---
name: "sdpcontrol"
section: "8"
platform: "freebsd"
package: "base"
version: "16.0-CURRENT-20261027-61c70dc16a79"
release: "FreeBSD 16.0-CURRENT (2026-10-27)"
platforms: ["freebsd"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/sdpcontrol"
---

# sdpcontrol(8)

Bluetooth Service Discovery Protocol query utility

## NAME

**sdpcontrol** – Bluetooth Service Discovery Protocol query utility

## SYNOPSIS

**sdpcontrol** **-h**

**sdpcontrol** **-a** *address* *command* \[*parameters* *...*\]

**sdpcontrol** **-l** \[**-c** *path*\] *command* \[*parameters* *...*\]

## DESCRIPTION

The **sdpcontrol** utility attempts to query the specified Service Discovery Protocol (SDP) server. Remote SDP servers are identified by their address. Connection to the local SDP server is made via the control socket. The **sdpcontrol** utility uses Service Search Attribute Requests and prints results to standard output and error messages to standard error.

The options are as follows:

- **-a** *address*

  Connect to the remote device with the specified address. The address can be specified as BD\_ADDR or a name. If a name was specified, the **sdpcontrol** utility attempts to resolve the name via [bt\_gethostbyname(3)](/bt_gethostbyname/3.md).

- **-c** *path*

  Specify path to the control socket. The default path is */var/run/sdp*.

- **-h**

  Display usage message and exit.

- **-l**

  Query the local SDP server via the control socket.

- *command*

  One of the supported commands (see below). The special command **help** can be used to obtain a list of all supported commands. To get more information about a specific command, use **help** *command*.

- *parameters*

  One or more optional space separated command parameters.

## COMMANDS

The currently supported node commands in **sdpcontrol** are:

- **Browse**

  - **Search**

  ## EXIT STATUS

The **sdpcontrol** utility exits 0 on success, and \>0 if an error occurs.

## SEE ALSO

[bluetooth(3)](/bluetooth/3.md), [sdp(3)](/sdp/3.md)

## AUTHORS

Maksim Yevmenkin ⟨*m\_evmenkin@yahoo.com*⟩

## CAVEATS

The **sdpcontrol** utility only implements client side functionality.

The **sdpcontrol** utility only requests the following attributes from the SDP server:

1. Service Record Handle

2. Service Class ID List

3. Protocol Descriptor List

4. Bluetooth Profile Descriptor List