Description: wpa_cli is a command-line interface designed to interact with wpa_supplicant, a fundamental software in managing wireless network connections on various operating systems. This tool allows users and system administrators to configure and manage Wi-Fi connections efficiently and flexibly. wpa_cli provides direct access to the functionalities of wpa_supplicant, enabling the execution of commands to scan networks, connect to access points, manage security configurations, and obtain information about the connection status. Its text-based design makes it ideal for environments where a graphical interface is unavailable or impractical, such as servers or embedded systems. Additionally, wpa_cli is highly configurable and can be used in scripts to automate tasks related to network connectivity. Its integration with wpa_supplicant makes it an essential tool for managing wireless networks in various environments, where customization and control are valued by advanced users.
History: wpa_supplicant was initially developed by Jouni Malinen in 2003 as a solution for managing Wi-Fi connections, especially in environments requiring support for WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access) and WPA2. Over time, it became a standard tool in many distributions. wpa_cli was introduced as part of wpa_supplicant to provide a command-line interface that facilitated interaction with the software, allowing users to manage network connections more directly and efficiently.
Uses: wpa_cli is primarily used to manage wireless network connections on various systems. It allows users to scan for available networks, connect to access points, configure security parameters, and obtain information about the connection status. It is especially useful in environments where a graphical interface is not available, such as servers or embedded systems, and can be integrated into scripts to automate network tasks.
Examples: A practical example of using wpa_cli is when a system administrator needs to connect to a specific Wi-Fi network on a server without a graphical interface. Using wpa_cli, they can execute commands like ‘wpa_cli scan’ to search for available networks and ‘wpa_cli select_network
