---
name: "ipsec-_stackmanager"
section: "8"
platform: "linux"
package: "libreswan"
version: "5.2-2.2"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/ipsec-_stackmanager"
---

# ipsec-\_stackmanager(8)

internal script to bring up kernel components for Libreswan

## NAME

ipsec-\_stackmanager - internal script to bring up kernel components for Libreswan

## SYNOPSIS

**ipsec \_stackmanager** {start \| stop}

## DESCRIPTION

**ipsec \_stackmanager** is called from within the init sub-system (systemd, upstart, sysv initscripts) to bring up the Libreswan kernel component as configured via the *protostack=* option in the *ipsec.conf* configuration file.

This involves loading and optionally unloading of the required kernel modules. Because the Linux kernel cannot autodetect most crypto related drivers on-demand, \_stackmanager handles loading the modules for the specific IPsec stack.

## SEE ALSO

[**ip**(8)](/ip/8.md), [**ipsec.conf**(5)](/ipsec.conf/5.md), [**ipsec**(8)](/ipsec/8.md), [**pluto**(8)](/pluto/8.md)

## HISTORY

This script was introduced in Libreswan. On the older Openswan systems, this functionality was split over various script files such as ipsec \_startnetkey, ipsec \_startklips, ipsec \_realsetup and ipsec setup. Man page written for the Libreswan project \<**https://libreswan.org/**\> by Paul Wouters.

## AUTHOR

Paul Wouters