# Install socket_vmnet with Homebrew, MacPorts Daemon to provide vmnet.framework support for rootless QEMU. Version 1.2.2 via Homebrew; verified 2026-06-06. ## Install ```sh sudo av install brew:socket_vmnet ``` Additional install commands: ### macOS - Homebrew (100%): ```sh brew install socket_vmnet ``` Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata - MacPorts (94%): ```sh sudo port install socket_vmnet ``` Evidence: MacPorts ports tree: net/socket_vmnet/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ## Package facts - **Package key:** brew:socket_vmnet - **Package manager:** Homebrew - **Package manager page:** - **Version:** 1.2.2 - **Source summary:** Daemon to provide vmnet.framework support for rootless QEMU - **Homepage:** - **Repository:** - **Upstream docs:** - **License:** Apache-2.0 - **Source archive:** - **Last updated:** 2026-06-06T11:29:14Z - **Generated:** 2026-07-08T18:08:21+00:00 ## Executables - socket_vmnet (cli) - socket_vmnet_client (cli) - socket_vmnet (alias) - socket_vmnet_client (alias) ## Install behavior - Post-install hook: not defined - Service: declared - Caveats: socket_vmnet requires root privileges so you will need to run `sudo $HOMEBREW_PREFIX/opt/socket_vmnet/socket_vmnet` or `sudo brew services start socket_vmnet`. You should be certain that you trust any software you grant root privileges. - Bottle: available on arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, sonoma ## Freshness - Page generated: 2026-07-08 - Package-manager version: 1.2.2 - Package-manager updated: 2026-06-06 - Local data: ok - Upstream repository: https://github.com/lima-vm/socket_vmnet - Upstream latest detected: v1.2.2 (current) ## Project history and usage socket_vmnet is a macOS networking daemon and client for giving unmodified, rootless QEMU access to Apple's vmnet.framework. It is closely associated with Lima and the Mac virtualization tooling ecosystem. ### Project history The official README says socket_vmnet was forked from vde_vmnet v0.6.0 and removes the dependency on VDE. The git history begins in July 2021, and the first tagged alpha release appeared in May 2022 before the 1.0.0 tag in November 2022. The README positions the project around a precise operational tradeoff: socket_vmnet itself usually runs as root, but QEMU does not need to. This kept vmnet.framework networking usable for rootless QEMU workflows before and after QEMU added its own vmnet support. ### Adoption history Official installation docs cover binary tarballs, source installs under /opt/socket_vmnet, Homebrew, and MacPorts. The supplied package-manager facts list Homebrew and MacPorts, reflecting a macOS-only tool aimed at virtualization users rather than a cross-platform daemon. ### How it is used The documented workflow starts the socket_vmnet daemon with a gateway and socket path, then runs QEMU through socket_vmnet_client. The README also documents Lima integration, noting that Lima has built-in support for socket_vmnet since v0.12.0. ### Why package nerds care Package nerds care about socket_vmnet because it is a small package with unusually sharp install semantics: root-owned prefixes, launchd service files, Homebrew service behavior, MacPorts service behavior, QEMU integration, and Lima integration all affect whether rootless virtual machines get usable bridged or shared networking. ### Timeline - 2021: Initial git commit. - 2022: v1.0.0-alpha.0 first tagged alpha release. - 2022: v1.0.0 tagged. - 2022: Lima v0.12.0 and later documented built-in support for socket_vmnet. - 2024: v1.2.0 tagged after the 1.1 series. - 2025: v1.2.2 tagged. ### Related projects - socket_vmnet is forked from vde_vmnet, is designed for QEMU, and is documented as integrated with Lima. The README also contrasts it with QEMU's built-in vmnet support, which requires running the whole QEMU process as root. ### Sources - Official git metadata from https://github.com/lima-vm/socket_vmnet.git - - - source_facts.package-manager ## Security Notes broad file, network, media, or database tool signal. formula declares a Homebrew service. - **Geiger risk:** orange / medium - broad file, network, media, or database tool signal - formula declares a Homebrew service ## Source Database Details - **Source Database:** Homebrew formula API - **Tap:** homebrew/core - **Full Name:** socket_vmnet - **Version Scheme:** 0 - **Revision:** 0 - **Head Version:** HEAD - **Requirements:** macos - **Bottle Stable Root URL:** - **Deprecated:** no - **Disabled:** no - **Keg Only:** yes - **URL Keys:** head, stable ## Other Package-Manager Records - MacPorts - socket_vmnet: normalized package name match | MacPorts ports tree: net/socket_vmnet/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ## Related links - [Source-control packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/source-control-tools/) - Belongs to a source-control command family. - [Secret-risk packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/secret-risk-packages/) - Has protected-tool coverage, approval-gate, or non-low Geiger security signals. - [Terminal utility packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/terminal-utilities/) - Matched terminal and command-line workflow metadata. - [Networking and protocol packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/networking-protocol-tools/) - Matched network, protocol, or remote-service metadata. - [passt](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/passt/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, networking, virtualization. - [iproute2mac](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/iproute2mac/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, macos, networking. - [macosvpn](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/macosvpn/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, macos, networking. - [vde](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/vde/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, networking, virtualization. - [aerleon](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/aerleon/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, networking. - [ahcpd](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/ahcpd/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, networking. - [airshare](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/airshare/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, networking. - [assh](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/assh/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, networking. - [q](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/q/) - Local metadata places this package in an adjacent workflow. Shared terms: cli, client, networking, support. - [connect](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/connect/) - Local package facts share a topical domain. Shared terms: cli, networking, support. ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/socket_vmnet.yml](https://github.com/automic-vault/db/blob/main/combined/socket_vmnet.yml) ## Sources - Nucleus package database - Geiger risk classifier - package-page enrichment - curated package history - package version freshness - av.db category and tag curation - package relationship graph - external package-manager database matches - cross-ecosystem install command graph