---
name: "nscd"
section: "8"
platform: "linux"
package: "nscd"
version: "2.41-12+deb13u4"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux", "freebsd"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/nscd/8"
---

# nscd(8)

name service caching daemon

## NAME

**nscd** – name service caching daemon

## SYNOPSIS

**nscd** \[OPTION...\]

## DESCRIPTION

**Nscd** caches libc-issued requests to the Name Service. If retrieving NSS data is fairly expensive, **nscd** is able to speed up consecutive access to the same data dramatically and increase overall system performance. **Nscd** should be run at boot time by */etc/init.d/nscd*.

## OPTIONS

- **-d**, **--debug**

  Do not fork and display messages on the current tty.

- **-f**, **--config-file** *NAME*

  Read configuration data from *NAME*. For a description of the config file format, see [nscd.conf(5)](/nscd.conf/5.md).

- **-g**, **--statistic**

  Print current configuration statistics.

- **-i**, **--invalidate** *TABLE*

  Invalidate the specified *TABLE*, i. e. forget all data cached therein. This should be used if the database storing this information has been changed.

- **-K**, **--shutdown**

  Quit a running **nscd** process.

- **-S**, **--secure** *TABLE*

  Use a separate cache for each user.

- **-t**, **--nthreads** *NUMBER*

  Start *NUMBER* threads. This denotes the maximum number of requests that can be handled simultaneously. The default is set in the configuration file. (See [nscd.conf(5)](/nscd.conf/5.md).)

- **-**?, **--help**

  Print the list of available options.

- **--usage**

  Print a short usage message.

- **-V**, **--version**

  Print program version.

## FILES

- */etc/nscd.conf*

  **Nscd** configuration file. See [nscd.conf(5)](/nscd.conf/5.md) for more information.

- */etc/nsswitch.conf*

  Name Service Switch configuration. See [nsswitch.conf(5)](/nsswitch.conf/5.md) for more information.

## SEE ALSO

GNU C Library info file, [nscd.conf(5)](/nscd.conf/5.md), [nsswitch.conf(5)](/nsswitch.conf/5.md)