pcsc_scan(1)

pcsc_scan1

Regularly scans every pc/sc readers connected to the host

Usage

pcsc_scan [options]

Overview

This manual page documents the pcsc_scan command.

pcsc_scan is a program that regularly scans every PC/SC readers connected to the host and display the status of the cards inserted in the readers.

The normal way to exit the program is to use Control-C.

When pcsc_scan is started it asks PC/SC layer the list of available smart card readers. The list is printed. A sequence number is printed before each reader.

Example:
PC/SC device scanner
V 1.6.2 (c) 2001-2022, Ludovic Rousseau <[email protected]>
Scanning present readers...
0: Gemalto PC Twin Reader

When a card is inserted in any reader some information is printed:

date and time:

Mon Oct 2 21:01:40 2023

reader name:

Reader 0: Gemalto PC Twin Reader

card state and occurred event:

Card state: Card inserted,

ATR in case of card insertion:

ATR: 3B 82 00 86 1E

print an ATR analysis if the ATR_analysis command is available:

ATR: 3B 82 00 86 1E
+ TS = 3B --> Direct Convention
+ T0 = 82, Y(1): 1000, K: 2 (historical bytes)
TD(1) = 00 --> Y(i+1) = 0000, Protocol T = 0
-----
+ Historical bytes: 86 1E

Options

-h

print help

-V

print version number

-n

do not print ATR analysis. Use this option if ATR_analysis is not available for example.

-r

prints the list of readers and then exits.

-c

prints the list of cards and then exits.

-s

stress mode. Sends APDU commands to the card indefinitely (until the card or the reader is removed).

-t secs

specify time program should run, in seconds. The program will terminate when this time has passed.

-d

debug: prints what changed between .dwCurrentState and .dwEventState fields for each reader.

-p

Plug and Play: force the use of the "\\?PnP?\Notification" specific reader.

Releases

13 releases since Debian 3.0 (Woody); the text changed 7 times.

  1. 3.0
  2. 3.1–7
  3. 8
  4. 9
  5. 10–11
  6. 12
  7. 13
  8. Arch

-V since Debian 3.1 (Sarge); -c since Debian 13 (Trixie); -d since Debian 13 (Trixie); -h since Debian 3.1 (Sarge); -n since Debian 3.1 (Sarge); -p since Debian 13 (Trixie); -r since Debian 10 (Buster); -s since Debian 10 (Buster); -t since Debian 12 (Bookworm).

-q until Debian 13 (Trixie); -v until Debian 13 (Trixie).

Author

Ludovic Rousseau <[email protected]>

From pcsc-tools 1.7.5-1 in Arch Linux 2026-11-01. Parsed by carta from the page's man source.