hostapd

user-space daemon for wireless access points and authentication servers

TLDR

Start access point

$ sudo hostapd [/etc/hostapd/hostapd.conf]

Start in foreground with debug

$ sudo hostapd -d [hostapd.conf]

Start in background

$ sudo hostapd -B [hostapd.conf]

Start with debug and timestamps

$ sudo hostapd -dt [hostapd.conf]

hostapd is a user-space daemon for wireless access points and authentication servers. It implements IEEE 802.11 access point management, WPA/WPA2/WPA3 authentication, and IEEE 802.1X authenticator.The tool transforms a wireless interface into an access point, handling client connections, encryption, and authentication protocols.

PARAMETERS

-B

Run in background (daemon).

-d

Debug output.

-dd

More verbose debug.

-t

Include timestamps in debug output.

-v

Display version information and exit.

-K

Include key data in debug output.

-g socket

Global control interface path.

-P pidfile

PID file path.

-f logfile

Redirect output to log file.

-e entropyfile_

File for storing entropy (to speed up restart).

CONFIG OPTIONS

interface: Wireless interface (e.g. wlan0)driver: Driver interface (nl80211, hostap, etc.)ssid: Network namehw_mode: Band (a = 5GHz, b = 2.4GHz 11Mbps, g = 2.4GHz 54Mbps)channel: Channel number (0 = ACS if supported)ieee80211n: Enable 802.11n (1 = yes)ieee80211ac: Enable 802.11ac (1 = yes)wpa: WPA mode (1 = WPA, 2 = WPA2, 3 = both)wpa_passphrase: Password (8-63 characters)wpa_key_mgmt: Key management (WPA-PSK, SAE for WPA3)

CAVEATS

Requires AP-capable wireless card. Configuration complex. Driver support varies. May conflict with NetworkManager.

HISTORY

hostapd was developed by Jouni Malinen as part of the Linux wireless stack. It became the standard way to create software access points on Linux, supporting evolving wireless security standards.