---
name: "opapacketcapture"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "opa-basic-tools"
version: "10.10.3.0.11-1+b2"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/opapacketcapture"
---

# opapacketcapture(1)

## NAME

opapacketcapture

Starts capturing packet data.

To stop capture and trigger dump, use SIGINT or SIGUSR1. Program dumps packets to file and exits.

**NOTE:** Using opapacketcapture with large amounts of traffic can cause performance issues on the given host. Intel recommends you use opapacketcapture on hosts with lower packet rates and bandwidth.

## Syntax

opapacketcapture \[-o  *outfile*\] \[-d  *devfile*\] \[-f  *filterfile*\]\
 \[-t  *triggerfile*\] \[-l  *triggerlag*\]\[-a  *alarm*\] \[-p  *packets*\] \[-s  *maxblocks*\]\
 \[-v \[-v\]\]

## Options

- \--help

  Produces full help text.

- \-o *outfile*

  Specifies the output file for captured packets.\
   Default is packetDump.pcap

- \-d *devfile*

  Specifies the device file for capturing packets.\

- \-f *filterfile*

  Specifies the file used for filtering. If absent, no filtering is done.

- \-t *triggerfile*

  Specifies the file used for triggering a stop capture. If absent, normal triggering is performed.

- \-l *triggerlag*

  Specifies the number of packets to collect after trigger condition is met, before dumping data and exiting. Default is 10.

- \-a *alarm*

  Specifies the number of seconds for alarm trigger to dump capture and exit.

- \-p *packets*

  Specifies the number of packets for alarm trigger to dump capture and exit.

- \-s *maxblocks*

  Specifies the number of blocks to allocate for ring buffer. Value is in Millions. Default is 2 which corresponds to 128 MiB because 1 block = 64 Bytes.

- \-v

  Produces verbose output. (Use verbose Level 1+ to show levels.)

## Example

\# opapacketcapture\

opapacketcapture: Capturing packets using 128 MiB buffer\

^C\

opapacketcapture: Triggered\

Number of packets stored is 100

In the example above, opapacketcapture operates until **CTRL+C** is entered.