---
name: "packetsender"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "packetsender"
version: "8.8.9-2"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/packetsender"
---

# packetsender(1)

Network utility for sending and receiving TCP, UDP, SSL packets

## NAME

**packetsender** - Network utility for sending and receiving TCP, UDP, SSL packets

## SYNOPSIS

```
packetsender [options] address port data
```

## DESCRIPTION

**Packet Sender is a utility that sends and receives TCP, UDP and SSL (encrypted** **TCP) packets on the ports of your choosing. It supports IPv4 and IPv6 and** **provides a GUI for final users. However, is also possible use Packet Sender in** **text mode via command line.**

**Some features:**

- •

  **It can act as client/server to send and receive network traffic.**

- •

  **A payload can be created in ASCII or hex.**

- •

  **A command line mode is available for automation and scripting.**

- •

  **Packet Sender cloud is a disposable resource to be used to publicly** **display and distribute packets (via an URL) for collaboration, tutorials,** **end users, etc. Packet Sender may import public packet sets with** **public URL.**

**Some uses:**

- •

  **Control network-based devices in ways beyond their original apps.**

- •

  **Test automation (using command line tool and/or hotkeys).**

- •

  **Test network APIs (using the built-in TCP, UDP, SSL clients).**

- •

  **Malware analysis (using the built-in UDP, TCP, SSL servers).**

- •

  **Troubleshoot secure connections (using SSL).**

- •

  **Test network connectivity/firewalls (by having 2 Packet Senders talk** **to each other).**

- •

  **Stress-test a device (using intense network generator tool).**

- •

  **Tech support (by sending customers a portable Packet Sender with** **pre-defined settings and packets).**

- •

  **Share/Save/Collaborate using the Packet Sender Cloud service.**

## OPTIONS

- **-h, --help**

  **Displays help on commandline** *options***.**

- **--help-all**

  **Displays help including Qt specific** *options***.**

- **-v, --version**

  **Displays version information.**

- **-q, --quiet**

  **Quiet mode. Only output received** *data***.**

- **-x, --hex**

  **Parse** *data***-to-send as hex (default).**

- **-a, --ascii**

  **Parse** *data***-to-send as mixed-ascii (like the GUI).**

- **-A, --ASCII**

  **Parse** *data***-to-send as pure ascii (no \\xx translation).**

- **-w, --wait \<ms\>**

  **Wait up to \<milliseconds\> for a response after sending.** **Zero means do not wait (Default). It is compulsory if a** **reply from a server, as an HTTP server, is needed. In this** **case, -w 500 is a good start value.**

- **-f, --file \<path\>**

  **Send contents of specified path. Max 10 MiB for UDP, 100** **MiB for TCP/SSL.**

- **-b, --bind \<*port*\>**

  **Bind** *port***. Default is 0 (dynamic).**

- **-6, --ipv6**

  **Force IPv6. Same as -B "::". Default is IP:Any.**

- **-4, --ipv4**

  **Force IPv4.  Same as -B "0.0.0.0". Default is IP:Any.**

- **-B, --bindip \<IP\>**

  **Bind custom IP. Default is IP:Any.**

- **-t, --tcp**

  **Send TCP (default).**

- **-s, --ssl**

  **Send SSL and ignore errors.**

- **-S, --SSL**

  **Send SSL and stop for errors.**

- **-u, --udp**

  **Send UDP.**

- **--http**

  **Send HTTP.**

- **-n, --name \<name\>**

  **Send previously saved packet named \<name\>. Other** *options* **overrides saved packet parameters.**

- **--bps \<bps\>**

  **Intense traffic. Calculate rate based on value of** **bits per second.**

- **--num \<number\>**

  **Intense traffic. Number of packets to send. Default** **unlimited.**

- **--rate \<Hertz\>**

  **Intense traffic. Rate. Ignored in bps option.**

- **--usdelay \<microseconds\>**

  **Intense traffic. Resend delay. Used if rate is 0.** **Ignored in bps option.**

**Arguments:**

- ***address***

  **Destination** *address***. Optional for saved packet.**

- ***port***

  **Destination** *port***. Optional for saved packet.**

- ***data***

  **Data to send. Optional for saved packet.**

## EXAMPLES

**The following command line will send a TCP packet, with a mixed-ascii as** **payload, to example.com,** *port* **22. The command will wait 500 ms for a** **reply.**

```
    $ packetsender -taw 500 example.com 22 "Hello\nWorld"
```

**Similar to last command, but the TCP packet will be sent to** *port* **21. An** **anonymous authentication will be used.**

```
    $ packetsender -taw 500 example.com 21 "USER anonymous\r\nPASS chrome@example.com\r\n"
```

**The command below uses SSL and will ignore SSL errors. The command will** **wait 500 ms for a reply.**

```
    $ packetsender -saw 500 expired.packetsender.com 443 "GET / HTTP/1.0\r\n\r\n"
```

**Other good example how to access a homepage:**

```
    $ packetsender -w 500 -a example.com 80 "GET / HTTP/1.1\r\nHost: example.com\r\n\r\n"
```

**Packet Sender command line also can bind to custom ports to force IPv4/6 modes** **or multiple NIC, as shown below:**

```
    $ packetsender -taw 3000 fe80::c07b:d517:e339:5a08 5005 "Hello\r"
    $ packetsender -taw 3000 192.168.0.201 5005 "Hello\r"
    $ packetsender -B 192.168.0.200 -taw 3000 192.168.0.201 5005 "Hello\r"
    $ packetsender -B fe80::a437:399a:3091:266a%ethernet_32769 -taw 3000 fe80::c07b:d517:e339:5a08 5005 "Hello\r"
    $ packetsender -B fe80::a437:399a:3091:266a -taw 3000 fe80::c07b:d517:e339:5a08 5005 "Hello\r"
```

## SEE ALSO

**[tcpdump(8)](/tcpdump/8.md), [wireshark(1)](/wireshark/1.md), https://packetsender.com/documentation**

## AUTHOR

**Packet Sender was written by Dan Nagle \<dan@dannagle.com\> and is available at** **https://packetsender.com**

**This manual page was written by Joao Eriberto Mota Filho \<eriberto@debian.org\>** **for the Debian project (but may be used by others).**