---
name: "keactrl"
section: "8"
platform: "linux"
package: "kea-docs"
version: "1:3.2.1-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/keactrl"
---

# keactrl(8)

Shell script for managing Kea

## NAME

keactrl - Shell script for managing Kea

## SYNOPSIS

**keactrl** \[**command**\] \[**-c** keactrl-config-file\] \[**-s** server\[,server,...\]\] \[**-v**\]

## DESCRIPTION

**keactrl** is a shell script which controls the startup, shutdown, and reconfiguration of the Kea servers (**kea-dhcp4**, **kea-dhcp6**, **kea-dhcp-ddns**, and **kea-netconf**). It also provides a way to check the current status of the servers and determine the configuration files in use.

## CONFIGURATION FILE

Depending on the user's requirements, not all of the available servers need be run. The **keactrl** configuration file specifies which servers are enabled and which are disabled. By default the configuration file is **"\[kea-install-dir\]/etc/kea/keactrl.conf"**.

See the Kea Administrator Reference Manual for documentation of the parameters in the **keactrl** configuration file.

## OPTIONS

- **command**

  Specifies the command to be issued to the servers. It can be one of the following:

  - **start**

    Starts the servers.

  - **stop**

    Stops the servers.

  - **reload**

    Instructs the servers to re-read the Kea configuration file. This command is not supported by the NETCONF agent.

  - **status**

    Prints the status of the servers.

- **-c\|--ctrl-config keactrl-config-file**

  Specifies the **keactrl** configuration file. Without this switch, **keactrl** uses the file **"\[kea-install-dir\]/etc/kea/keactrl.conf"**.

- **-s\|--server server\[,server,...\]**

  Specifies a subset of the enabled servers to which the command should be issued. The list of servers should be separated by commas, with no intervening spaces. Acceptable values are:

  - **dhcp4**

    DHCPv4 server (**kea-dhcp4**).

  - **dhcp6**

    DHCPv6 server (**kea-dhcp6**).

  - **dhcp\_ddns**

    DHCP DDNS server (**kea-dhcp-ddns**).

  - **netconf**

    NETCONF agent (**kea-netconf**).

  - **all**

    All servers, including NETCONF if it was configured to be built. This is the default.

- **-v\|--version**

  Displays the Kea version.

- **-V**

  Displays the extended Kea version.

## DOCUMENTATION

Kea comes with an extensive Kea Administrator Reference Manual that covers all aspects of running the Kea software - compilation, installation, configuration, configuration examples, and much more. Kea also features a Kea Messages Manual, which lists all possible messages Kea can print with a brief description for each of them. Both documents are available in various formats (.txt, .html, .pdf) with the Kea distribution. The Kea documentation is available at \<https://kea.readthedocs.io\>.

Kea source code is documented in the Kea Developer's Guide, available at \<https://reports.kea.isc.org/dev\_guide/\>.

The Kea project website is available at \<https://kea.isc.org\>.

## MAILING LISTS AND SUPPORT

There are two public mailing lists available for the Kea project. **kea-users** (kea-users at lists.isc.org) is intended for Kea users, while **kea-dev** (kea-dev at lists.isc.org) is intended for Kea developers, prospective contributors, and other advanced users. Both lists are available at \<https://lists.isc.org\>. The community provides best-effort support on both of those lists.

ISC provides professional support for Kea services. See \<https://www.isc.org/kea/\> for details.

## SEE ALSO

**[kea-dhcp4(8)](/kea-dhcp4/8.md)**, **[kea-dhcp6(8)](/kea-dhcp6/8.md)**, **[kea-dhcp-ddns(8)](/kea-dhcp-ddns/8.md)**, **[kea-admin(8)](/kea-admin/8.md)**, **[kea-netconf(8)](/kea-netconf/8.md)**, **[perfdhcp(8)](/perfdhcp/8.md)**, **[kea-lfc(8)](/kea-lfc/8.md)**, Kea Administrator Reference Manual.

## Author

Internet Systems Consortium

## Copyright

2019-2026, Internet Systems Consortium