# Install vde with Homebrew, apt Ethernet compliant virtual network. Version 2.3.3 via Homebrew; verified from local package data. ## Install ```sh sudo av install brew:vde ``` Additional install commands: ### macOS - Homebrew (100%): ```sh brew install vde ``` Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata ### Linux - Debian apt (92%): ```sh sudo apt install vde-switch ``` Evidence: Debian stable package indexes: vde-switch from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz ## Package facts - **Package key:** brew:vde - **Package manager:** Homebrew - **Package manager page:** - **Version:** 2.3.3 - **Source summary:** Ethernet compliant virtual network - **Homepage:** - **Repository:** - **Upstream docs:** - **License:** GPL-2.0-or-later AND LGPL-2.1-or-later - **Source archive:** - **Generated:** 2026-07-08T18:08:21+00:00 ## Executables - dpipe (cli) - unixcmd (cli) - vde_autolink (cli) - vde_over_ns (cli) - vde_pcapplug (cli) - vde_plug (cli) - vde_plug2tap (cli) - vde_router (cli) - vde_switch (cli) - vdecmd (cli) - vdeterm (cli) - wirefilter (cli) - dpipe (alias) - unixcmd (alias) - vde_autolink (alias) - vde_over_ns (alias) - vde_pcapplug (alias) - vde_plug (alias) - vde_plug2tap (alias) - vde_router (alias) - vde_switch (alias) - vdecmd (alias) - vdeterm (alias) - wirefilter (alias) ## Build dependencies - autoconf - automake - libtool ## Install behavior - Post-install hook: not defined - Bottle: available on arm64_big_sur, arm64_linux, arm64_monterey, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, arm64_ventura, big_sur, catalina, monterey, sonoma, ventura ## Freshness - Page generated: 2026-07-08 - Package-manager version: 2.3.3 - Local data: ok - Upstream repository: https://github.com/virtualsquare/vde-2 - Upstream latest detected: v2.3.3 (current) - info: No package-manager update timestamp was available. ## Project history and usage VDE, Virtual Distributed Ethernet, is a suite for building Ethernet-like virtual networks out of software switches, plugs, cables, tunnels, and TAP connections. It belongs to the VirtualSquare research-and-tooling tradition around virtual machines, emulators, and distributed network labs. The package is old-school virtualization infrastructure: it predates today's container-networking defaults and gives users explicit virtual switches and virtual cables that can connect QEMU, User Mode Linux, Bochs, MPS machines, real Linux hosts, and remote switches. ### Project history The vde-2 README credits Renzo Davoli for VDEv2 work from 2003 through 2006 and notes that it was based long ago on uml-router work by Yon Uriarte and Jeff Dike from 2002. A 2005 TridentCom paper by Davoli describes VDE as an Ethernet-compliant, distributed, software virtual network intended to connect emulators, virtual machines, real operating systems, and other tools. The historical hosting path also shows its age. SourceForge records VDE as a Virtual Distributed Ethernet project and states that the project moved to GitHub at virtualsquare/vde-2, with new issues and patches directed there. The current GitHub repository was created on 2016-02-22, preserving the vde-2 codebase under the VirtualSquare organization. ### Adoption history VDE's adoption was strongest in virtualization and network-emulation niches. The manpage documents end nodes including real Linux boxes through TUN/TAP, Bochs, QEMU, and MPS virtual machines; Oracle's VirtualBox manual describes VDE networking as an optional source-code feature and credits Renzo Davoli at the University of Bologna. The 2005 paper framed VDE as a general virtual networking layer rather than a single-emulator feature. That distinction is the adoption hook: users could build virtual Ethernet topologies across different hosts and virtualization systems instead of accepting the networking model bundled with one emulator. ### How it is used A typical VDE setup runs vde_switch, connects local or remote endpoints with vde_plug/vde cables, and optionally attaches a host TAP interface. The vde_switch manpage describes management through console or a Unix-socket terminal, support for VLAN-like behavior, Fast Spanning Tree work, and daemon mode. VDE is used for heterogeneous VM labs, tunnels, mobility experiments, and overlay networks where Ethernet frames should move through a user-controlled virtual topology. The README emphasizes that units connected to VDE see each other as if they were on a real Ethernet. ### Why package nerds care VDE is significant because it exposes virtual networking as composable Unix tools rather than a hidden hypervisor setting. For package users building labs, that means repeatable topologies made of processes and sockets: switches, plugs, TAPs, packet captures, and filters. It is also a good example of research software that became distribution software. The same package can be read as a 2000s virtualization artifact, a QEMU-era networking tool, and a still-useful way to build small Layer 2 experiments without deploying a larger SDN stack. ### Timeline - 2002: The vde-2 README credits earlier uml-router work by Yon Uriarte and Jeff Dike. - 2003-2006: The vde-2 README credits Renzo Davoli's VDEv2 work across these years. - 2005: Davoli's Virtual Distributed Ethernet paper described VDE as Ethernet-compliant, distributed, and useful for virtual machines and real systems. - 2016-02-22: The virtualsquare/vde-2 GitHub repository was created. - 2022-05-02: GitHub release v2.3.3 was published. ### Related projects - VDE is related to QEMU, User Mode Linux, Bochs, MPS, VirtualBox VDE networking, TUN/TAP tooling, and later virtual-switch systems such as Open vSwitch. In the VirtualSquare family, vdeplug4 is a later related project that rethinks VDE plug connections. ### Sources - - - - - - - - - ## Security Notes broad file, network, media, or database tool signal. - **Geiger risk:** blue / medium - broad file, network, media, or database tool signal ## Source Database Details - **Source Database:** Homebrew formula API - **Tap:** homebrew/core - **Full Name:** vde - **Version Scheme:** 0 - **Revision:** 0 - **Head Version:** HEAD - **Bottle Stable Root URL:** - **Deprecated:** no - **Disabled:** no - **Keg Only:** no - **URL Keys:** head, stable ## Other Package-Manager Records - Debian apt - vde-switch - 2.3.2+r586-11: installed executable or alias match | Debian stable package indexes: vde-switch from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | Virtual Distributed Ethernet. | http://vde.sourceforge.net - Ubuntu apt - vde-switch - 2.3.2+r586-10: installed executable or alias match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: vde-switch from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | Virtual Distributed Ethernet. | http://vde.sourceforge.net ## 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. - [autoconf](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/autoconf/) - Build dependency declared by Homebrew. - [automake](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/automake/) - Build dependency declared by Homebrew. - [libtool](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/libtool/) - Build dependency declared by Homebrew. - [open-simh](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/open-simh/) - Popular package that depends on this formula. - [qemu](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/qemu/) - Popular package that depends on this formula. - [passt](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/passt/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, networking, virtualization. - [socket_vmnet](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/socket-vmnet/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, networking, virtualization. - [bittwist](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/bittwist/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, ethernet, networking. - [activemq](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/activemq/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, networking. - [adns](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/adns/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, networking. - [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. - [dynamips](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/dynamips/) - Local package facts share a topical domain. Shared terms: cli, emulation, networking, router. - [piknik](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/piknik/) - Local metadata places this package in an adjacent workflow. Shared terms: cli, network, networking, over. ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/vde.yml](https://github.com/automic-vault/db/blob/main/combined/vde.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