macOS
Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install vnstatlocal Homebrew formula metadata
MacPortsverified · 94%
sudo port install vnstatMacPorts ports tree · net/vnstat/Portfile · source: api.github.com
brew
Install vnstat with Homebrew, apk, apt, dnf, MacPorts, Nix, pacman, zypper
Console-based network traffic monitor. Version 2.13 via Homebrew; verified from local package data.
install
Additional install commands
Linux
Alpine Linux apkverified · 92%
sudo apk add vnstatAlpine Linux edge package indexes · vnstat · source: dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org
Debian aptverified · 92%
sudo apt install vnstatDebian stable package indexes · vnstat · source: deb.debian.org
Fedora dnfverified · 92%
sudo dnf install vnstatFedora Rawhide package metadata · vnstat · source: dl.fedoraproject.org
Nixverified · 92%
nix profile install nixpkgs#vnstatnixpkgs package indexes · pkgs/by-name/vn/vnstat/package.nix · source: api.github.com
Arch Linux pacmanverified · 92%
sudo pacman -S vnstatArch Linux sync databases · vnstat · source: geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com
openSUSE zypperverified · 92%
sudo zypper install vnstatopenSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · vnstat · source: download.opensuse.org
overview
Package summary
Console-based network traffic monitor
Project links
Commands and aliases
- vnstat
- vnstatd
- vnstati
history
Project history and usage
vnStat is a console-based network traffic monitor for Linux and BSD systems. Its central design choice is to read network-interface statistics from the kernel instead of sniffing packets, which keeps resource use low regardless of traffic volume.
Project history
Teemu Toivola's changelog records vnStat 1.0 as the initial public release on 23 September 2002. Early releases added multiple-interface support, a new database structure, parseable output, daily and monthly estimates, FHS-compliant paths, 64-bit counter handling, an FAQ, and sample PPP scripts.
The project settled into its long-running home in March 2004, when version 1.3 moved the webpage to humdi.net and added a man page. Later releases broadened it from a cron-updated text tool into a service-oriented monitor: version 1.7 in April 2009 added daemon support, PNG image output, XML output, and BSD support; version 1.12 in August 2014 added example systemd, launchd, and upstart integration while deprecating cron update examples.
Version 2.0, released in October 2018, was a major internal transition: the old C-struct dump database was replaced with SQLite, with import support for legacy databases from versions 1.3 through 1.18. The 2.x series continued to add modern outputs and retention controls, including JSON/XML improvements, five-minute resolution data, query ranges, alerts, merge support, and image-output enhancements.
Adoption history
vnStat's adoption comes from its fit with always-on servers, routers, VPS hosts, and BSD/Linux machines where long-term interface totals matter more than packet-level inspection. The upstream README also documents an official container workflow and signed source-release verification, signs of a mature utility maintained for both traditional installations and containerized environments.
How it is used
Operators use `vnstat` for text queries, `vnstatd` as the background collector, and `vnstati` for image output. The README describes configurable retention at five-minute, hourly, daily, and yearly levels, plus total traffic and top-days listings; the changelog shows that JSON, XML, one-line, alert, and CGI-oriented outputs were added for scripts and dashboards.
Why package nerds care
vnStat is package-nerd significant because it is boring in the best way: it gives reproducible traffic accounting without packet capture privileges or heavy monitoring infrastructure. It is a common answer when someone wants long-term bandwidth totals that survive reboots and can be queried from shell scripts.
Timeline
- 2002-09-23: vnStat 1.0 initial public release.
- 2003-07-13: Version 1.1 adds multiple-interface support and a new database structure.
- 2004-03-08: Version 1.3 moves the webpage to humdi.net and includes a man page.
- 2009-04-12: Version 1.7 adds daemon support, PNG image output, XML output, and BSD support.
- 2014-08-30: Version 1.12 adds service-manager examples and deprecates cron update examples.
- 2018-10-21: Version 2.0 replaces the legacy database format with SQLite.
- 2025-02-08: Version 2.13 adds database merge support and more query/image-output improvements.
Related projects
- vnStat sits near tools such as `ifconfig`, `/proc/net/dev`, BSD interface counters, and graphing/reporting front ends. Its own suite includes `vnstatd` for collection and `vnstati` for image rendering.
Sources
- vnStat CHANGES: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/vergoh/vnstat/master/CHANGES
- vnStat README: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/vergoh/vnstat/master/README.md
- vnStat homepage: https://humdi.net/vnstat/
security posture
Risk level: orange
broad file, network, media, or database tool signal. formula declares a Homebrew service.
Risk classifier
orange risk · medium confidence · infrastructure
Why
- broad file, network, media, or database tool signal
- formula declares a Homebrew service
Signals
- metadata:service
- text:network
Install behavior
- No Homebrew post-install hook is recorded in formula metadata.
- Formula metadata declares a service or daemon block.
- Homebrew bottle metadata is available for 6 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.
local files
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
Config paths the tool may read or write during local use.
- Unix
/etc/vnstat.conf~/.vnstatrc
executables
Installed executables
| Command | Kind | Exposure | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
vnstat | cli | global executable | |
vnstatd | cli | global executable | |
vnstati | 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 version2.13
manager updated
local dataok
upstreamnot checked
latest detectednot detected
- infoNo package-manager update timestamp was available.low confidence
- infoRelease/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories.https://humdi.net/vnstat/none confidence
install metadata
Package metadata
| Package key | brew:vnstat |
|---|---|
| Version | 2.13 |
| Package manager | Homebrew |
| Package manager page | https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/vnstat |
| Homepage | https://humdi.net/vnstat/ |
| Repository | https://github.com/vergoh/vnstat |
| Upstream docs | https://humdi.net/vnstat/man/vnstat.html |
| License | GPL-2.0-only |
| Source archive | https://humdi.net/vnstat/vnstat-2.13.tar.gz |
| Dependencies | gd |
| Uses from macOS | sqlite |
| Bottle | available (on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, sonoma, x86_64_linux) |
| Homebrew post-install | not defined |
| Service | declared |
| Caveats | To monitor interfaces other than "en0" edit $HOMEBREW_PREFIX/etc/vnstat.conf |
registry facts
Source database details
| Source Database | Homebrew formula API |
|---|---|
| Tap | homebrew/core |
| Full Name | vnstat |
| Version Scheme | 0 |
| Revision | 0 |
| Head Version | HEAD |
| 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%
vnstat 2.13-1
console-based network traffic monitor
sudo apt install vnstat- Section: net
- Architecture: amd64
- 3 dependencies
- 1 optional deps
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Vnstat
Debian apt95%
vnstati 2.13-1
image output support for vnStat
sudo apt install vnstati- Section: net
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: vnstat
- 4 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Vnstat
Nix95%
vnstat
nix profile install nixpkgs#vnstat- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Vnstat
Ubuntu apt95%
vnstat 2.12-1
console-based network traffic monitor
sudo apt install vnstat- Section: universe/net
- Architecture: amd64
- 3 dependencies
- 1 optional deps
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Vnstat
Ubuntu apt95%
vnstati 2.12-1
image output support for vnStat
sudo apt install vnstati- Section: universe/net
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: vnstat
- 4 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Vnstat
apk95%
vnstat 2.13-r1
Console-based network traffic monitor
sudo apk add vnstat- License: GPL-2.0-or-later
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: vnstat
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Vnstat
apk95%
vnstat-doc 2.13-r1
Console-based network traffic monitor (documentation)
sudo apk add vnstat-doc- License: GPL-2.0-or-later
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: vnstat
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Vnstat
apk95%
vnstat-openrc 2.13-r1
Console-based network traffic monitor (OpenRC init scripts)
sudo apk add vnstat-openrc- License: GPL-2.0-or-later
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: vnstat
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Vnstat
apk95%
vnstat-systemd 2.13-r1
Console-based network traffic monitor (systemd files)
sudo apk add vnstat-systemd- License: GPL-2.0-or-later
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: vnstat
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Vnstat
dnf95%
vnstat 2.13-2.fc44
Console-based network traffic monitor
sudo dnf install vnstat- License: GPL-2.0-only
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: vnstat
- 8 dependencies
- 4 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Vnstat
dnf95%
vnstat-vnstati 2.13-2.fc44
Image output support for vnstat
sudo dnf install vnstat-vnstati- License: GPL-2.0-only
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: vnstat
- 5 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Vnstat
pacman95%
vnstat 2.13-2
A console-based network traffic monitor
sudo pacman -S vnstat- License: GPL
- Architecture: x86_64
- 2 dependencies
- 1 optional deps
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Vnstat
zypper95%
vnstat 2.13-1.4
Network Traffic Monitor
sudo zypper install vnstat- License: GPL-2.0-only
- Category: Productivity/Networking/Diagnostic
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: vnstat
- 8 dependencies
- 4 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Vnstat
zypper95%
vnstat-cgi 2.13-1.4
Graph Visualization CGI Script for vnstat
sudo zypper install vnstat-cgi- License: GPL-2.0-only
- Category: Productivity/Networking/Diagnostic
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: vnstat
- 6 dependencies
- 2 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Vnstat
MacPorts95%
vnstat
sudo port install vnstat- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Vnstat
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 configuration and credential file locations
- curated package history
- external package-manager database matches
- package relationship graph
- package version freshness
- package-page enrichment