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22.TH PCAP_CREATE 3PCAP "5 April 2008"
23.SH NAME
24pcap_create \- create a live capture handle
25.SH SYNOPSIS
26.nf
27.ft B
28#include <pcap/pcap.h>
29.ft
30.LP
31.nf
32.ft B
33char errbuf[PCAP_ERRBUF_SIZE];
34.ft
35.LP
36.ft B
37pcap_t *pcap_create(const char *source, char *errbuf);
38.ft
39.fi
40.SH DESCRIPTION
41.B pcap_create()
42is used to create a packet capture handle to look
43at packets on the network.
44.I source
45is a string that specifies the network device to open; on Linux systems
46with 2.2 or later kernels, a
47.I source
48argument of "any" or
49.B NULL
50can be used to capture packets from all interfaces.
51.PP
52The returned handle must be activated with
53.B pcap_activate()
54before packets can be captured
55with it; options for the capture, such as promiscuous mode, can be set
56on the handle before activating it.
57.SH RETURN VALUE
58.B pcap_create()
59returns a
60.I pcap_t *
61on success and
62.B NULL
63on failure.
64If
65.B NULL
66is returned,
67.I errbuf
68is filled in with an appropriate error message.
69.I errbuf
70is assumed to be able to hold at least
71.B PCAP_ERRBUF_SIZE
72chars.
73.SH SEE ALSO
74pcap(3PCAP), pcap_activate(3PCAP)