This README contains details about the cgminer RPC API
If you start cgminer with the "--api-listen" option, it will listen on a
simple TCP/IP socket for single string API requests from the same machine
running cgminer and reply with a string and then close the socket each time
If you add the "--api-network" option, it will accept API requests from any
network attached computer.
You can only access the comands that reply with data in this mode.
By default, you cannot access any privileged command that affects the miner -
you will receive an access denied status message see --api-allow below.
You can specify IP addresses/prefixes that are only allowed to access the API
with the "--api-allow" option e.g. --api-allow W:192.168.0.1,10.0.0/24
will allow 192.168.0.1 or any address matching 10.0.0.*, but nothing else
IP addresses are automatically padded with extra '.0's as needed
Without a /prefix is the same as specifying /32
0/0 means all IP addresses.
The 'W:' on the front gives that address/subnet privileged access to commands
that modify cgminer (thus all API commands)
Without it those commands return an access denied status.
See --api-groups below to define other groups like W:
Privileged access is checked in the order the IP addresses were supplied to
"--api-allow"
The first match determines the privilege level.
Using the "--api-allow" option overides the "--api-network" option if they
are both specified
With "--api-allow", 127.0.0.1 is not by default given access unless specified
More groups (like the privileged group W:) can be defined using the
--api-groups command
Valid groups are only the letters A-Z (except R & W are predefined) and are
not case sensitive
The R: group is the same as not privileged access
The W: group is (as stated) privileged access (thus all API commands)
To give an IP address/subnet access to a group you use the group letter
in front of the IP address instead of W: e.g. P:192.168.0/32
An IP address/subnet can only be a member of one group
A sample API group would be:
--api-groups P:switchpool:enablepool:addpool:disablepool:removepool:*
This would create a group 'P' that can do all current pool commands and all
non-priviliged commands - the '*' means all non-priviledged commands
Without the '*' the group would only have access to the pool commands
Defining multiple groups example:
--api-groups Q:quit:restart:*,S:save
This would define 2 groups:
Q: that can 'quit' and 'restart' as well as all non-priviledged commands
S: that can only 'save' and no other commands
The RPC API request can be either simple text or JSON.
If the request is JSON (starts with '{'), it will reply with a JSON formatted
response, otherwise it replies with text formatted as described further below.
The JSON request format required is '{"command":"CMD","parameter":"PARAM"}'
(though of course parameter is not required for all requests)
where "CMD" is from the "Request" column below and "PARAM" would be e.g.
the CPU/GPU number if required.
An example request in both formats to set GPU 0 fan to 80%:
gpufan|0,80
{"command":"gpufan","parameter":"0,80"}
The format of each reply (unless stated otherwise) is a STATUS section
followed by an optional detail section
From API version 1.7 onwards, reply strings in JSON and Text have the
necessary escaping as required to avoid ambiguity - they didn't before 1.7
For JSON the 2 characters '"' and '\' are escaped with a '\' before them
For Text the 4 characters '|' ',' '=' and '\' are escaped the same way
Only user entered information will contain characters that require being
escaped, such as Pool URL, User and Password or the Config save filename,
when they are returned in messages or as their values by the API
For API version 1.4 and later:
The STATUS section is:
STATUS=X,When=NNN,Code=N,Msg=string,Description=string|
STATUS=X Where X is one of:
W - Warning
I - Informational
S - Success
E - Error
F - Fatal (code bug)
When=NNN
Standard long time of request in seconds
Code=N
Each unique reply has a unigue Code (See api.c - #define MSG_NNNNNN)
Msg=string
Message matching the Code value N
Description=string
This defaults to the cgminer version but is the value of --api-description
if it was specified at runtime.
For API version 1.10 and later:
The list of requests - a (*) means it requires privileged access - and replies are:
Request Reply Section Details
------- ------------- -------
version VERSION CGMiner=cgminer, version
API=API| version
config CONFIG Some miner configuration information:
GPU Count=N, <- the number of GPUs
PGA Count=N, <- the number of PGAs
CPU Count=N, <- the number of CPUs
Pool Count=N, <- the number of Pools
ADL=X, <- Y or N if ADL is compiled in the code
ADL in use=X, <- Y or N if any GPU has ADL
Strategy=Name, <- the current pool strategy
Log Interval=N, <- log interval (--log N)
Device Code=GPU ICA | <- spaced list of compiled devices
summary SUMMARY The status summary of the miner
e.g. Elapsed=NNN,Found Blocks=N,Getworks=N,...|
pools POOLS The status of each pool
e.g. Pool=0,URL=http://pool.com:6311,Status=Alive,...|
devs DEVS Each available GPU, PGA and CPU with their details
e.g. GPU=0,Accepted=NN,MHS av=NNN,...,Intensity=D|
Last Share Time=NNN, <- standand long time in seconds
(or 0 if none) of last accepted share
Last Share Pool=N, <- pool number (or -1 if none)
Will not report PGAs if PGA mining is disabled
Will not report CPUs if CPU mining is disabled
gpu|N GPU The details of a single GPU number N in the same
format and details as for DEVS
pga|N PGA The details of a single PGA number N in the same
format and details as for DEVS
This is only available if PGA mining is enabled
Use 'pgacount' or 'config' first to see if there are any
cpu|N CPU The details of a single CPU number N in the same
format and details as for DEVS
This is only available if CPU mining is enabled
Use 'cpucount' or 'config' first to see if there are any
gpucount GPUS Count=N| <- the number of GPUs
pgacount PGAS Count=N| <- the number of PGAs
Always returns 0 if PGA mining is disabled
cpucount CPUS Count=N| <- the number of CPUs
Always returns 0 if CPU mining is disabled
switchpool|N (*)
none There is no reply section just the STATUS section
stating the results of switching pool N to the
highest priority (the pool is also enabled)
The Msg includes the pool URL
enablepool|N (*)
none There is no reply section just the STATUS section
stating the results of enabling pool N
The Msg includes the pool URL
addpool|URL,USR,PASS (*)
none There is no reply section just the STATUS section
stating the results of attempting to add pool N
The Msg includes the pool URL
Use '\\' to get a '\' and '\,' to include a comma
inside URL, USR or PASS
disablepool|N (*)
none There is no reply section just the STATUS section
stating the results of disabling pool N
The Msg includes the pool URL
removepool|N (*)
none There is no reply section just the STATUS section
stating the results of removing pool N
The Msg includes the pool URL
N.B. all details for the pool will be lost
gpuenable|N (*)
none There is no reply section just the STATUS section
stating the results of the enable request
gpudisable|N (*)
none There is no reply section just the STATUS section
stating the results of the disable request
gpurestart|N (*)
none There is no reply section just the STATUS section
stating the results of the restart request
gpuintensity|N,I (*)
none There is no reply section just the STATUS section
stating the results of setting GPU N intensity to I
gpumem|N,V (*)
none There is no reply section just the STATUS section
stating the results of setting GPU N memoryclock to V MHz
gpuengine|N,V (*)
none There is no reply section just the STATUS section
stating the results of setting GPU N clock to V MHz
gpufan|N,V (*)
none There is no reply section just the STATUS section
stating the results of setting GPU N fan speed to V%
gpuvddc|N,V (*)
none There is no reply section just the STATUS section
stating the results of setting GPU N vddc to V
save|filename (*)
none There is no reply section just the STATUS section
stating success or failure saving the cgminer config
to filename
The filename is optional and will use the cgminer
default if not specified
quit (*) none There is no status section but just a single "BYE"
reply before cgminer quits
notify NOTIFY The last status and history count of each devices problem
This lists all devices including those not supported
by the 'devs' command
e.g. NOTIFY=0,Name=GPU,ID=0,Last Well=1332432290,...|
privileged (*)
none There is no reply section just the STATUS section
stating an error if you do not have privileged access
to the API and success if you do have privilege
The command doesn't change anything in cgminer
pgaenable|N (*)
none There is no reply section just the STATUS section
stating the results of the enable request
You cannot enable a PGA if it's status is not WELL
This is only available if PGA mining is enabled
pgadisable|N (*)
none There is no reply section just the STATUS section
stating the results of the disable request
This is only available if PGA mining is enabled
devdetails DEVDETAILS Each device with a list of their static details
This lists all devices including those not supported
by the 'devs' command
e.g. DEVDETAILS=0,Name=GPU,ID=0,Driver=opencl,...|
restart (*) none There is no status section but just a single "RESTART"
reply before cgminer restarts
stats STATS Each device or pool that has 1 or more getworks
with a list of stats regarding getwork times
The values returned by stats may change in future
versions thus would not normally be displayed
Device drivers are also able to add stats to the
end of the details returned
check|cmd COMMAND Exists=Y/N, <- 'cmd' exists in this version
Access=Y/N| <- you have access to use 'cmd'
When you enable, disable or restart a GPU or PGA, you will also get Thread messages
in the cgminer status window
When you switch to a different pool to the current one, you will get a
'Switching to URL' message in the cgminer status windows
Obviously, the JSON format is simply just the names as given before the '='
with the values after the '='
If you enable cgminer debug (-D or --debug) you will also get messages showing
details of the requests received and the replies
There are included 4 program examples for accessing the API:
api-example.php - a php script to access the API
usAge: php api-example.php command
by default it sends a 'summary' request to the miner at 127.0.0.1:4028
If you specify a command it will send that request instead
You must modify the line "$socket = getsock('127.0.0.1', 4028);" at the
beginning of "function request($cmd)" to change where it looks for cgminer
API.java/API.class
a java program to access the API (with source code)
usAge is: java API command address port
Any missing or blank parameters are replaced as if you entered:
java API summary 127.0.0.1 4028
api-example.c - a 'C' program to access the API (with source code)
usAge: api-example [command [ip/host [port]]]
again, as above, missing or blank parameters are replaced as if you entered:
api-example summary 127.0.0.1 4028
miner.php - an example web page to access the API
This includes buttons and inputs to attempt access to the privileged commands
Read the top of the file (miner.php) for details of how to tune the display
and also to use the option to display a multi-rig summary
----------
Feature Changelog for external applications using the API:
API V1.14
Modified API commands:
'stats' - more icarus timing stats added
'notify' - include new device comms error counter
The internal code for handling data was rewritten (~25% of the code)
Completely backward compatible
----------
API V1.13 (cgminer v2.4.4)
Added API commands:
'check'
Support was added to cgminer for API access groups with the --api-groups option
It's 100% backward compatible with previous --api-access commands
----------
API V1.12 (cgminer v2.4.3)
Modified API commands:
'stats' - more pool stats added
Support for the ModMinerQuad FPGA was added
----------
API V1.11 (cgminer v2.4.2)
Modified API commands:
'save' no longer requires a filename (use default if not specified)
'save' incorrectly returned status E (error) on success before.
It now correctly returns S (success)
----------
API V1.10 (cgminer v2.4.1)
Added API commands:
'stats'
N.B. the 'stats' command can change at any time so any specific content
present should not be relied upon.
The data content is mainly used for debugging purposes or hidden options
in cgminer and can change as development work requires
Modified API commands:
'pools' added "Last Share Time"
----------
API V1.9 (cgminer v2.4.0)
Added API commands:
'restart'
Modified API commands:
'notify' corrected invalid JSON
----------
API V1.8 (cgminer v2.3.5)
Added API commands:
'devdetails'
Support for the ZTex FPGA was added
----------
API V1.7 (cgminer v2.3.4)
Added API commands:
'removepool'
Modified API commands:
'pools' added "User"
From API version 1.7 onwards, reply strings in JSON and Text have the
necessary escaping as required to avoid ambiguity
For JSON the 2 characters '"' and '\' are escaped with a '\' before them
For Text the 4 characters '|' ',' '=' and '\' are escaped the same way
----------
API V1.6 (cgminer v2.3.2)
Added API commands:
'pga'
'pgaenable'
'pgadisable'
'pgacount'
Modified API commands:
'devs' now includes Icarus and Bitforce FPGA devices
'notify' added "*" to the front of the name of all numeric error fields
'config' correct "Log Interval" to use numeric (not text) type for JSON
Support for Icarus and Bitforce FPGAs was added
----------
API V1.5 was not released
----------
API V1.4 (Kano's interim release of cgminer v2.3.1)
Added API commands:
'notify'
Modified API commands:
'config' added "Device Code" and "OS"
Added "When" to the STATUS reply section of all commands
----------
API V1.3 (cgminer v2.3.1-2)
Added API commands:
'addpool'
Modified API commands:
'devs'/'gpu' added "Total MH" for each device
'summary' added "Total MH"
----------
API V1.2 (cgminer v2.3.0)
Added API commands:
'enablepool'
'disablepool'
'privileged'
Modified API commands:
'config' added "Log Interval"
Starting with API V1.2, any attempt to access a command that requires
privileged security, from an IP address that does not have privileged
security, will return an "Access denied" Error Status
----------
API V1.1 (cgminer v2.2.4)
There were no changes to the API commands in cgminer v2.2.4,
however support was added to cgminer for IP address restrictions
with the --api-allow option
----------
API V1.1 (cgminer v2.2.2)
Prior to V1.1, devs/gpu incorrectly reported GPU0 Intensity for all GPUs
Modified API commands:
'devs'/'gpu' added "Last Share Pool" and "Last Share Time" for each device
----------
API V1.0 (cgminer v2.2.0)
Remove default CPU support
Added API commands:
'config'
'gpucount'
'cpucount'
'switchpool'
'gpuintensity'
'gpumem'
'gpuengine'
'gpufan'
'gpuvddc'
'save'
----------
API V0.7 (cgminer v2.1.0)
Initial release of the API in the main cgminer git
Commands:
'version'
'devs'
'pools'
'summary'
'gpuenable'
'gpudisable'
'gpurestart'
'gpu'
'cpu'
'gpucount'
'cpucount'
'quit'