---
name: "networkd-dispatcher"
section: "8"
platform: "linux"
package: "networkd-dispatcher"
version: "2.2.4-1.1"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/networkd-dispatcher"
---

# networkd-dispatcher(8)

Dispatcher service for systemd-networkd connection status changes

## NAME

networkd-dispatcher - Dispatcher service for systemd-networkd connection status changes

## SYNOPSIS

**networkd-dispatcher** \[-h\] \[-S *SCRIPT\_DIR*\] \[-T\] \[-v\] \[-q\]

## DESCRIPTION

Dispatcher daemon for systemd-networkd connection status changes. This daemon is similar to NetworkManager-dispatcher, but is much more limited in the types of events it supports due to the limited nature of *[systemd-networkd(8)](/systemd-networkd/8.md)*.

Desired actions (scripts) are placed into directories that reflect systemd-networkd operational states under *SCRIPT\_DIR* and are executed when the daemon receives the relevant event from systemd-networkd.

The daemon listens for signals from systemd-networkd over dbus, so it should be very light on resources (e.g. no polling). It is meant to be run as a system-wide daemon (as root). This allows it to be used for tasks such as starting a VPN after a connection is established.

## OPTIONS

- **-h, --help**

  Print command-line syntax and program options to stdout.

- **-S, --script-dir=***SCRIPT\_DIR*

  Location under which to look for scripts. Like the *PATH* environment variable, this may contain multiple directories separated by : and in case multiple directories have scripts with the same name, the earliest directory wins. Defaults to /etc/networkd-dispatcher:/usr/lib/networkd-dispatcher.

- **-T, --run-startup-triggers**

  Generate events reflecting preexisting state and behavior on startup. This can be used to ensure that triggers are belatedly run even if networkd-dispatcher is invoked after systemd-networkd has already started an interface.

- **-v, --verbose**

  Increase verbosity by one level. The default level is *WARNING*. Each use of *-v* will increment the log level (towards *INFO* or *DEBUG*), and each use of *-q* will decrement it (towards *ERROR* or *CRITICAL*).

- **-q, --quiet**

  Decrease verbosity by one level.

## CONFIGURATION FILES

The systemd service reads */etc/default/networkd-dispatcher* as an environment file for additional daemon arguments.

The scripts to be run on network changes are in subdirectories *routable.d/*, *dormant.d/*, *no-carrier.d/*, *off.d/*, *carrier.d/*, *degraded.d/*, *configured.d/*, *configuring.d/* inside *SCRIPT\_DIR*. The default value for *SCRIPT\_DIR* is */etc/networkd-dispatcher:/usr/lib/networkd-dispatcher*.

For information about the network operational states exposed by systemd, see [networkctl(1)](/networkctl/1.md).

## ENVIRONMENT

Scripts are executed with some environment variables set. Some of these variables may not be set or may be set to an empty value, dependent upon the type of event. These can be used by scripts to conditionally take action based on a specific interface, state, etc.

• **IFACE** - interface that triggered the event

• **STATE** - The destination state change for which a script is currently being invoked. May be any of the values listed as valid for AdministrativeState or OperationalState.

• **ESSID** - for wlan connections, the ESSID the device is connected to

• **ADDR** - the ipv4 address of the device

• **IP\_ADDRS** - space-delimited string of ipv4 address(es) assigned to the device (see note below)

• **IP6\_ADDRS** - space-delimited string of ipv6 address(es) assigned to the device (see note below)

• **AdministrativeState** - One of pending, configuring, configured, unmanaged, failed or linger.

• **OperationalState** - One of off, no-carrier, dormant, carrier, degraded, routable, configuring, or configured. For more information about the network operational states exposed by systemd, see the networkctl manpage (man networkctl).

## RESOURCES

GitLab: https://gitlab.com/craftyguy/networkd-dispatcher

## SEE ALSO

[systemd-networkd(8)](/systemd-networkd/8.md), [networkctl(1)](/networkctl/1.md)