install

Additional install commands

macOS

Homebrewverified · 100%

brew install vpcs

local Homebrew formula metadata

MacPortsverified · 94%

sudo port install vpcs

MacPorts ports tree · emulators/vpcs/Portfile · source: api.github.com

Linux

Alpine Linux apkverified · 92%

sudo apk add vpcs

Alpine Linux edge package indexes · vpcs · source: dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org

Debian aptverified · 92%

sudo apt install vpcs

Debian stable package indexes · vpcs · source: deb.debian.org

Nixverified · 92%

nix profile install nixpkgs#vpcs

nixpkgs package indexes · pkgs/by-name/vp/vpcs/package.nix · source: api.github.com

openSUSE zypperverified · 92%

sudo zypper install vpcs

openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · vpcs · source: download.opensuse.org

overview

Package summary

Virtual PC simulator for testing IP routing

Project links

Commands and aliases

vpcs

history

Project history and usage

VPCS is the Virtual PC Simulator, a small command-line network host simulator used mainly with Dynamips and GNS3 labs. It provides lightweight virtual end hosts that can send and receive basic traffic such as ping and traceroute without running full virtual machines.

Project history

The original VPCS project was hosted on SourceForge and described itself as a tool that can simulate up to nine PCs for studying Cisco routers in Dynamips. It was intentionally not a complete PC emulator; it was a compact program with only a small set of network commands.

The current GNS3 repository is a continuation of that original VPCS code. The GNS3 README says it is based on the last development version and improved with community patches after the original SourceForge-hosted code stopped being maintained.

Adoption history

VPCS became useful because GNS3 and Dynamips network labs often need simple endpoints for connectivity tests. Replacing router instances or full VMware/VirtualBox guests with VPCS reduced CPU and memory load while still allowing lab users to verify addressing and routing behavior.

Documentation and manpages for Linux distributions describe VPCS as an ideal study tool for simulated Cisco or Juniper router environments, reflecting its adoption as a practical companion utility rather than a standalone networking platform.

How it is used

A typical VPCS session creates up to nine numbered virtual PCs, assigns IP configuration and gateways, and runs ping or traceroute across a simulated topology. In UDP mode, each virtual PC corresponds to paired local and remote UDP ports used to exchange packets with Dynamips or GNS3 nodes.

The tool is deliberately limited: it is best for endpoint reachability tests, small TCP/UDP/ICMP exercises, and lab scripts, not for running services or emulating full operating-system behavior.

Why package nerds care

VPCS is package-nerd useful because it is tiny infrastructure glue for network labs. A single small binary can replace heavyweight guest machines when all the user needs is an IP endpoint that responds predictably inside a simulated topology.

Timeline

2008-2011: VPCS releases appear in GNS3 SourceForge file areas alongside early GNS3/Dynamips workflows.
2015: VPCS 0.8 readme documents IPv6 support and Linux, Windows, and OS X testing notes.
2016: SourceForge project activity shows the original project becoming effectively dormant.
2020s: GNS3 maintains a continuation repository with community patches.

Related projects

VPCS is closely related to GNS3, Dynamips, and network-certification lab workflows where simple end hosts are needed to test router configuration.
It is an alternative to using full virtual machines or router images merely as traffic endpoints in a network simulation.

Sources

security posture

Risk level: green

narrow executable package without higher-risk signals.

Risk classifier

green risk · low confidence · appliance

Why

narrow executable package without higher-risk signals

Signals

metadata:no-higher-risk-signals

Install behavior

No Homebrew post-install hook is recorded in formula metadata.
Homebrew bottle metadata is available for 6 platform targets.

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
`vpcs`	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 generated2026-07-25

manager version0.8.3

manager updated

local dataok

upstreamcurrent

latest detectedv0.8.3

https://github.com/GNS3/vpcs

infoNo package-manager update timestamp was available.low confidence

install metadata

Package metadata

Package key	brew:vpcs
Version	0.8.3
Package manager	Homebrew
Package manager page	https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/vpcs
Homepage	https://vpcs.sourceforge.net/
Repository	https://github.com/GNS3/vpcs
Upstream docs	https://github.com/GNS3/vpcs#readme
License	BSD-2-Clause
Source archive	https://github.com/GNS3/vpcs/archive/refs/tags/v0.8.3.tar.gz
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	vpcs
Version Scheme	0
Revision	0
Bottle Stable Root URL	https://ghcr.io/v2/homebrew/core
Deprecated	no
Disabled	no
Keg Only	no
URL Keys	stable

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%

vpcs 0.5b2-2.2

virtual PC simulator for Dynamips

http://sourceforge.net/projects/vpcs/

sudo apt install vpcs

Section: net
Architecture: amd64
1 dependencies
normalized package name match
Matched by: Vpcs

Debian stable package indexes · deb.debian.org · Debian stable package indexes: vpcs from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz

Nix95%

vpcs

nix profile install nixpkgs#vpcs

normalized package name match
Matched by: Vpcs

nixpkgs package indexes · api.github.com · nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/vp/vpcs/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1

Ubuntu apt95%

vpcs 0.5b2-2.2

virtual PC simulator for Dynamips

http://sourceforge.net/projects/vpcs/

sudo apt install vpcs

Section: universe/net
Architecture: amd64
1 dependencies
normalized package name match
Matched by: Vpcs

Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes · archive.ubuntu.com · Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: vpcs from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz

apk95%

vpcs 0.8.3-r0

Simple virtual PC simulator

https://sourceforge.net/projects/vpcs/

sudo apk add vpcs

License: BSD-2-Clause
Architecture: x86_64
Source Package: vpcs
1 dependencies
1 provides
normalized package name match
Matched by: Vpcs

Alpine Linux edge package indexes · dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org · Alpine Linux edge package indexes: vpcs from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz

zypper95%

vpcs 0.8.2-1.14

Virtual PC Simulator

https://github.com/GNS3/vpcs

sudo zypper install vpcs

License: BSD-2-Clause
Category: System/Emulators/Other
Architecture: x86_64
Source Package: vpcs
1 dependencies
1 provides
normalized package name match
Matched by: Vpcs

openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · download.opensuse.org · openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: vpcs from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst

MacPorts95%

vpcs

sudo port install vpcs

normalized package name match
Matched by: Vpcs

MacPorts ports tree · api.github.com · MacPorts ports tree: emulators/vpcs/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1

package graph

Links come from deterministic package relationships, av.db category and tag curation, ecosystem matches, and package hub membership.

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.

combined/vpcs.yml

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

Install vpcs with Homebrew, apk, apt, MacPorts, Nix, zypper