---
name: "pptpctrl"
section: "8"
platform: "linux"
package: "pptpd"
version: "1.5.0-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/pptpctrl"
---

# pptpctrl(8)

PPTP control connection manager

## NAME

pptpctrl - PPTP control connection manager

## SYNOPSIS

**pptpctrl** *pptp-debug-flag* *no-ipparam-flag* *ppp-options-value* *ppp-speed-value* *ppp-local-ip-value* *ppp-remote-ip-value* \[ *pptp-call-id* \] \[ *ppp-binary* \] \[ *pptp-logwtmp* \]

## DESCRIPTION

**pptpctrl** is usually run by  [**pptpd**(8)](/pptpd/8.md), but can also be run from [**inetd**(8)](/inetd/8.md) if some of the features of [**pptpd**(8)](/pptpd/8.md), such as IP pool management, and inbuilt TCP wrappers, are not required.

## OPTIONS

**pptpctrl** options are unconventional, as they are designed for use by [**pptpd**(8)](/pptpd/8.md) rather than users.  The option order is critical.  Flag options consist of a 0 or 1, and must be present.  Value options consist of a 0, or a 1 followed by the value.  Either the 0 or both the 1 and the value must be present.  The remaining options are optional, but must be present in the defined order.  The options are as follows:

- pptp-debug-flag

  if set (1), enables debug messages to syslog from pptpctrl.  This has no effect on the setting of the PPP debug option.

- no-ipparam-flag

  if set,  **pptpctrl** will not pass the client's IP address to  [**pppd**(8)](/pppd/8.md) using the  *ipparam* option.  See the *noipparam* option in [**pptpd.conf**(5)](/pptpd.conf/5.md).

- ppp-options-value

  file to use for PPP options.  See the *file* option in  [**pppd**(8)](/pppd/8.md).

- ppp-speed-value

  value for the *speed* option given to [**pppd**(8)](/pppd/8.md). Note that on Linux, this parameter is ineffective.

- ppp-local-ip-value

  if set, specifies the IP address that [**pppd**(8)](/pppd/8.md) is to use for the network interface on the server.  If not set,  [**pppd**(8)](/pppd/8.md) will determine it based on options; usually it will be the ethernet address of the server.

- ppp-remote-ip-value

  if set, specifies the IP address that [**pppd**(8)](/pppd/8.md) is to use for the network interface on the client.  If not set, [**pppd**(8)](/pppd/8.md) will determine it based on options; usually it will be the ethernet address of the client, or an address given in  *chap-secrets.* Must be set if *ppp-local-ip-value* is set.

- pptp-call-id

  if present, specifies the call identification for the PPTP session.  If omitted, the call identification is zero.  Normally the ID is allocated by [**pptpd**(8)](/pptpd/8.md) and passed to pptpctrl.

- ppp-binary

  if present, path to the PPP binary to use.  If omitted, the default value is used.

- pptp-logwtmp

  if present, specifies whether  [**wtmp**(5)](/wtmp/5.md) should be updated as users connect and disconnect.

## FILES

none.

## AUTHORS

Poptop is written by Matthew Ramsay \<matthewr@moreton.com.au\>, David Luyer \<luyer@ucs.uwa.edu.au\>, Kevin Thayer \<tmk@netmagic.net\>, Peter Galbavy \<Peter.Galbavy@knowledge.com\> and others. Development has been moved to SourceForge and worked on by Richard de Vroede \<r.devroede@linvision.com\> since June 26, 2002.

## COPYRIGHT

Copyright © 1999 Matthew Ramsay and others.

Poptop is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2, or (at your option) any later version.

Poptop is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU General Public License for more details.

You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along with Poptop; see the file COPYING.  If not, write to the Free Software Foundation, 59 Temple Place - Suite 330, Boston, MA 02111-1307, USA.

## AVAILABILITY

The most recent version of Poptop is available for download from SourceForge at *http://sourceforge.net/projects/poptop*.

## SEE ALSO

[**inetd**(8)](/inetd/8.md), [**inetd.conf**(5)](/inetd.conf/5.md), [**pppd**(8)](/pppd/8.md), [**pptpd**(8)](/pptpd/8.md), [**pptpd.conf**(5)](/pptpd.conf/5.md), [**tcpd**(8)](/tcpd/8.md).