---
name: "macipgw"
section: "8"
platform: "linux"
package: "macipgw"
version: "4.2.3~ds-1+deb13u2"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/macipgw"
---

# macipgw(8)

MacIP Gateway Daemon

## Name

macipgw — MacIP Gateway Daemon

## Synopsis

**macipgw** \[-d *debugclass*\] \[-f *configfile*\] \[-n *nameserver*\] \[-u *unprivileged-user*\] \[-z *zone*\] \[*network*\] \[*netmask*\]

**macipgw** \[-v \| -V\]

## Description

**macipgw** provides IP connectivity for devices connected through an AppleTalk-only network, i.e. LocalTalk or Apple Remote Access (ARA). **macipgw** is normally started out of */etc/rc*.

MacIP (formerly known as KIP) is a protocol that allows the encapsulation of IP packets in AppleTalk packets. **macipgw** registers itself as a MacIP gateway on the AppleTalk network and configures and brings up a tunnel interface (see [**tun**(4)](/tun/4.md)). It then forwards IP packets received from the AppleTalk network to the kernel through the tunnel interface. Likewise, IP packets received through the tunnel are forwarded to the AppleTalk device registered for the destination IP address.

Unlike other MacIP gateways, **macipgw** needs its own IP (sub-)net to operate, and does not use proxy-ARP for the addresses registered. The gateway will always use the first address in the network for the local address, i.e. 192.168.1.1 for the network 192.168.1.0/24.

If present, **macipgw** reads configuration options from */usr/etc/macipgw.conf* (or equivalent pkgconf path.) Command line options will take precedence over configuration file options. See below for an example.

**macipgw** will log operational messages through [**syslog**(3)](/syslog/3.md) under the facility *LOG\_DAEMON*.

## Options

- **-d** *debugclass*

  Specifies that the daemon should not fork, and that a trace of all actions be written to *stdout*. See the source code for useful values of debugclass.

- **-f** *configfile*

  Consult *configfile* instead of *macipgw.conf* for the configuration information.

- **-n** *nameserver*

  Specifies the IP address of a DNS name server the AppleTalk devices connected through the gateway should use.

- **-u** *unprivileged-user*

  Drop root privileges and change to user *unprivileged-user* after the server has started.

- **-z** *zone*

  Specifies that **macipgw** should register in *zone* instead of the default zone.

- **-v** \| **-V**

  Show version information and exit.

*network*

Specifies the network number to use for the clients.

*netmask*

Specifies the netmask for the network.

## Examples

### Example: macipgw invocation

-

  ```
  /usr/local/libexec/macipgw -n 192.168.1.1 -z "Remote Users" 192.168.1.0 255.255.255.0
  ```

Starts **macipgw**, assigning the Class C network 192.168.1.0 for devices connected through the gateway, specifying that the system **macipgw** is running on can be used as a name server, and that it should register in the zone Remote Users.

### Example: macipgw.conf configuration file

-

  ```
  [Global]
  network = 192.168.151.0
  netmask = 255.255.255.0
  nameserver = 8.8.8.8
  zone = My Zone
  unprivileged user = foobar
  ```

## See Also

[tun(4)](/tun/4.md), [ip(4)](/ip/4.md), [atalkd(8)](/atalkd/8.md), [syslog(3)](/syslog/3.md), [syslogd(8)](/syslogd/8.md)

## Bugs

No information besides the log messages is available on which AppleTalk devices are using the gateway.

## Author

Stefan Bethke \<Stefan.Bethke@Hanse.DE\>