# Install hostdb with Homebrew Generate DNS zones and DHCP configuration from hostlist.txt. Version 1.004 via Homebrew; verified from local package data. ## Install ```sh sudo av install brew:hostdb ``` Additional install commands: ### macOS - Homebrew (100%): ```sh brew install hostdb ``` Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata ## Package facts - **Package key:** brew:hostdb - **Package manager:** Homebrew - **Package manager page:** - **Version:** 1.004 - **Source summary:** Generate DNS zones and DHCP configuration from hostlist.txt - **Homepage:** - **Repository:** - **Upstream docs:** - **License:** GPL-2.0-or-later - **Source archive:** - **Generated:** 2026-07-08T07:18:31+00:00 ## Executables - Example_comparezones (cli) - NIdhcpupdate (cli) - canonzone (cli) - catif (cli) - checkrootcache (cli) - copy-if-change (cli) - genrange (cli) - mergeiplists (cli) - mkdestinations (cli) - mknamedconf (cli) - mkzones (cli) - sortbyip (cli) - zone2hostdb (cli) - zone2hostdbhelper (cli) - Example_comparezones (alias) - NIdhcpupdate (alias) - canonzone (alias) - catif (alias) - checkrootcache (alias) - copy-if-change (alias) - genrange (alias) - mergeiplists (alias) - mkdestinations (alias) - mknamedconf (alias) - mkzones (alias) - sortbyip (alias) - zone2hostdb (alias) - zone2hostdbhelper (alias) ## Install behavior - Post-install hook: not defined - Bottle: available on all ## Freshness - Page generated: 2026-07-08 - Package-manager version: 1.004 - Local data: ok - Upstream repository: https://code.google.com/archive/p/hostdb/ - info: No package-manager update timestamp was available. - info: Release/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories. ## 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 Notes narrow executable package without higher-risk signals. - **Geiger risk:** green / low - narrow executable package without higher-risk signals ## 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 - Unix: hostlist.txt ## Source Database Details - **Source Database:** Homebrew formula API - **Tap:** homebrew/core - **Full Name:** hostdb - **Version Scheme:** 0 - **Revision:** 0 - **Bottle Stable Root URL:** - **Deprecated:** no - **Disabled:** no - **Keg Only:** no - **URL Keys:** stable ## Related links - [Terminal utility packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/terminal-utilities/) - Matched terminal and command-line workflow metadata. - [Archive and compression packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/archive-compression-tools/) - Matched archive or compression metadata. - [Networking and protocol packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/networking-protocol-tools/) - Matched network, protocol, or remote-service metadata. - [Homebrew utility packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew-utility-packages/) - Matched Homebrew package provider. - [dnsmasq](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/dnsmasq/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, dhcp, dns, networking. - [adns](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/adns/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, dns, networking. - [aliddns](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/aliddns/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, dns, networking. - [bind](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/bind/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, dns, networking. - [c-ares](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/c-ares/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, dns, networking. - [cdncheck](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/cdncheck/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, dns, networking. - [checkdmarc](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/checkdmarc/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, dns, networking. - [chinadns-c](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/chinadns-c/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, dns, networking. - [flow-tools](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/flow-tools/) - Local metadata places this package in an adjacent workflow. Shared terms: cli, generate, network, networking. - [ldns](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/ldns/) - Local package facts share a topical domain. Shared terms: cli, dns, networking, zone, zones. ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/hostdb.yml](https://github.com/automic-vault/db/blob/main/combined/hostdb.yml) ## Sources - Nucleus package database - Geiger risk classifier - package-page enrichment - curated configuration and credential file locations - curated package history - package version freshness - av.db category and tag curation - package relationship graph - cross-ecosystem install command graph