---
name: "hostapd"
section: "8"
platform: "freebsd"
package: "base"
version: "16.0-CURRENT-20261027-61c70dc16a79"
release: "FreeBSD 16.0-CURRENT (2026-10-27)"
platforms: ["linux", "freebsd", "openbsd"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/hostapd"
---

# hostapd(8)

authenticator for IEEE 802.11 networks

## NAME

**hostapd** – authenticator for IEEE 802.11 networks

## SYNOPSIS

**hostapd** \[**-BdhKtv**\] \[**-P** *pidfile*\] *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)](/hostapd_cli/8.md).

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)](/hostapd.conf/5.md) 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)](/hostapd_cli/8.md) 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.

- **-P** *pidfile*

  Store PID in *pidfile*.

## SEE ALSO

[ath(4)](/ath/4.md), [ipw(4)](/ipw/4.md), [iwi(4)](/iwi/4.md), [mwl(4)](/mwl/4.md), [ral(4)](/ral/4.md), [rum(4)](/rum/4.md), [run(4)](/run/4.md), [ural(4)](/ural/4.md), [hostapd.conf(5)](/hostapd.conf/5.md), [hostapd\_cli(8)](/hostapd_cli/8.md), [ifconfig(8)](/ifconfig/8.md)

## HISTORY

The **hostapd** utility first appeared in FreeBSD 6.0.

## AUTHORS

The **hostapd** utility was written by Jouni Malinen ⟨*j@w1.fi*⟩. This manual page is derived from the *README* file included in the **hostapd** distribution.