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brew / rank 10269

Install remctl with Homebrew, MacPorts, Nix, apt

Client/server application for remote execution of tasks. Version 3.18 via Homebrew; verified 2026-09-13. Also installable with debian: sudo apt install libnet-remctl-perl.

Install commandSecurity notes

install

Additional install commands

macOS

Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install remctl

local Homebrew formula metadata

MacPortsverified · 94%
sudo port install remctl

MacPorts ports tree · net/remctl/Portfile · source: api.github.com

Linux

Nixverified · 92%
nix profile install nixpkgs#remctl

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

Debian aptverified · 92%
sudo apt install libnet-remctl-perl

Debian stable package indexes · libnet-remctl-perl · source: deb.debian.org

overview

Package summary

Client/server application for remote execution of tasks

Commands and aliases

  • remctl
  • remctl-shell
  • remctld

history

Project history and usage

remctl is a client/server remote-command system that authenticates with Kerberos GSS-API, encrypts network traffic, and restricts callers to explicitly configured commands and ACLs.

Project history

Anton Ushakov originally wrote remctl as a Kerberos v5 replacement for IBM's Kerberos v4 sysctl service used at Stanford. It retained the external-command use case Stanford needed while omitting sysctl's ability to execute arbitrary Tcl code. Russ Allbery subsequently maintained and expanded it.

Adoption history

Debian has shipped remctl since Debian 3.1, initially as one package and later as separate client and server packages. Language bindings subsequently entered Debian for Perl and, later, PHP, Python, and Ruby.

How it is used

Administrators map command and subcommand names to server-side executables in `remctl.conf` and attach ACLs. Clients request only those named operations; `remctld` authenticates and authorizes the caller before executing the configured backend.

Why package nerds care

remctl occupies a narrow but useful space between rsh, SSH command restrictions, sudo, and RPC frameworks. It offers a deliberately small protocol, Kerberos authentication, encrypted transport, and per-command ACLs without requiring services to share an implementation language.

Timeline

  • 2002: remctl 1.0 released
  • 2005: Configuration-file inclusion and sysconfdir-relative defaults added
  • 2006: Protocol version 2 added streaming output and persistent connections
  • 2007: Rewritten Java client and Java server added
  • 2018: Security advisory issued for versions 3.12 and 3.13
  • 2022: remctl 3.18 released

Related projects

  • IBM sysctl, Kerberos, GSS-API, SSH, sudo, rsh, MIT Moira

security posture

Risk level: yellow

broad file, network, media, or database tool signal. generalized runtime or code generation signal.

Risk classifier

yellow risk · medium confidence · runtime

Why

  • broad file, network, media, or database tool signal
  • generalized runtime or code generation signal

Signals

  • text:client,server
  • text:shell

Install behavior

  • No Homebrew post-install hook is recorded in formula metadata.
  • Homebrew bottle metadata is available for 12 platform targets.
  • Installs with 2 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
@sysconfdir@/remctl.conf

executables

Installed executables

CommandKindExposureNote
remctlcliglobal executable
remctl-shellcliglobal executable
remctldcliglobal 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 generated2026-09-19
manager version3.18
manager updated2026-09-13
local dataok
upstreamnot checked
latest detectednot detected

https://www.eyrie.org/~eagle/software/remctl/

install metadata

Package metadata

Package keybrew:remctl
Version3.18
Package managerHomebrew
Package manager pagehttps://formulae.brew.sh/formula/remctl
Homepagehttps://www.eyrie.org/~eagle/software/remctl/
Upstream docshttps://www.eyrie.org/~eagle/software/remctl/
LicenseMIT
Source archivehttps://archives.eyrie.org/software/kerberos/remctl-3.18.tar.xz
Last updated2026-09-13T07:26:55Z
Pulseupdated
Dependencieslibevent, pcre2
Uses from macOSkrb5
Bottleavailable (on arm64_big_sur, arm64_linux, arm64_monterey, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, arm64_ventura, big_sur, monterey, sonoma, ventura, x86_64_linux)
Homebrew post-installnot defined
Servicenone declared

registry facts

Source database details

Source DatabaseHomebrew formula API
Taphomebrew/core
Full Nameremctl
Version Scheme0
Revision0
Bottle Stable Root URLhttps://ghcr.io/v2/homebrew/core
Deprecatedno
Disabledno
Keg Onlyno
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%

libnet-remctl-perl 3.18-3

Perl client for Kerberos-authenticated command execution

https://www.eyrie.org/~eagle/software/remctl/

sudo apt install libnet-remctl-perl
  • Section: perl
  • Architecture: amd64
  • Source Package: remctl
  • 4 dependencies
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Remctl
Debian stable package indexes · deb.debian.org · Debian stable package indexes: libnet-remctl-perl from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz
Debian apt95%

libremctl-dev 3.18-3

Development files for Kerberos-authenticated command execution

https://www.eyrie.org/~eagle/software/remctl/

sudo apt install libremctl-dev
  • Section: libdevel
  • Architecture: amd64
  • Source Package: remctl
  • 1 dependencies
  • 1 optional deps
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Remctl
Debian stable package indexes · deb.debian.org · Debian stable package indexes: libremctl-dev from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz
Debian apt95%

libremctl1t64 3.18-3

Library for Kerberos-authenticated command execution

https://www.eyrie.org/~eagle/software/remctl/

sudo apt install libremctl1t64
  • Section: libs
  • Architecture: amd64
  • Source Package: remctl
  • 3 dependencies
  • 1 provides
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Remctl
Debian stable package indexes · deb.debian.org · Debian stable package indexes: libremctl1t64 from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz
Debian apt95%

php-remctl 3.18-3

PECL module for Kerberos-authenticated command execution

https://www.eyrie.org/~eagle/software/remctl/

sudo apt install php-remctl
  • Section: php
  • Architecture: amd64
  • Source Package: remctl
  • 4 dependencies
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Remctl
Debian stable package indexes · deb.debian.org · Debian stable package indexes: php-remctl from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz
Debian apt95%

python3-pyremctl 3.18-3

Python 3 extension for Kerberos-authenticated command execution

https://www.eyrie.org/~eagle/software/remctl/

sudo apt install python3-pyremctl
  • Section: python
  • Architecture: amd64
  • Source Package: remctl
  • 3 dependencies
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Remctl
Debian stable package indexes · deb.debian.org · Debian stable package indexes: python3-pyremctl from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz
Debian apt95%

remctl-client 3.18-3

Client for Kerberos-authenticated command execution

https://www.eyrie.org/~eagle/software/remctl/

sudo apt install remctl-client
  • Section: net
  • Architecture: amd64
  • Source Package: remctl
  • 2 dependencies
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Remctl
Debian stable package indexes · deb.debian.org · Debian stable package indexes: remctl-client from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz
Debian apt95%

remctl-server 3.18-3

Server for Kerberos-authenticated command execution

https://www.eyrie.org/~eagle/software/remctl/

sudo apt install remctl-server
  • Section: net
  • Architecture: amd64
  • Source Package: remctl
  • 9 dependencies
  • 3 optional deps
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Remctl
Debian stable package indexes · deb.debian.org · Debian stable package indexes: remctl-server from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz
Debian apt95%

ruby-remctl 3.18-3

Ruby extension for Kerberos-authenticated command execution

https://www.eyrie.org/~eagle/software/remctl/

sudo apt install ruby-remctl
  • Section: ruby
  • Architecture: amd64
  • Source Package: remctl
  • 4 dependencies
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Remctl
Debian stable package indexes · deb.debian.org · Debian stable package indexes: ruby-remctl from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz
Nix95%

remctl

nix profile install nixpkgs#remctl
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Remctl
nixpkgs package indexes · api.github.com · nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/re/remctl/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1
Ubuntu apt95%

libnet-remctl-perl 3.18-1.1build2

Perl client for Kerberos-authenticated command execution

https://www.eyrie.org/~eagle/software/remctl/

sudo apt install libnet-remctl-perl
  • Section: universe/perl
  • Architecture: amd64
  • Source Package: remctl
  • 4 dependencies
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Remctl
Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes · archive.ubuntu.com · Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: libnet-remctl-perl from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz
Ubuntu apt95%

libremctl-dev 3.18-1.1build2

Development files for Kerberos-authenticated command execution

https://www.eyrie.org/~eagle/software/remctl/

sudo apt install libremctl-dev
  • Section: universe/libdevel
  • Architecture: amd64
  • Source Package: remctl
  • 1 dependencies
  • 1 optional deps
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Remctl
Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes · archive.ubuntu.com · Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: libremctl-dev from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz
Ubuntu apt95%

libremctl1t64 3.18-1.1build2

Library for Kerberos-authenticated command execution

https://www.eyrie.org/~eagle/software/remctl/

sudo apt install libremctl1t64
  • Section: universe/libs
  • Architecture: amd64
  • Source Package: remctl
  • 3 dependencies
  • 1 provides
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Remctl
Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes · archive.ubuntu.com · Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: libremctl1t64 from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz
Ubuntu apt95%

php-remctl 3.18-1.1build2

PECL module for Kerberos-authenticated command execution

https://www.eyrie.org/~eagle/software/remctl/

sudo apt install php-remctl
  • Section: universe/php
  • Architecture: amd64
  • Source Package: remctl
  • 4 dependencies
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Remctl
Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes · archive.ubuntu.com · Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: php-remctl from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz
Ubuntu apt95%

python3-pyremctl 3.18-1.1build2

Python 3 extension for Kerberos-authenticated command execution

https://www.eyrie.org/~eagle/software/remctl/

sudo apt install python3-pyremctl
  • Section: universe/python
  • Architecture: amd64
  • Source Package: remctl
  • 3 dependencies
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Remctl
Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes · archive.ubuntu.com · Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: python3-pyremctl from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz
Ubuntu apt95%

remctl-client 3.18-1.1build2

Client for Kerberos-authenticated command execution

https://www.eyrie.org/~eagle/software/remctl/

sudo apt install remctl-client
  • Section: universe/net
  • Architecture: amd64
  • Source Package: remctl
  • 2 dependencies
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Remctl
Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes · archive.ubuntu.com · Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: remctl-client from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz
Ubuntu apt95%

remctl-server 3.18-1.1build2

Server for Kerberos-authenticated command execution

https://www.eyrie.org/~eagle/software/remctl/

sudo apt install remctl-server
  • Section: universe/net
  • Architecture: amd64
  • Source Package: remctl
  • 9 dependencies
  • 3 optional deps
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Remctl
Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes · archive.ubuntu.com · Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: remctl-server from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz

package graph

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

Related tools

  • pcre2Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew.
  • libeventRuntime dependency declared by Homebrew.

Same workflow

  • shmuxShares pkgdb curated category or tags: cli, networking, remote-execution.
  • tiger-vncShares pkgdb curated category or tags: cli, client-server, networking.
  • psshShares pkgdb curated category or tags: cli, networking, remote-execution.
  • stuntmanShares pkgdb curated category or tags: cli, client-server, networking.
  • ucspi-tcpShares pkgdb curated category or tags: cli, client-server, networking.
  • musshShares pkgdb curated category or tags: cli, networking, remote-execution.

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.

Used sources

  • Geiger risk classifier
  • 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
  • pkg.so package database
  • pkgdb category and tag curation