# Install hostdb with Homebrew

Generate DNS zones and DHCP configuration from hostlist.txt. Version 1.004 via Homebrew; verified from local package data.

## Install

```sh
sudo av install brew:hostdb
```

Additional install commands:

### macOS

- Homebrew (100%):

```sh
brew install hostdb
```

  Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata

## Package facts

- **Package key:** brew:hostdb
- **Package manager:** Homebrew
- **Version:** 1.004
- **Source summary:** Generate DNS zones and DHCP configuration from hostlist.txt
- **Homepage:** <https://code.google.com/archive/p/hostdb/>
- **Generated:** 2026-08-03T19:37:03+00:00

## Executables

- Example_comparezones (alias)
- NIdhcpupdate (alias)
- canonzone (alias)
- catif (alias)
- checkrootcache (alias)
- copy-if-change (alias)
- genrange (alias)
- mergeiplists (alias)
- mkdestinations (alias)
- mknamedconf (alias)
- mkzones (alias)
- sortbyip (alias)
- zone2hostdb (alias)
- zone2hostdbhelper (alias)

## Install behavior

- Bottle: not available

## Freshness

- Page generated: 2026-08-03
- Package-manager version: 1.004
## Project history and usage

HostDB is a DNS and DHCP generation system built around a plain-text host database. The project predates modern infrastructure-as-code branding but follows the same practical idea: keep host data in a readable source file, generate BIND zone files and ISC DHCP configuration, and deploy generated artifacts repeatably.

### Project history

The archived project and bundled documentation identify HostDB as a complete system rather than a single script. The source archive includes generators such as `mkzones`, `mknamedconf`, `zone2hostdb`, `genrange`, comparison helpers, example configurations, and a `hostdb.txt` data model.

The LISA 2005 paper by Thomas Limoncelli describes HostDB as a system for generating DNS zone files, BIND configurations, and ISC DHCP server configurations. It emphasizes simplicity: no SQL database or web server, just text input, generation scripts, and deployable output.

### Adoption history

HostDB's adoption appears to be mostly historical and system-administrator oriented. Its Google Code archive and Homebrew formula preserve it for users who want the original toolchain or need to inspect an older text-driven network-configuration workflow.

### How it is used

A HostDB workflow starts from a host database text file and supporting zone/destination configuration. The packaged executables generate zones, named configuration, DHCP output, root-cache checks, and conversion helpers, with examples included in the source archive.

The package is most relevant in environments where DNS/DHCP data should be generated from source-controlled text, but where running a database-backed IPAM system would be excessive.

### Why package nerds care

HostDB is a preserved sysadmin artifact: small scripts, text files, and generated network configuration. For package nerds, it marks an older branch of infrastructure automation that sits between hand-edited zone files and heavyweight IPAM/configuration-management systems.

### Timeline

- 2005: HostDB is presented in a LISA paper focused on host-to-DNS/DHCP generation.
- 2016: Google Code archive source snapshot preserves README, docs, scripts, examples, and the LISA paper.
- Homebrew era: A formula packages HostDB as a command-line DNS/DHCP generation tool.

### Related projects

- BIND/named and ISC DHCP are the generated configuration targets.
- IPAM and configuration-management tools are related by problem domain, although HostDB deliberately uses a simpler text-file model.
- Google Code Archive is related as the preservation surface for the project.

### Sources

- Google Code Archive and source archive: project files, README, docs, examples, and executables.
- Homebrew input metadata: package description and executable list.
- USENIX LISA 2005 paper: original system description and design rationale.


## Security Notes

narrow executable package without higher-risk signals.

- **Geiger risk:** green / low
- narrow executable package without higher-risk signals


## 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

- Unix: hostlist.txt

## Combined YAML source

View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/hostdb.yml](https://github.com/mxcl/pkgdb/blob/main/combined/hostdb.yml)


## Sources

- pkg.so package database
- Geiger risk classifier
- curated configuration and credential file locations
- curated package history
- pkgdb category and tag curation
- cross-ecosystem install command graph