macOS
Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install libdnetlocal Homebrew formula metadata
MacPortsverified · 94%
sudo port install libdnetMacPorts ports tree · net/libdnet/Portfile · source: api.github.com
brew
Install libdnet with Homebrew, apk, dnf, MacPorts, Nix, pacman, zypper
Portable low-level networking library. Version 1.18.2 via Homebrew; verified 2026-06-28.
install
Additional install commands
Linux
Alpine Linux apkverified · 92%
sudo apk add libdnetAlpine Linux edge package indexes · libdnet · source: dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org
Fedora dnfverified · 92%
sudo dnf install libdnetFedora Rawhide package metadata · libdnet · source: dl.fedoraproject.org
Nixverified · 92%
nix profile install nixpkgs#libdnetnixpkgs package indexes · pkgs/by-name/li/libdnet/package.nix · source: api.github.com
Arch Linux pacmanverified · 92%
sudo pacman -S libdnetArch Linux sync databases · libdnet · source: geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com
openSUSE zypperverified · 92%
sudo zypper install libdnet-developenSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · libdnet-devel · source: download.opensuse.org
overview
Package summary
Portable low-level networking library
Project links
Commands and aliases
- dnet
- dnet-config
history
Project history and usage
libdnet is a portable low-level networking library that wraps address manipulation, ARP and route-table access, firewalling, interface handling, tunneling, and raw packet transmission behind one API.
Project history
The original libdnet site is signed by Dug Song and presents the project as a small systems library for C, C++, Python, Perl, and Ruby users across BSD, Linux, Mac OS X, Windows, Solaris, IRIX, HP-UX, and Tru64. Its SourceForge-era download section listed libdnet 1.11 in January 2005 and CVS as the source-control mechanism.
The GitHub tag history preserves the older imported lineage, including DNET_1_10 in February 2005 and libdnet-1.12 in January 2007, then shows renewed maintenance under the ofalk repository with releases from 2020 onward. The 2023-2024 releases focused on modern build tooling, CMake/autotools cleanup, Python binding rebuilds, CI, and portability fixes.
Adoption history
The official libdnet site listed projects using it such as arpd, firewalk, fragroute, honeyd, Nmap, Scapy, Unicornscan, and other network-testing or packet-manipulation tools. That placement made libdnet part of the classic Unix security-tool stack, often paired conceptually with libpcap for capture and libnet-style packet construction.
How it is used
Developers use libdnet when they need portable access to network interfaces, routes, ARP tables, filters, tunnels, or raw Ethernet/IP transmission without writing per-OS code. The package also ships `dnet` and `dnet-config`, making it useful both as a development library and as an installed build dependency for older networking tools.
Why package nerds care
libdnet is a package-nerd fossil with real utility: it carries early-2000s network-security tooling assumptions into modern distributions. Packaging it well keeps old but still-useful packet tools buildable, especially where source has moved from SourceForge/CVS through Google Code-era references into maintained GitHub forks.
Timeline
- 2005: libdnet 1.11 listed on the official site.
- 2005: DNET_1_10 tag imported into the GitHub history.
- 2007: libdnet-1.12 tag published.
- 2020: libdnet-1.14 tag published in the maintained GitHub repository.
- 2023: 1.16.x and 1.17.0 releases modernized build support.
- 2024: 1.18.0 and 1.18.2 releases continued portability and tooling fixes.
Related projects
- The official site names libpcap, WinPcap, pypcap, dpkt, libnet, PktFilter, and TUN/TAP drivers as related work, and lists Nmap, Scapy, honeyd, fragroute, arpd, and Unicornscan among downstream users.
Sources
security posture
Risk level: green
library-like package without higher-risk signals.
Risk classifier
green risk · low confidence · appliance
Why
- library-like package without higher-risk signals
Signals
- metadata:library-like
Install behavior
- No Homebrew post-install hook is recorded in formula metadata.
- Homebrew bottle metadata is available for 6 platform targets.
- Build metadata lists 1 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
dnet | cli | global executable | |
dnet-config | 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 version1.18.2
manager updated2026-06-28
local dataok
upstreamcurrent
latest detectedlibdnet-1.18.2
https://github.com/ofalk/libdnet
- okNo freshness warnings were generated.
install metadata
Package metadata
| Package key | brew:libdnet |
|---|---|
| Version | 1.18.2 |
| Package manager | Homebrew |
| Package manager page | https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/libdnet |
| Homepage | https://github.com/ofalk/libdnet |
| Repository | https://github.com/ofalk/libdnet |
| Upstream docs | https://github.com/ofalk/libdnet#readme |
| License | BSD-3-Clause |
| Source archive | https://github.com/ofalk/libdnet/archive/refs/tags/libdnet-1.18.2.tar.gz |
| Last updated | 2026-06-28T00:07:30-04:00 |
| Pulse | updated |
| Build dependencies | pkgconf |
| 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 | libdnet |
| 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 database matches
Other package-manager records
Matches are pulled from external package-manager indexes and kept separate from local Automic Vault package links.
Nix95%
libdnet
nix profile install nixpkgs#libdnet- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Libdnet
apk95%
libdnet 1.18.0-r0
simplified, portable interface to several low-level networking routines
https://github.com/ofalk/libdnet
sudo apk add libdnet- License: BSD-3-Clause
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: libdnet
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Libdnet
apk95%
libdnet-dev 1.18.0-r0
simplified, portable interface to several low-level networking routines (development files)
https://github.com/ofalk/libdnet
sudo apk add libdnet-dev- License: BSD-3-Clause
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: libdnet
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Libdnet
apk95%
libdnet-doc 1.18.0-r0
simplified, portable interface to several low-level networking routines (documentation)
https://github.com/ofalk/libdnet
sudo apk add libdnet-doc- License: BSD-3-Clause
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: libdnet
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Libdnet
dnf95%
libdnet 1.18.0-10.fc45
Simple portable interface to lowlevel networking routines
https://github.com/ofalk/libdnet
sudo dnf install libdnet- License: LicenseRef-Callaway-BSD
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: i686
- Source Package: libdnet
- 2 dependencies
- 2 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Libdnet
dnf95%
libdnet-devel 1.18.0-10.fc45
Header files for libdnet library
https://github.com/ofalk/libdnet
sudo dnf install libdnet-devel- License: LicenseRef-Callaway-BSD
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: i686
- Source Package: libdnet
- 3 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Libdnet
dnf95%
libdnet-progs 1.18.0-10.fc45
Sample applications to use with libdnet
https://github.com/ofalk/libdnet
sudo dnf install libdnet-progs- License: LicenseRef-Callaway-BSD
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: libdnet
- 5 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Libdnet
dnf95%
python3-libdnet 1.18.0-10.fc45
Python bindings for libdnet
https://github.com/ofalk/libdnet
sudo dnf install python3-libdnet- License: LicenseRef-Callaway-BSD
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: libdnet
- 2 dependencies
- 6 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Libdnet
pacman95%
libdnet 1.18.2-1
A simplified, portable interface to several low-level networking routines
https://github.com/ofalk/libdnet
sudo pacman -S libdnet- License: BSD
- Architecture: x86_64
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Libdnet
zypper95%
libdnet-devel 1.18.2-1.2
Development files for libdnet
https://github.com/dugsong/libdnet
sudo zypper install libdnet-devel- License: BSD-3-Clause
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: libdnet
- 3 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Libdnet
zypper95%
libdnet1 1.18.2-1.2
Library for Portable Interface to Low-Level Networking Routines
https://github.com/dugsong/libdnet
sudo zypper install libdnet1- License: BSD-3-Clause
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: libdnet
- 2 dependencies
- 2 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Libdnet
MacPorts95%
libdnet
sudo port install libdnet- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Libdnet
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 package history
- external package-manager database matches
- package relationship graph
- package version freshness
- package-page enrichment