---
name: "vde_pcapplug"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "vde2"
version: "2.3.3-10"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/vde_pcapplug"
---

# vde\_pcapplug(1)

Virtual Distributed Ethernet libpcap cable

## NAME

vde\_pcapplug - Virtual Distributed Ethernet libpcap cable

## SYNOPSIS

**vde\_pcapplug** \[OPTION\]... *interface*\

## DESCRIPTION

**vde\_pcapplug** is a plug to be connected into a VDE switch. All the data that is catched by the plug is injected into *interface* and everything from that interface is sent in the switch.

## OPTIONS

- **-p**, **--port**=*portnum*

  It is possible to decide which port of the switch to use. When this option is not specified the switch assigns the first available unused port (if any). It is possible to connect several cables in the same switch port: in this way all this cables work concurrently. It means that packet can result as duplicate but no ARP table loops are generated. Is useful when vde is used for mobility. Several physical interfaces can be used at a time during handoffs to prevent hichups in connectivity.

- **-g**, **--group**=*group*

  group ownership of the communication socket. For security when more want to share a switch it is better to use a unix group to own the comm sockets so that the network traffic cannot be sniffed.

- **-m**, **--mod**=*octal-mode*

  octal chmod like permissions for the comm sockets

- **-s**, **--sock**=*socket*

  specify the UNIX socket to be used by local programs for joining the VDE. The default value is "/tmp/vde.ctl".

- **-d**, **--daemon**

  start vde\_plug2tap as a background process

- **-P**, **--pidfile**=*pidfile*

  put the process ID of vde\_plug2tap in *pidfile*. Can be used with **--daemon** to store the PID for future killing.

- **-h**, **--help**

  show a brief help

## NOTICE

Virtual Distributed Ethernet is not related in any way with www.vde.com ("Verband der Elektrotechnik, Elektronik und Informationstechnik" i.e. the German "Association for Electrical, Electronic & Information Technologies").

## SEE ALSO

[**vde\_switch**(1)](/vde_switch/1.md), [**vde\_plug**(1)](/vde_plug/1.md), [**vdeq**(1)](/vdeq/1.md), [**dpipe**(1)](/dpipe/1.md).\

## AUTHOR

VDE is a project by Renzo Davoli \<renzo@cs.unibo.it\>