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brew

Install avahi with Homebrew, apk, apt, dnf, MacPorts, Nix, pacman, zypper

Service Discovery for Linux using mDNS/DNS-SD. Version 0.9-rc5 via Homebrew; verified 2026-06-25.

Install commandSecurity notes

install

Additional install commands

macOS

Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install avahi

local Homebrew formula metadata

MacPortsverified · 94%
sudo port install avahi

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

Linux

Alpine Linux apkverified · 92%
sudo apk add avahi

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

Debian aptverified · 92%
sudo apt install avahi-autoipd

Debian stable package indexes · avahi-autoipd · source: deb.debian.org

Fedora dnfverified · 92%
sudo dnf install avahi

Fedora Rawhide package metadata · avahi · source: dl.fedoraproject.org

Nixverified · 92%
nix profile install nixpkgs#avahi

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

Arch Linux pacmanverified · 92%
sudo pacman -S avahi

Arch Linux sync databases · avahi · source: geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com

openSUSE zypperverified · 92%
sudo zypper install avahi

openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · avahi · source: download.opensuse.org

overview

Package summary

Service Discovery for Linux using mDNS/DNS-SD

Commands and aliases

  • avahi-autoipd
  • avahi-browse
  • avahi-browse-domains
  • avahi-daemon
  • avahi-dnsconfd
  • avahi-publish
  • avahi-publish-address
  • avahi-publish-service
  • avahi-resolve
  • avahi-resolve-address
  • avahi-resolve-host-name
  • avahi-set-host-name

history

Project history and usage

Avahi is a free LGPL implementation of multicast DNS and DNS Service Discovery, compatible with Apple's Bonjour/Zeroconf stack and primarily targeted at Linux. It provides the daemon, D-Bus API, libraries, compatibility layers, command-line utilities, and service-file conventions used for local-network discovery.

Project history

The upstream README names Lennart Poettering and Trent Lloyd among the authors and describes Avahi as a DNS-SD over mDNS implementation compatible with Apple Bonjour. The official site says it is primarily targeted at Linux, runs on many BSD-like systems, and is not ported to Windows.

Avahi's architecture matters because it is not only a daemon. The source tree includes client libraries, core libraries, D-Bus API documentation, compatibility layers for Howl and Bonjour-style DNS-SD APIs, Python and UI utilities, service type databases, man pages, and XML service definitions.

The modern project infrastructure moved from older hosting patterns toward GitHub. The official site notes that in December 2023 the repositories moved from the lathiat namespace to the avahi organization namespace, and that avahi.org itself moved to GitHub Pages.

Adoption history

Avahi became the default service-discovery stack for many Linux distributions because it solved the practical need for `.local` hostnames, printer discovery, file-sharing discovery, and application service announcements without Apple's proprietary Bonjour implementation. The official site explicitly says it ships by default in most distributions.

Package adoption is broad and split by component: distributions package the daemon, utilities, libraries, autoipd, compatibility libraries, and development headers. The input records packages in Homebrew, Debian/Ubuntu, Fedora, Alpine, Arch, MacPorts, Nix, and zypper ecosystems, with Debian and Ubuntu exposing `avahi-autoipd` as a named package entry for this formula mapping.

How it is used

Typical user-facing tools include `avahi-browse`, `avahi-publish`, `avahi-resolve`, `avahi-set-host-name`, `avahi-daemon`, and `avahi-autoipd`. Services can be published through D-Bus APIs or by placing XML service definitions in `/etc/avahi/services`.

Configuration centers on `avahi-daemon.conf`, installed under the package system configuration directory, commonly `/etc/avahi/avahi-daemon.conf`. The man page also documents user browse domains through `$AVAHI_BROWSE_DOMAINS` or `~/.config/avahi/browse-domains`.

Why package nerds care

Avahi is one of those packages whose importance is larger than the visible command line. It touches init systems, D-Bus activation, NSS integration through nss-mdns, C libraries, desktop printer discovery, service publication, firewall behavior, and network-manager assumptions.

For maintainers, Avahi is a compatibility and integration package: it needs correct defaults, split subpackages, service files, optional UI bindings, and careful coexistence with other mDNS stacks. Its release notes regularly mention distribution-facing changes such as systemd integration, default configuration updates, API additions, and compatibility fixes for FreeBSD, Solaris, musl, and containers.

Timeline

  • 2004: Copyright range in the upstream README begins, marking the early Avahi development era.
  • 2010-2012: 0.6.x bugfix releases continued distribution hardening and system integration.
  • 2016: Avahi 0.6.32 released with configuration-default changes and bug fixes.
  • 2017: Avahi 0.7 released with binary TXT records in XML service files and gobject context support.
  • 2020: Avahi 0.8 released with D-Bus/API additions, Qt5 and libevent mainloop integration, and CVE-2017-6519 mitigation.
  • 2023: Official repositories moved to the avahi GitHub organization and the website moved to GitHub Pages.

Related projects

  • nss-mdns: upstream companion project for resolving `.local` hostnames through NSS.
  • Apple Bonjour/Zeroconf: compatible technology referenced by the official site.
  • D-Bus: primary API transport for most Avahi usage.
  • systemd and Linux distribution init systems: frequent integration points in release notes.

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 2 platform targets.
  • Installs with 7 runtime dependencies.
  • Build metadata lists 8 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.

local files

Configuration and credential file locations

These source-backed paths show where this package keeps local settings or durable credentials. Automic Vault can use them as review targets for secret scanning, migration, and command approval.

Configuration files

Config paths the tool may read or write during local use.

Unix
/etc/avahi/avahi-daemon.conf/etc/avahi/services/*.service~/.config/avahi/browse-domains

executables

Installed executables

CommandKindExposureNote
avahi-autoipdcliglobal executable
avahi-browsecliglobal executable
avahi-browse-domainscliglobal executable
avahi-daemoncliglobal executable
avahi-dnsconfdcliglobal executable
avahi-publishcliglobal executable
avahi-publish-addresscliglobal executable
avahi-publish-servicecliglobal executable
avahi-resolvecliglobal executable
avahi-resolve-addresscliglobal executable
avahi-resolve-host-namecliglobal executable
avahi-set-host-namecliglobal 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 version0.9-rc5
manager updated2026-06-25
local dataok
upstreamcurrent
latest detectedv0.9-rc5

https://github.com/avahi/avahi

  • okNo freshness warnings were generated.

install metadata

Package metadata

Package keybrew:avahi
Version0.9-rc5
Package managerHomebrew
Package manager pagehttps://formulae.brew.sh/formula/avahi
Homepagehttps://avahi.org
Repositoryhttps://github.com/avahi/avahi
Upstream docshttps://avahi.org/
LicenseLGPL-2.1-or-later
Source archivehttps://github.com/avahi/avahi/archive/refs/tags/v0.9-rc5.tar.gz
Last updated2026-06-25T15:14:19Z
Pulseupdated
Dependenciesdbus, expat, gdbm, glib, libcap, libdaemon, systemd
Build dependenciesautoconf, automake, gettext, libtool, m4, perl, pkgconf, xmltoman
Bottleavailable (on arm64_linux, x86_64_linux)
Homebrew post-installnot defined
Servicenone declared

registry facts

Source database details

Source DatabaseHomebrew formula API
Taphomebrew/core
Full Nameavahi
Version Scheme0
Revision0
Requirements
  • linux
Bottle Stable Root URLhttps://ghcr.io/v2/homebrew/core
Deprecatedno
Disabledno
Keg Onlyno
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%

avahi-autoipd 0.8-16

Avahi IPv4LL network address configuration daemon

https://avahi.org/

sudo apt install avahi-autoipd
  • Section: net
  • Architecture: amd64
  • Source Package: avahi
  • 3 dependencies
  • 1 optional deps
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Avahi
Debian stable package indexes · deb.debian.org · Debian stable package indexes: avahi-autoipd from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz
Debian apt95%

avahi-daemon 0.8-16

Avahi mDNS/DNS-SD daemon

https://avahi.org/

sudo apt install avahi-daemon
  • Section: net
  • Architecture: amd64
  • Source Package: avahi
  • 11 dependencies
  • 2 optional deps
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Avahi
Debian stable package indexes · deb.debian.org · Debian stable package indexes: avahi-daemon from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz
Debian apt95%

avahi-discover 0.8-16

Service discover user interface for avahi

https://avahi.org/

sudo apt install avahi-discover
  • Section: net
  • Architecture: all
  • Source Package: avahi
  • 7 dependencies
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Avahi
Debian stable package indexes · deb.debian.org · Debian stable package indexes: avahi-discover from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz
Debian apt95%

avahi-dnsconfd 0.8-16

Avahi DNS configuration tool

https://avahi.org/

sudo apt install avahi-dnsconfd
  • Section: net
  • Architecture: amd64
  • Source Package: avahi
  • 4 dependencies
  • 1 optional deps
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Avahi
Debian stable package indexes · deb.debian.org · Debian stable package indexes: avahi-dnsconfd from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz
Debian apt95%

avahi-ui-utils 0.8-16

Avahi GTK+ utilities

https://avahi.org/

sudo apt install avahi-ui-utils
  • Section: utils
  • Architecture: amd64
  • Source Package: avahi
  • 6 dependencies
  • 2 optional deps
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Avahi
Debian stable package indexes · deb.debian.org · Debian stable package indexes: avahi-ui-utils from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz
Debian apt95%

avahi-utils 0.8-16

Avahi browsing, publishing and discovery utilities

https://avahi.org/

sudo apt install avahi-utils
  • Section: net
  • Architecture: amd64
  • Source Package: avahi
  • 5 dependencies
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Avahi
Debian stable package indexes · deb.debian.org · Debian stable package indexes: avahi-utils from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz
Debian apt95%

gir1.2-avahi-0.6 0.8-16

GObject introspection data for Avahi

https://avahi.org/

sudo apt install gir1.2-avahi-0.6
  • Section: introspection
  • Architecture: amd64
  • Source Package: avahi
  • 3 dependencies
  • 1 provides
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Avahi
Debian stable package indexes · deb.debian.org · Debian stable package indexes: gir1.2-avahi-0.6 from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz
Debian apt95%

libavahi-client-dev 0.8-16

Development files for the Avahi client library

https://avahi.org/

sudo apt install libavahi-client-dev
  • Section: libdevel
  • Architecture: amd64
  • Source Package: avahi
  • 3 dependencies
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Avahi
Debian stable package indexes · deb.debian.org · Debian stable package indexes: libavahi-client-dev from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz
Debian apt95%

libavahi-client3 0.8-16

Avahi client library

https://avahi.org/

sudo apt install libavahi-client3
  • Section: libs
  • Architecture: amd64
  • Source Package: avahi
  • 3 dependencies
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Avahi
Debian stable package indexes · deb.debian.org · Debian stable package indexes: libavahi-client3 from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz
Debian apt95%

libavahi-common-data 0.8-16

Avahi common data files

https://avahi.org/

sudo apt install libavahi-common-data
  • Section: libs
  • Architecture: amd64
  • Source Package: avahi
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Avahi
Debian stable package indexes · deb.debian.org · Debian stable package indexes: libavahi-common-data from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz
Debian apt95%

libavahi-common-dev 0.8-16

Development files for the Avahi common library

https://avahi.org/

sudo apt install libavahi-common-dev
  • Section: libdevel
  • Architecture: amd64
  • Source Package: avahi
  • 1 dependencies
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Avahi
Debian stable package indexes · deb.debian.org · Debian stable package indexes: libavahi-common-dev from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz
Debian apt95%

libavahi-common3 0.8-16

Avahi common library

https://avahi.org/

sudo apt install libavahi-common3
  • Section: libs
  • Architecture: amd64
  • Source Package: avahi
  • 2 dependencies
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Avahi
Debian stable package indexes · deb.debian.org · Debian stable package indexes: libavahi-common3 from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz
Debian apt95%

libavahi-compat-libdnssd-dev 0.8-16

Development headers for the Avahi Apple Bonjour compatibility library

https://avahi.org/

sudo apt install libavahi-compat-libdnssd-dev
  • Section: libdevel
  • Architecture: amd64
  • Source Package: avahi
  • 2 dependencies
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Avahi
Debian stable package indexes · deb.debian.org · Debian stable package indexes: libavahi-compat-libdnssd-dev from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz
Debian apt95%

libavahi-compat-libdnssd1 0.8-16

Avahi Apple Bonjour compatibility library

https://avahi.org/

sudo apt install libavahi-compat-libdnssd1
  • Section: libs
  • Architecture: amd64
  • Source Package: avahi
  • 3 dependencies
  • 1 optional deps
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Avahi
Debian stable package indexes · deb.debian.org · Debian stable package indexes: libavahi-compat-libdnssd1 from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz
Debian apt95%

libavahi-core-dev 0.8-16

Development files for Avahi's embeddable mDNS/DNS-SD library

https://avahi.org/

sudo apt install libavahi-core-dev
  • Section: libdevel
  • Architecture: amd64
  • Source Package: avahi
  • 2 dependencies
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Avahi
Debian stable package indexes · deb.debian.org · Debian stable package indexes: libavahi-core-dev from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz
Debian apt95%

libavahi-core7 0.8-16

Avahi's embeddable mDNS/DNS-SD library

https://avahi.org/

sudo apt install libavahi-core7
  • Section: libs
  • Architecture: amd64
  • Source Package: avahi
  • 2 dependencies
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Avahi
Debian stable package indexes · deb.debian.org · Debian stable package indexes: libavahi-core7 from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz

package graph

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

Related tools

  • dbusRuntime dependency declared by Homebrew.
  • expatRuntime dependency declared by Homebrew.
  • gdbmRuntime dependency declared by Homebrew.
  • glibRuntime dependency declared by Homebrew.
  • libcapRuntime dependency declared by Homebrew.
  • systemdRuntime dependency declared by Homebrew.
  • autoconfBuild dependency declared by Homebrew.
  • automakeBuild dependency declared by Homebrew.

Same workflow

  • aerleonShares av.db curated category or tags: cli, networking.
  • ahcpdShares av.db curated category or tags: cli, networking.
  • airshareShares av.db curated category or tags: cli, networking.
  • asshShares av.db curated category or tags: cli, networking.
  • autosshShares av.db curated category or tags: cli, networking.
  • bbftp-clientShares av.db curated category or tags: cli, networking.

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.

Used sources

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