macOS
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brew install hostdblocal Homebrew formula metadata
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Install hostdb with Homebrew
Generate DNS zones and DHCP configuration from hostlist.txt. Version 1.004 via Homebrew; verified from local package data.
install
Additional install commands
overview
Package summary
Generate DNS zones and DHCP configuration from hostlist.txt
Project links
Commands and aliases
- Example_comparezones
- NIdhcpupdate
- canonzone
- catif
- checkrootcache
- copy-if-change
- genrange
- mergeiplists
- mkdestinations
- mknamedconf
- mkzones
- sortbyip
- zone2hostdb
- zone2hostdbhelper
history
Project history and usage
HostDB is a DNS and DHCP generation system built around a plain-text host database. The project predates modern infrastructure-as-code branding but follows the same practical idea: keep host data in a readable source file, generate BIND zone files and ISC DHCP configuration, and deploy generated artifacts repeatably.
Project history
The archived project and bundled documentation identify HostDB as a complete system rather than a single script. The source archive includes generators such as `mkzones`, `mknamedconf`, `zone2hostdb`, `genrange`, comparison helpers, example configurations, and a `hostdb.txt` data model.
The LISA 2005 paper by Thomas Limoncelli describes HostDB as a system for generating DNS zone files, BIND configurations, and ISC DHCP server configurations. It emphasizes simplicity: no SQL database or web server, just text input, generation scripts, and deployable output.
Adoption history
HostDB's adoption appears to be mostly historical and system-administrator oriented. Its Google Code archive and Homebrew formula preserve it for users who want the original toolchain or need to inspect an older text-driven network-configuration workflow.
How it is used
A HostDB workflow starts from a host database text file and supporting zone/destination configuration. The packaged executables generate zones, named configuration, DHCP output, root-cache checks, and conversion helpers, with examples included in the source archive.
The package is most relevant in environments where DNS/DHCP data should be generated from source-controlled text, but where running a database-backed IPAM system would be excessive.
Why package nerds care
HostDB is a preserved sysadmin artifact: small scripts, text files, and generated network configuration. For package nerds, it marks an older branch of infrastructure automation that sits between hand-edited zone files and heavyweight IPAM/configuration-management systems.
Timeline
- 2005: HostDB is presented in a LISA paper focused on host-to-DNS/DHCP generation.
- 2016: Google Code archive source snapshot preserves README, docs, scripts, examples, and the LISA paper.
- Homebrew era: A formula packages HostDB as a command-line DNS/DHCP generation tool.
Related projects
- BIND/named and ISC DHCP are the generated configuration targets.
- IPAM and configuration-management tools are related by problem domain, although HostDB deliberately uses a simpler text-file model.
- Google Code Archive is related as the preservation surface for the project.
Sources
- Google Code Archive and source archive: project files, README, docs, examples, and executables.
- Homebrew input metadata: package description and executable list.
- USENIX LISA 2005 paper: original system description and design rationale.
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 1 platform targets.
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
hostlist.txt
executables
Installed executables
| Command | Kind | Exposure | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
Example_comparezones | cli | global executable | |
NIdhcpupdate | cli | global executable | |
canonzone | cli | global executable | |
catif | cli | global executable | |
checkrootcache | cli | global executable | |
copy-if-change | cli | global executable | |
genrange | cli | global executable | |
mergeiplists | cli | global executable | |
mkdestinations | cli | global executable | |
mknamedconf | cli | global executable | |
mkzones | cli | global executable | |
sortbyip | cli | global executable | |
zone2hostdb | cli | global executable | |
zone2hostdbhelper | 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 version1.004
manager updated
local dataok
upstreamnot checked
latest detectednot detected
https://code.google.com/archive/p/hostdb/
- infoNo package-manager update timestamp was available.low confidence
- infoRelease/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories.https://code.google.com/archive/p/hostdb/none confidence
install metadata
Package metadata
| Package key | brew:hostdb |
|---|---|
| Version | 1.004 |
| Package manager | Homebrew |
| Package manager page | https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/hostdb |
| Homepage | https://code.google.com/archive/p/hostdb/ |
| Repository | https://code.google.com/archive/p/hostdb/source |
| Upstream docs | https://code.google.com/archive/p/hostdb |
| License | GPL-2.0-or-later |
| Source archive | https://storage.googleapis.com/google-code-archive-downloads/v2/code.google.com/hostdb/hostdb-1.004.tgz |
| Bottle | available (on all) |
| Homebrew post-install | not defined |
| Service | none declared |
registry facts
Source database details
| Source Database | Homebrew formula API |
|---|---|
| Tap | homebrew/core |
| Full Name | hostdb |
| Version Scheme | 0 |
| Revision | 0 |
| Bottle Stable Root URL | https://ghcr.io/v2/homebrew/core |
| Deprecated | no |
| Disabled | no |
| Keg Only | no |
| URL Keys |
|
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.
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
- package relationship graph
- package version freshness
- package-page enrichment