macOS
Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install net-toolslocal Homebrew formula metadata
brew
Install net-tools with Homebrew, apk, apt, dnf, Nix, pacman, zypper
Linux networking base tools. Version 2.10 via Homebrew; verified from local package data.
install
Additional install commands
Linux
Alpine Linux apkverified · 92%
sudo apk add mii-toolAlpine Linux edge package indexes · mii-tool · source: dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org
Debian aptverified · 92%
sudo apt install net-toolsDebian stable package indexes · net-tools · source: deb.debian.org
Fedora dnfverified · 92%
sudo dnf install net-toolsFedora Rawhide package metadata · net-tools · source: dl.fedoraproject.org
Nixverified · 92%
nix profile install nixpkgs#net-toolsnixpkgs package indexes · net-tools · source: raw.githubusercontent.com
Arch Linux pacmanverified · 92%
sudo pacman -S net-toolsArch Linux sync databases · net-tools · source: geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com
openSUSE zypperverified · 92%
sudo zypper install net-toolsopenSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · net-tools · source: download.opensuse.org
overview
Package summary
Linux networking base tools
Project links
Commands and aliases
- arp
- dnsdomainname
- domainname
- hostname
- ifconfig
- ipmaddr
- iptunnel
- mii-tool
- nameif
- netstat
- nisdomainname
- plipconfig
- rarp
- route
- slattach
- ypdomainname
history
Project history and usage
net-tools is the legacy Linux networking command set: `ifconfig`, `route`, `netstat`, `arp`, `hostname`, and related utilities from the old NET-3 networking era.
Project history
The project describes itself as the base set of programs for the NET-3 networking distribution for Linux. Its commands became the muscle-memory interface for early Linux network configuration and inspection.
The upstream README now explicitly calls these the legacy tools for controlling the Linux kernel networking subsystem and notes that net-tools is generally considered deprecated, with iproute2 preferred in most cases.
Adoption history
For years, tutorials, init scripts, diagnostics, and administrator habits used `ifconfig`, `route`, `arp`, and `netstat`. SourceForge still describes the package as used in most Linux distributions, even though many modern distributions steer users toward `ip` and `ss`.
The deprecation history is part of the package's identity: Red Hat's admin guidance attributes the move away from ifconfig/route/netstat to lack of maintenance and the broader capabilities of iproute2, which has been available since the Linux 2.2 era.
Homebrew's Linux-only formula showed 3,074 installs in the 365-day formula window, with 1,484 installs on request. That is consistent with a compatibility package: people install it when old scripts, docs, or habits expect the old command names.
How it is used
Package users install it to get legacy commands on systems where they are absent by default. The most common uses are quick `ifconfig` interface inspection, `route -n` route-table checks, `netstat` socket/process habits, `arp` table inspection, and compatibility with scripts that have not moved to `iproute2`.
Package nerds should treat it as compatibility glue, not the modern Linux networking API. For new scripts, `ip addr`, `ip route`, `ss`, and related iproute2 tools are the better target.
Why package nerds care
net-tools is historically important because it froze a generation of Linux networking vocabulary. Its continued packaging is mainly about not breaking workflows and about giving old documentation a working command line.
Timeline
- NET-3 era: tools become the base Linux networking utility set.
- 2005-08-16: SourceForge project registration date listed on the project page.
- 2009: Debian/Red Hat-linked discussions accelerated public guidance that net-tools was deprecated in favor of iproute2.
- 2026-06-12: SourceForge project page listed a last update date, showing maintenance has not vanished entirely.
Related projects
- iproute2
- ss
- procps
- ethtool
Sources
security posture
Risk level: blue
broad file, network, media, or database tool signal.
Risk classifier
blue risk · medium confidence · tool
Why
- broad file, network, media, or database tool signal
Signals
- text:network
Install behavior
- No Homebrew post-install hook is recorded in formula metadata.
- Homebrew bottle metadata is available for 2 platform targets.
- Installs with 1 runtime 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
arp | cli | global executable | |
dnsdomainname | cli | global executable | |
domainname | cli | global executable | |
hostname | cli | global executable | |
ifconfig | cli | global executable | |
ipmaddr | cli | global executable | |
iptunnel | cli | global executable | |
mii-tool | cli | global executable | |
nameif | cli | global executable | |
netstat | cli | global executable | |
nisdomainname | cli | global executable | |
plipconfig | cli | global executable | |
rarp | cli | global executable | |
route | cli | global executable | |
slattach | cli | global executable | |
ypdomainname | 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 version2.10
manager updated
local dataok
upstreamnot checked
latest detectednot detected
https://sourceforge.net/projects/net-tools/
- infoNo package-manager update timestamp was available.low confidence
- infoRelease/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories.https://sourceforge.net/projects/net-tools/none confidence
install metadata
Package metadata
| Package key | brew:net-tools |
|---|---|
| Version | 2.10 |
| Package manager | Homebrew |
| Package manager page | https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/net-tools |
| Homepage | https://sourceforge.net/projects/net-tools/ |
| Repository | https://git.code.sf.net/p/net-tools/code |
| Upstream docs | https://net-tools.sourceforge.io/ |
| License | GPL-2.0-or-later |
| Source archive | https://downloads.sourceforge.net/project/net-tools/net-tools-2.10.tar.xz |
| Dependencies | libdnet |
| Bottle | available (on arm64_linux, 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 | net-tools |
| Version Scheme | 0 |
| Revision | 0 |
| Requirements |
|
| 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.
Debian apt95%
net-tools 2.10-1.3
NET-3 networking toolkit
http://sourceforge.net/projects/net-tools/
sudo apt install net-tools- Section: net
- Architecture: amd64
- 2 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Net Tools
Nix95%
net-tools
nix profile install nixpkgs#net-tools- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Net Tools
Ubuntu apt95%
net-tools 2.10-0.1ubuntu4
NET-3 networking toolkit
http://sourceforge.net/projects/net-tools/
sudo apt install net-tools- Section: net
- Architecture: amd64
- 2 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Net Tools
apk95%
mii-tool 2.10-r3
media-independent interface (MII) tool
https://sourceforge.net/projects/net-tools/
sudo apk add mii-tool- License: GPL-2.0-or-later
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: net-tools
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Net Tools
apk95%
net-tools 2.10-r3
Linux networking base tools
https://sourceforge.net/projects/net-tools/
sudo apk add net-tools- License: GPL-2.0-or-later
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: net-tools
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Net Tools
apk95%
net-tools-dbg 2.10-r3
Linux networking base tools (debug symbols)
https://sourceforge.net/projects/net-tools/
sudo apk add net-tools-dbg- License: GPL-2.0-or-later
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: net-tools
- 1 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Net Tools
apk95%
net-tools-doc 2.10-r3
Linux networking base tools (documentation)
https://sourceforge.net/projects/net-tools/
sudo apk add net-tools-doc- License: GPL-2.0-or-later
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: net-tools
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Net Tools
dnf95%
net-tools 2.0-0.77.20160912git.fc44
Basic networking tools
http://sourceforge.net/projects/net-tools/
sudo dnf install net-tools- License: GPL-2.0-or-later
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: net-tools
- 6 dependencies
- 2 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Net Tools
pacman95%
net-tools 2.10-3
Configuration tools for Linux networking
http://net-tools.sourceforge.net/
sudo pacman -S net-tools- License: GPL2
- Architecture: x86_64
- 1 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Net Tools
zypper95%
net-tools 3.14~alpha~git.20251212.7011617-1.1
Important Programs for Networking
https://github.com/ecki/net-tools
sudo zypper install net-tools- License: GPL-2.0-or-later
- Category: Productivity/Networking/Other
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: net-tools
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Net Tools
zypper95%
net-tools-deprecated 3.14~alpha~git.20251212.7011617-1.1
Deprecated Networking Utilities
https://github.com/ecki/net-tools
sudo zypper install net-tools-deprecated- License: GPL-2.0-or-later
- Category: Productivity/Networking/Other
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: net-tools
- 2 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Net Tools
zypper95%
net-tools-lang 3.14~alpha~git.20251212.7011617-1.1
Translations for package net-tools
https://github.com/ecki/net-tools
sudo zypper install net-tools-lang- License: GPL-2.0-or-later
- Category: System/Localization
- Architecture: noarch
- Source Package: net-tools
- 1 dependencies
- 3 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Net Tools
Debian apt92%
hostname 3.25
utility to set/show the host name or domain name
sudo apt install hostname- Section: admin
- Architecture: amd64
- installed executable or alias match
- Matched by: Hostname
Ubuntu apt92%
hostname 3.23+nmu2ubuntu2
utility to set/show the host name or domain name
sudo apt install hostname- Section: admin
- Architecture: amd64
- installed executable or alias match
- Matched by: Hostname
dnf92%
hostname 3.25-4.fc44
Utility to set/show the host name or domain name
https://tracker.debian.org/pkg/hostname
sudo dnf install hostname- License: GPL-2.0-or-later
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: hostname
- 4 dependencies
- 1 provides
- installed executable or alias match
- Matched by: Hostname
zypper92%
hostname 3.25-1.4
Utility to Set/Show the Host Name or Domain Name
https://tracker.debian.org/pkg/hostname
sudo zypper install hostname- License: GPL-2.0-or-later
- Category: Productivity/Networking/Other
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: hostname
- 3 dependencies
- 2 provides
- installed executable or alias match
- Matched by: Hostname
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