Mpd is invoked by first setting up your configuration files, and then running
mpd [ options ] [ configuration ]
If configuration
is supplied, then
mpd looks in mpd.conf
for a matching label,
and runs the corresponding commands (up to the first
blank line). If configuration
is
not supplied, mpd looks for the configuration named
default
. If the configuration is not found,
no commands are executed from mpd.conf
.
Mpd can either be run in interactive mode or in the background as a daemon. In interactive mode mpd accepts commands typed at the console.
Mpd understands the following command line options. Each option has a short, single character form, as well as an equivalent long form.
-b --background
Run as a background daemon.
-a --console-address ip-address
-c --console-port port
With either of these options, mpd will listen for and accept TCP connections on the given IP address and port. Once connected, you can enter commands just as if they were typed in interactive mode. Note that this is a potential security hole, as any user on the system can connect. Mpd allows you to require a login and password if so desired, but beware: by default, no login is required.
The default IP address is 0.0.0.0
(i.e., listen on
all interfaces) and the default port is 5005.
-d --directory dir
This option allows you to specify a different directory
for the mpd configuration files other than the default
/usr/local/etc/mpd
.
-f --file filename
Specify an initial configuration file other than the default,
mpd.conf
.
-p --pidfile filename
Mpd will open and lock filename
and
write its process ID before starting. If another mpd
process is already running, mpd will not start.
The default is /var/run/mpd.pid
.
-k --kill
With this option, pd will attempt to kill any existing mpd
process before beginning execution. The previous process
must have written its process ID in the PID file
/var/run/mpd.pid
(or the file you specify with
the --pidfile
option).
-s --syslog-ident ident
Mpd normally logs via syslog(3)
with the identifier
mpd
. This option allows you to change that identifier.
-v --version
Displays the version number of mpd and exits.
-h --help
Displays a usage message and exits.
Mpd responds to the following signals while it is running:
Attempt to gracefully shut down all active connections and exit.
This signal causes mpd to initiate a connection with the currently active bundle. If mpd is already attempting to connect, this signal has no effect.
This signal has the opposite effect, namely, it causes mpd to close the currently active bundle. If the bundle is already in a closed state, this signal has no effect.