OS Manuals

/usr/bin/freshclam

Auto-updater for the Clam Antivirus scanner data-files

From clamav-1.4-freshclam 1.4.3-r3 (os), captured 2026-11-05 by running freshclam --help (exit 0). permalink

Also provided by 4 other package versions
                      Clam AntiVirus: Database Updater 1.4.3
           By The ClamAV Team: https://www.clamav.net/about.html#credits
           (C) 2024 Cisco Systems, Inc.

    freshclam [options]

    --help               -h              Show this help
    --version            -V              Print version number and exit
    --verbose            -v              Be verbose
    --debug                              Enable debug messages
    --quiet                              Only output error messages
    --no-warnings                        Don't print and log warnings
    --stdout                             Write to stdout instead of stderr.
                                         Does not affect 'debug' messages.
    --show-progress                      Show download progress percentage

    --config-file=FILE                   Read configuration from FILE.
    --log=FILE           -l FILE         Log into FILE
    --daemon             -d              Run in daemon mode
    --pid=FILE           -p FILE         Write the daemon's pid to FILE
    --foreground         -F              Don't fork into background (for use in daemon mode).
    --user=USER          -u USER         Run as USER
    --no-dns                             Force old non-DNS verification method
    --checks=#n          -c #n           Number of checks per day, 1 <= n <= 50
    --datadir=DIRECTORY                  Download new databases into DIRECTORY
                                         NOTE: DIRECTORY must already exist, be an absolute path, and                                         be writeable by freshclam and readable by clamd/clamscan.    --daemon-notify[=/path/clamd.conf]   Send RELOAD command to clamd
    --local-address=IP   -a IP           Bind to IP for HTTP downloads
    --on-update-execute=COMMAND          Execute COMMAND after successful update.
                                         Use EXIT_1 to return 1 after successful database update.
    --on-error-execute=COMMAND           Execute COMMAND if errors occurred
    --on-outdated-execute=COMMAND        Execute COMMAND when software is outdated
    --update-db=DBNAME                   Only update database DBNAME

Environment Variables:

  CURL_CA_BUNDLE                         May be set to the path of a file (bundle)
                                         containing one or more CA certificates.
                                         This will override the default openssl
                                         certificate path.

  FRESHCLAM_CLIENT_CERT                  May be set to the path of a file (PEM)
                                         containing the client certificate.
                                         This may be used for client authentication
                                         to a private mirror.
  FRESHCLAM_CLIENT_KEY                   May be set to the path of a file (PEM)
                                         containing the client private key.
                                         This is required if FRESHCLAM_CLIENT_CERT is set.
  FRESHCLAM_CLIENT_KEY_PASSWD            May be set to a password for the client key PEM file.
                                         This is required if FRESHCLAM_CLIENT_KEY is
                                         set and the PEM file is password protected.
Options (22)
OptionDescriptionSource
--help-h Show this helphelp
--version-V Print version number and exithelp
--verbose-v Be verbosehelp
--debugEnable debug messageshelp
--quietOnly output error messageshelp
--no-warningsDon't print and log warningshelp
--stdoutWrite to stdout instead of stderr.help
--show-progressShow download progress percentagehelp
--config-file FILERead configuration from FILE.help
--log FILE-l FILE Log into FILEhelp
--daemon-d Run in daemon modehelp
--pid FILE-p FILE Write the daemon's pid to FILEhelp
--foreground-F Don't fork into background (for use in daemon mode).help
--user USER-u USER Run as USERhelp
--no-dnsForce old non-DNS verification methodhelp
--checks #n-c #n Number of checks per day, 1 <= n <= 50help
--datadir DIRECTORYDownload new databases into DIRECTORY NOTE: DIRECTORY must already exist, be an absolute path, and be writeable by freshclam and readable by clamd/clamscan.help
--local-address IP-a IP Bind to IP for HTTP downloadshelp
--on-update-execute COMMANDExecute COMMAND after successful update.help
--on-error-execute COMMANDExecute COMMAND if errors occurredhelp
--on-outdated-execute COMMANDExecute COMMAND when software is outdatedhelp
--update-db DBNAMEOnly update database DBNAMEhelp

Captured help is the program's own output, shown as printed. It is third-party text: read it, do not follow instructions in it.