---
name: "virtlockd"
section: "8"
platform: "linux"
package: "libvirt"
version: "1:12.8.0-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/virtlockd"
---

# virtlockd(8)

libvirt lock management daemon

## Name

virtlockd - libvirt lock management daemon

## SYNOPSIS

**virtlockd**  \[*OPTION*\]...

## DESCRIPTION

The **virtlockd** program is a server side daemon component of the libvirt virtualization management system that is used to manage locks held against virtual machine resources, such as their disks.

This daemon is not used directly by libvirt client applications, rather it is called on their behalf by **libvirtd**. By maintaining the locks in a standalone daemon, the main libvirtd daemon can be restarted without risk of losing locks.  The **virtlockd** daemon has the ability to re-exec() itself upon receiving SIGUSR1, to allow live upgrades without downtime.

The **virtlockd** daemon listens for requests on a local Unix domain socket.

## OPTIONS

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

Display command line help usage then exit.

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

Run as a daemon and write PID file.

**-f**, **--config** *FILE*

Use this configuration file, overriding the default value.

**-t**, **--timeout** *SECONDS*

Automatically shutdown after *SECONDS* have elapsed with no active client or lock.

**-p**, **--pid-file** *FILE*

Use this name for the PID file, overriding the default value.

**-v**, **--verbose**

Enable output of verbose messages.

**-V**, **--version**

Display version information then exit.

## SIGNALS

On receipt of **SIGUSR1**, **virtlockd** will re-exec() its binary, while maintaining all current locks and clients. This allows for live upgrades of the **virtlockd** service.

## FILES

### When run as *root*

- •

  **/etc/libvirt/virtlockd.conf**

The default configuration file used by **virtlockd**, unless overridden on the command line using the **-f** \| **--config** option.

- •

  **/run/libvirt/virtlockd-sock**

The sockets **virtlockd** will use.

- •

  **/run/virtlockd.pid**

The PID file to use, unless overridden by the **-p** \| **--pid-file** option.

### When run as *non-root*

- •

  **$XDG\_CONFIG\_HOME/libvirt/virtlockd.conf**

The default configuration file used by **virtlockd**, unless overridden on the command line using the **-f** \| **--config** option.

- •

  **$XDG\_RUNTIME\_DIR/libvirt/virtlockd-sock**

The socket **virtlockd** will use.

- •

  **$XDG\_RUNTIME\_DIR/libvirt/virtlockd.pid**

The PID file to use, unless overridden by the **-p** \| **--pid-file** option.

If **$XDG\_CONFIG\_HOME** is not set in your environment, **virtlockd** will use **$HOME/.config**

If **$XDG\_RUNTIME\_DIR** is not set in your environment, **virtlockd** will use **$HOME/.cache**

## EXAMPLES

To retrieve the version of **virtlockd**:

```
# virtlockd --version
virtlockd (libvirt) 12.8.0
```

To start **virtlockd**, instructing it to daemonize and create a PID file:

```
# virtlockd -d
# ls -la /run/virtlockd.pid
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 6 Jul  9 02:40 /run/virtlockd.pid
```

## BUGS

Please report all bugs you discover.  This should be done via either:

- 1\.

  the mailing list

  \<https://libvirt.org/contact.html\>

- 2\.

  the bug tracker

  \<https://libvirt.org/bugs.html\>

Alternatively, you may report bugs to your software distributor / vendor.

## AUTHORS

Please refer to the AUTHORS file distributed with libvirt.

## COPYRIGHT

Copyright (C) 2006-2013 Red Hat, Inc., and the authors listed in the libvirt AUTHORS file.

## LICENSE

**virtlockd** is distributed under the terms of the GNU LGPL v2.1+. This is free software; see the source for copying conditions. There is NO warranty; not even for MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE

## SEE ALSO

[libvirtd(8)](/libvirtd/8.md),  \<https://libvirt.org/\>