pppdump=**\<file\>

  Extract PPP traffic with pppdump format.

- **-A**, **--audio=**\<file\>

  Extract SCO audio data.

- **-Y**, **--novendor**

  Don't display any vendor commands or events and don't show any pin code or link key in plain text.

- **-4**, **--ipv4**

  Use IPv4 when sending information over the network

- **-6**, **--ipv6**

  Use IPv6 when sending information over the network

## FILTERS

**filter** is a space-separated list of packet categories: available categories are *lmp*, *hci*, *sco*, *l2cap*, *rfcomm*, *sdp*, *bnep*, *cmtp*, *hidp*, *hcrp*, *avdtp*, *avctp*, *obex*, *capi* and *ppp*. If filters are used, only packets belonging to the specified categories are dumped. By default, all packets are dumped.

## AUTHORS

Written by Maxim Krasnyansky \<maxk@qualcomm.com\> and Marcel Holtmann \<marcel@holtmann.org\>

man page by Fabrizio Gennari \<fabrizio.gennari@philips.com\>