---
name: "ifstate"
section: "5"
platform: "linux"
package: "ifupdown-ng"
version: "0.12.1-7"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/ifstate"
---

# ifstate(5)

interface state database

## NAME

**/run/ifstate** - interface state database

## DESCRIPTION

The **/run/ifstate** file describes the present state of the interface configuration -- namely, how many interfaces are up, how many dependencies each interface has which are up (the refcount), and whether or not an interface was explicitly brought up due to request or configuration.

## FILE SYNTAX

At a minimum, the **/run/ifstate** file contains at least one column, the physical to logical interface mapping.  This column is formatted as such:

```
lo=lo
eth0=eth0
wlan0=work
```

The left side of the mapping is the physical interface, while the right side is the logical interface.  This field is required to be present.

The next field is the reference count.  This is a number that reflects the number of **active** dependencies an interface has.  As interfaces are brought up and down, the refcount may change.  This field is optional.

The final field denotes whether or not an interface was brought up explicitly -- either by being marked as *auto* or brought up manually using [**ifup**(8)](/ifup/8.md).  The contents of this field if present is the *explicit* keyword.

## EXAMPLES

An example from a typical system with localhost, eth0 and a wireguard VPN:

```
lo=lo 1 explicit
eth0=eth0 2 explicit
wg0=wg0 1 explicit
```

## SEE ALSO

[**interfaces**(5)](/interfaces/5.md)

## AUTHORS

Ariadne Conill \<ariadne@dereferenced.org\>