---
name: "ldpd"
section: "8"
platform: "openbsd"
package: "man"
version: "8.0-current-20261101"
release: "OpenBSD 8.0-current (2026-11-01)"
platforms: ["linux", "openbsd"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/ldpd"
---

# ldpd(8)

Label Distribution Protocol (LDP) routing daemon

## NAME

**ldpd** – Label Distribution Protocol (LDP) routing daemon

## SYNOPSIS

**ldpd** \[**-dnv**\] \[**-D** *macro*=*value*\] \[**-f** *file*\] \[**-s** *socket*\]

## DESCRIPTION

**ldpd** is the Label Distribution Protocol (LDP) daemon, which distributes MPLS label mappings between routers.

A running **ldpd** can be controlled with the [ldpctl(8)](/ldpctl/8.md) utility.

The options are as follows:

- **-D** *macro*=*value*

  Define *macro* to be set to *value* on the command line. Overrides the definition of *macro* in the configuration file.

- **-d**

  Do not daemonize. If this option is specified, **ldpd** will run in the foreground and log to *stderr*.

- **-f** *file*

  Specify an alternative configuration file.

- **-n**

  Configtest mode. Only check the configuration file for validity.

- **-s** *socket*

  Use an alternate location for the default control socket.

- **-v**

  Produce more verbose output.

## FILES

- */etc/ldpd.conf*

  Default **ldpd** configuration file.

- */var/run/ldpd.sock*

  UNIX-domain socket used for communication with [ldpctl(8)](/ldpctl/8.md).

## SEE ALSO

[mpe(4)](/mpe/4.md), [ldpd.conf(5)](/ldpd.conf/5.md), [ldpctl(8)](/ldpctl/8.md), [rc.conf(8)](/rc.conf/8.md)

## STANDARDS

E. Rosen, A. Viswanathan, and R. Callon, *Multiprotocol Label Switching Architecture*, RFC 3031, January 2001.

S. Bryant, G. Swallow, L. Martini, and D. McPherson, *Pseudowire Emulation Edge-to-Edge (PWE3) Control Word for Use over an MPLS PSN*, RFC 4385, February 2006.

L. Martini, E. Rosen, N. El-Aawar, T. Smith, and G. Heron, *Pseudowire Setup and Maintenance Using the Label Distribution Protocol (LDP)*, RFC 4447, April 2006.

M. Lasserre and V. Kompella, *Virtual Private LAN Service (VPLS) Using Label Distribution Protocol (LDP) Signaling*, RFC 4762, January 2007.

L. Andersson, I. Minei, and B. Thomas, *LDP Specification*, RFC 5036, October 2007.

B. Thomas, K. Raza, S. Aggarwal, R. Aggarwal, and JL. Le Roux, *LDP Capabilities*, RFC 5561, July 2009.

R. Asati, I. Minei, and B. Thomas, *Label Distribution Protocol (LDP) 'Typed Wildcard' Forward Equivalence Class (FEC)*, RFC 5918, August 2010.

R. Asati, P. Mohapatra, E. Chen, and B. Thomas, *Signaling LDP Label Advertisement Completion*, RFC 5919, August 2010.

K. Raza, S. Boutros, and C. Pignataro, *LDP 'Typed Wildcard' Forwarding Equivalence Class (FEC) for PWid and Generalized PWid FEC Elements*, RFC 6667, July 2012.

C. Pignataro and R. Asati, *The Generalized TTL Security Mechanism (GTSM) for the Label Distribution Protocol (LDP)*, RFC 6720, August 2012.

R. Asati, C. Pignataro, K. Raza, V. Manral, and R. Papneja, *Updates to LDP for IPv6*, RFC 7552, June 2015.

## HISTORY

The **ldpd** program first appeared in OpenBSD 4.6.