install

Additional install commands

macOS

Homebrewverified · 100%

brew install arping

local Homebrew formula metadata

MacPortsverified · 94%

sudo port install arping

MacPorts ports tree · net/arping/Portfile · source: api.github.com

Linux

Alpine Linux apkverified · 92%

sudo apk add arping

Alpine Linux edge package indexes · arping · source: dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org

Debian aptverified · 92%

sudo apt install arping

Debian stable package indexes · arping · source: deb.debian.org

Nixverified · 92%

nix profile install nixpkgs#arping

nixpkgs package indexes · pkgs/by-name/ar/arping/package.nix · source: api.github.com

overview

Package summary

Utility to check whether MAC addresses are already taken on a LAN

Project links

Commands and aliases

arping

history

Project history and usage

ARP Ping, usually packaged as `arping`, is Thomas Habets' LAN diagnostic utility for sending ARP and ICMP-style pings to hosts. It is aimed at discovering whether an IPv4 address is already taken, mapping IPs and MACs, and diagnosing local-link problems where ordinary `ping` is not enough.

Project history

The current upstream repository's default branch is `arping-2.x`, while an `arping-1.x` branch remains visible. The README explains that Arping 1.x was finally removed from the Arping 2.x tarball in 2.09, leaving older 2.08-and-earlier packages as the path for libnet 1.0.x users.

The manual page is dated June 21, 2003 and documents the classic behavior: send ARP requests for IP targets, directed broadcast ICMP echo requests for MAC targets, and print replies. The current build metadata identifies version 2.29 and requires libnet 1.1 or newer plus libpcap, with optional Linux privilege-dropping support through libcap/seccomp-related checks.

Adoption history

arping's adoption comes from a small but persistent network-admin niche: it answers questions that IP `ping` cannot answer, especially before assigning an address, on networks where ICMP is filtered, or when a MAC address is known but the IP address is not.

The supplied package facts show it in Homebrew, Debian, Ubuntu, MacPorts, Nix, apk, and other Unix-like package collections. That breadth is typical for compact diagnostic tools whose behavior is simple, scriptable, and useful during installation, DHCP, address-conflict, and appliance-discovery work.

How it is used

The README's core example is checking whether an address is taken on a LAN before using it. The manpage documents `-c` for counts, `-i` for interface selection, `-d` for duplicate replies, raw output modes, broadcast/source-address options, unsolicited ARP with `-U`, VLAN tagging, and seccomp toggles.

Unlike `arp-scan`, which sweeps ranges, Thomas Habets' arping is centered on targeted ARP/MAC/IP probes. It can ping by IP to get a MAC, ping by MAC to get an IP when hosts respond to broadcast pings, and send unsolicited ARP to update neighbors' ARP caches.

Why package nerds care

arping is a classic example of a tiny network utility with a complicated name space: several unrelated projects and operating systems have shipped commands named `arping`. This package's identity is the Thomas Habets implementation, so the official GitHub repo and README are important disambiguators.

Its dependency split also matters to packagers: Arping 2.x requires libnet 1.1+, while the older 1.x line existed for libnet 1.0.x users.

Timeline

2003: Manual page dated June 21 documents arping behavior and options.
2.09: Arping 1.x removed from the Arping 2.x tarball and autotools build system introduced.
2.29: Current version recorded in configure.ac.

Related projects

libnet is used for packet construction.
libpcap is used for packet capture.
arp-scan is a range-scanning cousin rather than the same tool.
iputils has shipped a different `arping` implementation on Linux.

Sources

security posture

Risk level: green

narrow executable package without higher-risk signals.

Risk classifier

green risk · low confidence · appliance

Why

narrow executable package without higher-risk signals

Signals

metadata:no-higher-risk-signals

Install behavior

No Homebrew post-install hook is recorded in formula metadata.
Homebrew bottle metadata is available for 6 platform targets.
Installs with 1 runtime dependencies.
Build metadata lists 2 build dependencies.

Recommended review

Before unattended agent use, check whether the tool reads plaintext credentials, writes remote state, publishes artifacts, or shells out to plugins.

executables

Installed executables

Command	Kind	Exposure	Note
`arping`	cli	global executable

freshness

Version and freshness

These signals separate page generation age, package-manager activity, and upstream release comparison. Version lag is warned only when an evidence URL and comparable versions are present.

page generated2026-07-08

manager version2.29

manager updated2026-06-28

local dataok

upstreamcurrent

latest detectedarping-2.29

https://github.com/ThomasHabets/arping

okNo freshness warnings were generated.

install metadata

Package metadata

Package key	brew:arping
Version	2.29
Package manager	Homebrew
Package manager page	https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/arping
Homepage	https://github.com/ThomasHabets/arping
Repository	https://github.com/ThomasHabets/arping
Upstream docs	https://github.com/ThomasHabets/arping#readme
License	GPL-2.0-or-later
Source archive	https://github.com/ThomasHabets/arping/archive/refs/tags/arping-2.29.tar.gz
Last updated	2026-06-28T17:40:20Z
Pulse	updated
Dependencies	libnet
Build dependencies	autoconf, automake
Uses from macOS	libpcap
Bottle	available (on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, sonoma, x86_64_linux)
Homebrew post-install	not defined
Service	none declared

registry facts

Source database details

Source Database	Homebrew formula API
Tap	homebrew/core
Full Name	arping
Version Scheme	0
Revision	0
Bottle Stable Root URL	https://ghcr.io/v2/homebrew/core
Deprecated	no
Disabled	no
Keg Only	no
URL Keys	stable

source database matches

Other package-manager records

Matches are pulled from external package-manager indexes and kept separate from local Automic Vault package links.

Debian apt95%

arping 2.25-1

sends IP and/or ARP pings (to the MAC address)

https://www.habets.pp.se/synscan/programs.php?prog=arping

sudo apt install arping

Section: net
Architecture: amd64
4 dependencies
normalized package name match
Matched by: Arping

Debian stable package indexes · deb.debian.org · Debian stable package indexes: arping from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz

Nix95%

arping

nix profile install nixpkgs#arping

normalized package name match
Matched by: Arping

nixpkgs package indexes · api.github.com · nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/ar/arping/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1

Ubuntu apt95%

arping 2.24-1build2

sends IP and/or ARP pings (to the MAC address)

https://www.habets.pp.se/synscan/programs.php?prog=arping

sudo apt install arping

Section: universe/net
Architecture: amd64
4 dependencies
normalized package name match
Matched by: Arping

Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes · archive.ubuntu.com · Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: arping from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz

apk95%

arping 2.28-r0

An ARP ping utility

https://www.habets.pp.se/synscan/programs_arping.html

sudo apk add arping

License: GPL-2.0-or-later
Architecture: x86_64
Source Package: arping
1 dependencies
1 provides
normalized package name match
Matched by: Arping

Alpine Linux edge package indexes · dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org · Alpine Linux edge package indexes: arping from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz

apk95%

arping-doc 2.28-r0

An ARP ping utility (documentation)

https://www.habets.pp.se/synscan/programs_arping.html

sudo apk add arping-doc

License: GPL-2.0-or-later
Architecture: x86_64
Source Package: arping
normalized package name match
Matched by: Arping

Alpine Linux edge package indexes · dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org · Alpine Linux edge package indexes: arping-doc from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz

MacPorts95%

arping

sudo port install arping

normalized package name match
Matched by: Arping

MacPorts ports tree · api.github.com · MacPorts ports tree: net/arping/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1

package graph

Links come from deterministic package relationships, av.db category and tag curation, ecosystem matches, and package hub membership.

source trail

Generated from repository data

This page is generated by av-web from the private package SQLite artifact built by scripts/generate-pkg-sqlite.py.

Combined YAML source

View the package source record on GitHub.

combined/arping.yml

Used sources

Geiger risk classifier
Nucleus package database
av.db category and tag curation
cross-ecosystem install command graph
curated package history
external package-manager database matches
package relationship graph
package version freshness
package-page enrichment

Install arping with Homebrew, apk, apt, MacPorts, Nix