wpa_supplicant ctrl_interface

chrisortiz · 01-19-2007, 09:34 AM

this is actually 2 questions
i've seen ctrl_interface= used in many wpa_supplicant.conf files as of late, but i don't understand its purpose. i understand that ctrl_interface_group= gives a group permission over the ctrl_interface but nothing else.

also, i usually see it referenced to /var/run/wpa_supplicant
in /var/run i see several items ending in .pid. so my 2nd question is what is the purpose of /var/run i googled this, but i didn't understand what i was reading.

unSpawn · 01-19-2007, 10:28 AM

The ctrl_interface allows you to interact with a running instance of wpa_supplicant, see "man wpa_cli" for details.
About /var/run I prolly could tell you by now but if you search LQ or teh intarweb for "FHS" you'll find the gory details easily yourself. BTW, on LQ it's customary to split off dissimilar questions to separate threads: it maximises your chances.

chrisortiz · 01-20-2007, 11:31 AM

so if i'm understanding this right, /var/run contains processes and their pid's this way the processess can be modified in real time without reloading the services?

unSpawn · 01-20-2007, 08:03 PM

contains processes and their pid's
PID's of processes, yes.