RPKI-CLIENT(8) | System Manager's Manual | RPKI-CLIENT(8)

# NAME

`rpki-client` — RPKI validator to support BGP routing security

# SYNOPSIS

`rpki-client` | [`-0ABcjmnoRVvx`] [`-b` sourceaddr] [`-d` cachedir] [`-e` rsync_prog] [`-H` fqdn] [`-P` posix-seconds] [`-p` threads] [`-S` skiplist] [`-s` timeout] [`-t` tal] [outputdir]

`rpki-client` | [`-Vv`] [`-d` cachedir] [`-j`] [`-t` tal] `-f` file ...

# DESCRIPTION

The `rpki-client` utility queries the Resource Public Key Infrastructure (RPKI) repository system with a built-in HTTPS client and openrsync(1) to fetch all X.509 certificates, manifests, and revocation lists under a given Trust Anchor. `rpki-client` subsequently validates each Signed Object by constructing and verifying a certification path for the certificate associated with the Object (including checking relevant CRLs). `rpki-client` produces lists of the Validated ROA Payloads (VRPs), BGPsec Router Keys (BRKs), and Validated ASPA Payloads (VAPs) in various formats.

The options are as follows:

`-0`
  Include hazardous AS0 TALs in the output files. AS0 TALs are not recommended for automatic filtering of BGP routes. The default is not to include them.
`-A`
  Exclude the ASPA-set from the output files that support it (BIRD, JSON, and OpenBGPD).
`-B`
  Create output in the file bird in the output directory suitable for BIRD internet routing daemon version 2.16 and up. For compatibility with earlier versions, use `-A`. The validated payload table names are ROAS4, ROAS6, and ASPAS.
`-b` sourceaddr
  Tell the HTTP and rsync clients to use sourceaddr as the source address for connections, which is useful on machines with multiple interfaces.
`-c`
  Create output in the file csv in the output directory as comma-separated values of the Autonomous System, the prefix in slash notation, the maximum prefix length, an abbreviation for the Trust Anchor the entry is derived from, and the moment the VRP will expire derived from the chain of X.509 certificates and CRLs in seconds since the Epoch, UTC.
`-d` cachedir
  The directory where `rpki-client` will store the cached repository data. Defaults to /var/cache/rpki-client.
`-e` rsync_prog
  Use rsync_prog instead of openrsync(1) to fetch repositories. It must accept the `-rt` and `--address` flags and connect with rsync-protocol locations.
`-f` file ...
  Attempt to decode and validate the RPKI object in file using the cache stored in cachedir and print human-readable information about the object. If file is an rsync:// URI, the corresponding file from the cache will be used. This option implies `-n`, and can be combined with `-j` to emit a stream of Concatenated JSON. This option is intended for debugging.
`-H` fqdn
  Create a shortlist and add fqdn to the shortlist. `rpki-client` only connects to shortlisted hosts. The shortlist filter is enforced during processing of the Subject Information Access (SIA) extension in CA certificates, thus applies to both RSYNC and RRDP connections. This option can be used multiple times.
`-j`
  Create output in the file json in the output directory as JSON object. See `-c` for a description of the fields.
`-m`
  Create output in the file metrics in the output directory in OpenMetrics format.
`-n`
  Offline mode. Validate the contents of cachedir and write to outputdir without synchronizing via RRDP or RSYNC.
`-o`
  Create output in the file openbgpd in the output directory as bgpd(8) compatible input. If the `-B`, `-c`, and `-j` options are not specified this is the default.
`-P` posix-seconds
  Specify the time for the evaluation in posix-seconds seconds from the unix epoch. This overrides the default of using the current system time.
`-p` threads
  Validate using the specified number of threads. The default is two. Has no effect in combination with `-f`.
`-R`
  Disable RRDP, synchronize only via RSYNC.
`-S` skiplist
  Do not connect to hosts listed in the skiplist file. Entries in the skiplist are newline separated Fully Qualified Domain Names (FQDNs). A ‘`#`’ indicates the beginning of a comment; characters up to the end of the line are not interpreted. The skip filter is enforced during processing of the Subject Information Access (SIA) extension in CA certificates, thus applies to both RSYNC and RRDP connections. By default load entries from /etc/rpki/skiplist.
`-s` timeout
  Terminate after timeout seconds of runtime, because normal practice will restart from cron(8). Disable by specifying 0. Defaults to 1 hour. Individual RSYNC/RRDP repositories are timed out after one fourth of timeout. All network synchronisation tasks are aborted after seven eights of timeout.
`-t` tal
  Specify a Trust Anchor Locator (TAL) file to be used. This option can be used multiple times to load multiple TALs. By default `rpki-client` will load all TAL files in /etc/rpki. TAL are small files containing a public key and URL endpoint address.
`-V`
  Show the version and exit.
`-v`
  Increase verbosity. Specify once for synchronisation status, twice to print the name of each file as it's processed. If `-f` is given, specify once to print more information about the encapsulated X.509 certificate, twice to print the certificate in PEM format.
`-x`
  Enable processing of experimental file formats. This option is implied by `-f`.
outputdir
  The directory where `rpki-client` will write the output files. Defaults to /var/db/rpki-client/.

By default `rpki-client` outputs validated payloads in `-o` (OpenBGPD compatible) format.

`rpki-client` should be run hourly by cron(8): use crontab(1) to uncomment the entry in root's crontab.

# TRUST ANCHOR CONSTRAINTS

`rpki-client` can impose locally configured constraints on cryptographic products subordinate to publicly-trusted Trust Anchors.

Constraining a Trust Anchor's effective signing authority to a limited set of Internet Number Resources allows Relying Parties to take advantage of the potential benefits of assuming trust, while deriving trust within a bounded scope.

Each .constraints file imposes constraints on the Trust Anchor reachable via the same-named .tal file. One entry per line. Entries can be IP prefixes, IP address ranges, AS identifiers, or AS identifier ranges. Ranges are a minimum and maximum separated by a hyphen (‘-’). Comments can be put anywhere in the file using a hash mark (‘#’), and extend to the end of the current line. deny entries may not overlap with other deny entries. allow entries may not overlap with other allow entries.

A given EE certificate's resources may not overlap with any deny entry, and must be fully contained within the allow entries.

# ENVIRONMENT

`rpki-client` utilizes the following environment variables:

`http_proxy`
  URL of HTTP proxy to use.

# FILES

/etc/rpki/*.tal
  default TAL files used unless `-t` tal is specified. The TAL files of the five Regional Internet Registries are included.
/etc/rpki/*.constraints
  files containing registry-specific constraints to restrict what IP addresses and AS identifiers may or may not appear in EE certificates subordinate to the same-named Trust Anchor.
/etc/rpki/skiplist
  default skiplist file, unless `-S` skiplist is specified.
/var/cache/rpki-client
  cached repository data.
/var/db/rpki-client/openbgpd
  default roa-set output file.
/var/db/rpki-client/rpki.ccr
  DER-encoded canonical cache representation file. This facility is experimental and is still subject to change.

# EXIT STATUS

The `rpki-client` utility exits 0 on success, and >0 if an error occurs.

# SEE ALSO

openrsync(1), bgpd.conf(5)

# STANDARDS

X.509 Extensions for IP Addresses and AS Identifiers, RFC 3779.

Internet X.509 Public Key Infrastructure Certificate and CRL Profile, RFC 5280.

Cryptographic Message Syntax (CMS), RFC 5652.

The rsync URI Scheme, RFC 5781.

An Infrastructure to Support Secure Internet Routing, RFC 6480.

A Profile for Resource Certificate Repository Structure, RFC 6481.

A Profile for X.509 PKIX Resource Certificates, RFC 6487.

Signed Object Template for the RPKI, RFC 6488.

The RPKI Ghostbusters Record, RFC 6493.

Policy Qualifiers in RPKI Certificates, RFC 7318.

The Profile for Algorithms and Key Sizes for Use in the RPKI, RFC 7935.

The RPKI Repository Delta Protocol (RRDP), RFC 8182.

A Profile for BGPsec Router Certificates, Certificate Revocation Lists, and Certification Requests, RFC 8209.

RPKI Trust Anchor Locator, RFC 8630.

Manifests for the RPKI, RFC 9286.

A Profile for RPKI Signed Checklists (RSCs), RFC 9323.

A Profile for Route Origin Authorizations (ROAs), RFC 9582.

On the use of the CMS Signing-Time Attribute in RPKI Signed Objects, RFC 9589.

Finding and Using Geofeed Data, RFC 9632.

Same-Origin Policy for the RRDP, RFC 9674.

A Profile for RPKI Trust Anchor Keys, RFC 9691.

Detecting RRDP Session Desynchronization, RFC 9697.

Handling of RPKI CRL Number Extensions, RFC 9829.

A Profile for Autonomous System Provider Authorization (ASPA), https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/draft-ietf-sidrops-aspa-profile, Jun, 2023.

Constraining RPKI Trust Anchors, https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/draft-snijders-constraining-rpki-trust-anchors, September, 2023.

A profile for Signed Prefix Lists for Use in the RPKI, https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/draft-ietf-sidrops-rpki-prefixlist-02, Jan, 2024.

RPKI Manifest Number Handling, https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/draft-ietf-sidrops-manifest-numbers, June, 2024.

Tiebreaking RPKI Trust Anchors, https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/draft-ietf-sidrops-rpki-ta-tiebreaker, June, 2024.

A Profile for RPKI Canonical Cache Representation, https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/draft-spaghetti-sidrops-rpki-ccr, September, 2025.

# HISTORY

`rpki-client` first appeared in OpenBSD 6.7.

# AUTHORS

Kristaps Dzonsons <kristaps@bsd.lv>, Claudio Jeker <claudio@openbsd.org>, Theo Buehler <tb@openbsd.org>, and Job Snijders <job@openbsd.org>.

September 11, 2025 | Debian