---
name: "hostapd_cli"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "hostapd"
version: "2.12-2"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/hostapd_cli"
---

# hostapd\_cli(1)

hostapd command-line interface

## NAME

hostapd\_cli - hostapd command-line interface

## SYNOPSIS

**hostapd\_cli** \[-p\<path\>\] \[-i\<ifname\>\] \[-a\<path\>\] \[-hvB\] \[command..\]

## DESCRIPTION

This manual page documents briefly the **hostapd\_cli** utility.

**hostapd\_cli** is a command-line interface for the **hostapd** daemon.

**hostapd** is a user space daemon for access point and authentication servers. It implements IEEE 802.11 access point management, IEEE 802.1X/WPA/WPA2/EAP Authenticators and RADIUS authentication server. For more information about **hostapd** refer to the [**hostapd**(8)](/hostapd/8.md) man page.

## OPTIONS

A summary of options is included below. For a complete description, run **hostapd\_cli** from the command line.

- **-p\<path\>**

  Path to find control sockets.

  Default: /var/run/hostapd

- **-i\<ifname\>**

  Interface to listen on.

  Default: first interface found in socket path.

- **-a\<path\>**

  Run in daemon mode executing the action file based on events from hostapd.

- **-B**

  Run a daemon in the background.

- **-h**

  Show usage.

- **-v**

  Show hostapd\_cli version.

## COMMANDS

A summary of commands is included below. For a complete description, run **hostapd\_cli** from the command line.

- **mib**

  Get MIB variables (dot1x, dot11, radius).

- **sta \<addr\>**

  Get MIB variables for one station.

- **all\_sta**

  Get MIB variables for all stations.

- **help**

  Get usage help.

- **interface \[ifname\]**

  Show interfaces/select interface.

- **level \<debug level\>**

  Change debug level.

- **license**

  Show full **hostapd\_cli** license.

- **quit**

  Exit hostapd\_cli.

## SEE ALSO

[**hostapd**(8)](/hostapd/8.md).

## AUTHOR

hostapd\_cli was written by Jouni Malinen \<j@w1.fi\>.

This manual page was written by Faidon Liambotis \<faidon@cube.gr\>, for the Debian project (but may be used by others).