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Elastic Docs ›Packetbeat Reference [6.1] ›Setting up and running Packetbeat

Packetbeat commands

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Packetbeat commands

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Packetbeat provides a command-line interface for running the Beat and performing common tasks, like testing configuration files and loading dashboards. The command-line also supports global flags for controlling global behaviors.

Use sudo to run the following commands if:

  • the config file is owned by root, or
  • Packetbeat is configured to capture data that requires root access

export

Exports the configuration or index template to stdout.

help

Shows help for any command.

run

Runs Packetbeat. This command is used by default if you start Packetbeat without specifying a command.

setup

Sets up the initial environment, including the index template, Kibana dashboards (when available), and machine learning jobs (when available).

test

Tests the configuration.

version

Shows information about the current version.

Also see Global flags.

export command

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Exports the configuration or index template to stdout. You can use this command to quickly view your configuration or the contents of the index template.

SYNOPSIS

packetbeat export SUBCOMMAND [FLAGS]

SUBCOMMANDS

config
Exports the current configuration to stdout. If you use the -c flag, this command exports the configuration that’s defined in the specified file.
template
Exports the index template to stdout. You can specify the --es.version and --index flags to further define what gets exported.

FLAGS

--es.version VERSION
When specified along with template, exports an index template that is compatible with the specified version.
-h, --help
Shows help for the export command.
--index BASE_NAME
When specified along with template, sets the base name to use for the index template. If this flag is not specified, the default base name is packetbeat.

Also see Global flags.

EXAMPLES

packetbeat export config
packetbeat export template --es.version 6.1.4 --index myindexname

help command

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Shows help for any command. If no command is specified, shows help for the run command.

SYNOPSIS

packetbeat help COMMAND_NAME [FLAGS]
COMMAND_NAME
Specifies the name of the command to show help for.

FLAGS

-h, --help
Shows help for the help command.

Also see Global flags.

EXAMPLE

packetbeat help export

run command

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Runs Packetbeat. This command is used by default if you start Packetbeat without specifying a command.

SYNOPSIS

packetbeat run [FLAGS]

Or:

packetbeat [FLAGS]

FLAGS

-I, --I FILE

Reads packet data from the specified file instead of reading packets from the network. This option is useful only for testing Packetbeat. 

packetbeat run -I ~/pcaps/network_traffic.pcap
-N, --N
Disables the publishing of events to the defined output. This option is useful only for testing Packetbeat.
-O, --O
Read packets one by one by pressing Enter after each. This option is useful only for testing Packetbeat.
--cpuprofile FILE
Writes CPU profile data to the specified file. This option is useful for troubleshooting Packetbeat.
-devices
Prints the list of devices that are available for sniffing and then exits.
-dump FILE
Writes all captured packets to the specified file. This option is useful for troubleshooting Packetbeat.
-h, --help
Shows help for the run command.
--httpprof [HOST]:PORT
Starts an http server for profiling. This option is useful for troubleshooting and profiling Packetbeat.
-l N
Reads the pcap file N number of times. The default is 1. Use this option in combination with the -I option. For an infinite loop, use 0. The -l option is useful only for testing Packetbeat.
--memprofile FILE
Writes memory profile data to the specified output file. This option is useful for troubleshooting Packetbeat.
--setup
Loads the sample Kibana dashboards. If you want to load the dashboards without running Packetbeat, use the setup command instead.
-t
Reads packets from the pcap file as fast as possible without sleeping. Use this option in combination with the -I option. The -t option is useful only for testing Packetbeat.

Also see Global flags.

EXAMPLE

packetbeat run -e --setup

Or:

packetbeat -e --setup

setup command

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Sets up the initial environment, including the index template, Kibana dashboards (when available), and machine learning jobs (when available).

  • The index template ensures that fields are mapped correctly in Elasticsearch.
  • The Kibana dashboards make it easier for you to visualize Packetbeat data in Kibana.
  • The machine learning jobs contain the configuration information and metadata necessary to analyze data for anomalies.

Use this command instead of run --setup when you want to set up the environment without actually running Packetbeat and ingesting data.

SYNOPSIS

packetbeat setup [FLAGS]

FLAGS

--dashboards
Sets up the Kibana dashboards only.
-h, --help
Shows help for the setup command.
--machine-learning
Sets up machine learning job configurations only.
--template
Sets up the index template only.

Also see Global flags.

EXAMPLE

packetbeat setup --dashboards

test command

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Tests the configuration.

SYNOPSIS

packetbeat test SUBCOMMAND [FLAGS]

SUBCOMMANDS

config
Tests the configuration settings.
output
Tests that Packetbeat can connect to the output by using the current settings.

FLAGS

-h, --help
Shows help for the test command.

Also see Global flags.

EXAMPLE

packetbeat test config

version command

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Shows information about the current version.

SYNOPSIS

packetbeat version [FLAGS]

FLAGS

-h, --help
Shows help for the version command.

Also see Global flags.

EXAMPLE

packetbeat version

Global flags

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These global flags are available whenever you run Packetbeat.

-E, --E "SETTING_NAME=VALUE"

Overrides a specific configuration setting. You can specify multiple overrides. For example: 

packetbeat -E "name=mybeat" -E "output.elasticsearch.hosts=["http://myhost:9200"]"

This setting is applied to the currently running Packetbeat process. The Packetbeat configuration file is not changed.

-c, --c FILE
Specifies the configuration file to use for Packetbeat. The file you specify here is relative to path.config. If the -c flag is not specified, the default config file, packetbeat.yml, is used.
-d, --d SELECTORS
Enables debugging for the specified selectors. For the selectors, you can specify a comma-separated list of components, or you can use -d "*" to enable debugging for all components. For example, -d "publish" displays all the "publish" related messages.
-e, --e
Logs to stderr and disables syslog/file output.
--path.config
Sets the path for configuration files. See the Directory layout section for details.
--path.data
Sets the path for data files. See the Directory layout section for details.
--path.home
Sets the path for miscellaneous files. See the Directory layout section for details.
--path.logs
Sets the path for log files. See the Directory layout section for details.
--strict.perms
Sets strict permission checking on configuration files. The default is -strict.perms=true. See Config file ownership and permissions in the Beats Platform Reference for more information.
-v, --v
Logs INFO-level messages.
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