---
name: "iscsid"
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/iscsid"
---

# iscsid(8)

iSCSI initiator daemon

## NAME

**iscsid** – iSCSI initiator daemon

## SYNOPSIS

**iscsid** \[**-P** *pidfile*\] \[**-d**\] \[**-l** *loglevel*\] \[**-m** *maxproc*\] \[**-t** *seconds*\]

## DESCRIPTION

The **iscsid** daemon is the userspace component of the iSCSI initiator, responsible for performing the Login Phase of iSCSI connections and the SendTargets discovery.

Upon startup, the **iscsid** daemon opens the iSCSI initiator device file and waits for requests from the kernel component, [iscsi(4)](/iscsi/4.md). **iscsid** does not use any configuration files. All needed information is supplied by the kernel.

When the **iscsid** daemon is not running, already established iSCSI connections continue to work. However, establishing new connections, or recovering existing ones in case of connection error, is not possible.

The following options are available:

- **-P** *pidfile*

  Specify alternative location of a file where main process PID will be stored. The default location is */var/run/iscsid.pid*.

- **-d**

  Debug mode. The daemon sends verbose debug output to standard error, and does not put itself in the background. The daemon will also not fork and will exit after processing one connection. This option is only intended for debugging the initiator.

- **-l** *loglevel*

  Specifies debug level. The default is 0.

- **-m** *maxproc*

  Specifies limit for concurrently running child processes handling connections. The default is 30. Setting it to 0 disables the limit.

- **-t** *seconds*

  Specifies timeout for login session, after which the connection will be forcibly terminated. The default is 60. Setting it to 0 disables the timeout.

## FILES

- */dev/iscsi*

  The iSCSI initiator device file.

- */var/run/iscsid.pid*

  The default location of the **iscsid** PID file.

## EXIT STATUS

The **iscsid** utility exits 0 on success, and \>0 if an error occurs.

## SEE ALSO

[iscsi(4)](/iscsi/4.md), [iscsictl(8)](/iscsictl/8.md)

## HISTORY

The **iscsid** command appeared in FreeBSD 10.0.

## AUTHORS

The **iscsid** utility was developed by Edward Tomasz Napierala ⟨*trasz@FreeBSD.org*⟩ under sponsorship from the FreeBSD Foundation.