GPSINIT(8) GPSD Documentation GPSINIT(8)

# [NAME](#NAME)

gpsinit - initialize CAN kernel modules for GPSD

# [SYNOPSIS](#SYNOPSIS)

**gpsinit** \[-n control] \[-s speed] module\_name \[interface\_name]

**gpsinit** -h

**gpsinit** -V

# [DESCRIPTION](#DESCRIPTION)

**gpsinit** initializes whatever kernel-level modules are needed to enable special non-serial hardware to communicate with a gpsd instance. Note: it will need root permissions to load modules and perform other special operations, such as changing kernel-interface baudrates.

At present, all modes of this tool are concerned with setting up kernel-level interfaces to hardware on a CAN (Control Area Network) speaking NMEA2000.

The program accepts the following options:

**-h**

Display a brief help text.

**-n**

Set the CAN network number. The default is 0.

**-s**

Set the baudrate to be used to communicate over the serial line to the CAN hardware. The default is 38400 baud.

**-V**

Display the version of gpsinit.

The parameter **module\_name** is mandatory. The socket CAN driver module **module\_name.ko** will be loaded. **gpsinit** recognize the following module names:

**plx\_pci**, **esd\_usb2**, **vcan**, **slcan**

The parameter **interface\_name** and **-s** **speed** can used here.

**beaglebone**

The dcan module needed for the beaglebone is part of the Linux kernel, so no module is loaded in this case.

The parameter **interface\_name** is needed for slcan hardware only. It gives the name of the serial device to which the SL CAN hardware is connected. The default is /dev/ttyUSB0.

# [EXAMPLES](#EXAMPLES)

All the following examples probably need to be run as root.

**gpsinit plx\_pci**

Attempt to load the module plx\_pci and initialize net 0 for the connection to a NMEA2000 network. It will set the baudrate to 250kBits.

**gpsinit -n 1 plx\_pci**

As above, but use net 1.

**gpsinit -s 38400 slcan /dev/ttyUSB0**

Attempt to load the module slcan and talk to the hardware at 38400 baud connected to port /dev/ttyUSB0.

**gpsinit -h**

Display a brief help message.

**gpsinit -v**

Display the version of gpsinit.

# [RETURN VALUES](#RETURN_VALUES)

**0**

on success.

**1**

on failure

# [SEE ALSO](#SEE_ALSO)

[**gpsd**(8)](/man/os/gpsd/gpsd.8), [**gps**(1)](/man/os/gpsd/gps.1)

# [RESOURCES](#RESOURCES)

**Project web site:** <https://gpsd.io/>

# [COPYING](#COPYING)

This file is Copyright 2013 by the GPSD project  
SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-2-clause

# [AUTHOR](#AUTHOR)

Reinhard Arlt

2026-10-09 GPSD, Version 3.27.5

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Document: gpsinit(8) from gpsd 3.27.5-r5 (Chainguard OS)
Source: https://gitlab.com/gpsd/gpsd