macOS
Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install pdnslocal Homebrew formula metadata
brew / rank 4014
Install pdns with Homebrew, apk, dnf, Nix, zypper, apt, pacman
Authoritative nameserver. Version 5.1.5 via Homebrew; verified 2026-10-21. Also installable with debian: sudo apt install pdns-backend-bind.
install
Additional install commands
Linux
Alpine Linux apkverified · 92%
sudo apk add pdnsAlpine Linux edge package indexes · pdns · source: dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org
Fedora dnfverified · 92%
sudo dnf install pdnsFedora Rawhide package metadata · pdns · source: dl.fedoraproject.org
Nixverified · 92%
nix profile install nixpkgs#pdnsnixpkgs package indexes · pkgs/by-name/pd/pdns/package.nix · source: api.github.com
openSUSE zypperverified · 92%
sudo zypper install pdnsopenSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · pdns · source: download.opensuse.org
Debian aptverified · 92%
sudo apt install pdns-backend-bindDebian stable package indexes · pdns-backend-bind · source: deb.debian.org
Arch Linux pacmanverified · 92%
sudo pacman -S powerdnsArch Linux sync databases · powerdns · source: geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com
overview
Package summary
Authoritative nameserver
Project links
Commands and aliases
- pdns_control
- pdns_server
- pdnsutil
- zone2json
- zone2sql
history
Project history and usage
PowerDNS Authoritative Server is an open-source authoritative DNS server known for flexible storage backends, DNSSEC support, and tooling for operating hosted DNS zones.
Project history
PowerDNS development began in 1999 as an attempt to provide DNS-based geographic load balancing. The company’s official history says the initially closed-source software was released as open source in 2002.
The Authoritative Server became one part of a wider PowerDNS family that also includes the Recursor and dnsdist. Its distinguishing architecture places authoritative DNS logic in the server while interchangeable backends retrieve records from the selected datastore.
Adoption history
PowerDNS says the software became open source in 2002. The Authoritative Server subsequently found a durable role among hosting providers and other operators that benefit from database-backed DNS administration.
How it is used
Operators use pdns_server to answer authoritatively for managed zones, pdnsutil for zone and DNSSEC administration, and pdns_control for a running server.
Settings reside in pdns.conf or are supplied on the command line. The configuration directory is usually /etc/powerdns but is determined at build time; API keys and backend connection secrets may therefore reside in the same configuration file.
Why package nerds care
PowerDNS is a notable alternative to zone-file-centered authoritative servers: its backend interface lets packaged deployments connect DNS service to SQL databases, BIND-format zones, and other storage systems.
Its packaging is operationally interesting because backend modules, database schemas, DNSSEC support, service configuration, and the accompanying pdnsutil and pdns_control commands all affect what an installation can do.
Timeline
- 1999: PowerDNS development began around DNS-based geographic load balancing.
- 2002: PowerDNS was released as open-source software.
- Later development: The Authoritative Server became part of a suite with Recursor and dnsdist.
Related projects
- PowerDNS Recursor provides recursive resolution rather than authoritative hosting, while dnsdist distributes and filters DNS traffic in front of DNS servers.
Sources
security posture
Risk level: orange
formula declares a Homebrew service.
Risk classifier
orange risk · medium confidence · infrastructure
Why
- formula declares a Homebrew service
Signals
- metadata:service
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 5 platform targets.
- Installs with 4 runtime dependencies.
- Build metadata lists 1 build 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/powerdns/pdns.conf${config-dir}/pdns.conf
Credential files
Credential-bearing paths to review before unattended agent runs.
- Unix
/etc/powerdns/pdns.conf${config-dir}/pdns.conf
executables
Installed executables
| Command | Kind | Exposure | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
pdns_control | cli | global executable | |
pdns_server | cli | global executable | |
pdnsutil | cli | global executable | |
zone2json | cli | global executable | |
zone2sql | 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 generated2026-11-04
manager version5.1.5
manager updated2026-10-21
local dataok
upstreamnot checked
latest detectednot detected
- infoRelease/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories.https://www.powerdns.comnone confidence
install metadata
Package metadata
| Package key | brew:pdns |
|---|---|
| Version | 5.1.5 |
| Package manager | Homebrew |
| Package manager page | https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/pdns |
| Homepage | https://www.powerdns.com |
| Repository | https://github.com/powerdns/pdns |
| Upstream docs | https://www.powerdns.com |
| License | GPL-2.0-or-later |
| Source archive | https://downloads.powerdns.com/releases/pdns-5.1.5.tar.bz2 |
| Last updated | 2026-10-21T12:28:11Z |
| Pulse | updated |
| Dependencies | boost, lua, openssl@4, sqlite |
| Build dependencies | pkgconf |
| Uses from macOS | curl |
| Bottle | available (on arm64_golden_gate, arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_tahoe, x86_64_linux) |
| Homebrew post-install | not defined |
| Service | declared |
registry facts
Source database details
| Source Database | Homebrew formula API |
|---|---|
| Tap | homebrew/core |
| Full Name | pdns |
| 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%
pdns-backend-bind 4.9.16-0+deb13u1
BIND backend for PowerDNS
sudo apt install pdns-backend-bind- Section: net
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: pdns
- 4 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Pdns
Debian apt95%
pdns-backend-geoip 4.9.16-0+deb13u1
GeoIP backend for PowerDNS
sudo apt install pdns-backend-geoip- Section: net
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: pdns
- 7 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Pdns
Debian apt95%
pdns-backend-ldap 4.9.16-0+deb13u1
LDAP backend for PowerDNS
sudo apt install pdns-backend-ldap- Section: net
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: pdns
- 7 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Pdns
Debian apt95%
pdns-backend-lmdb 4.9.16-0+deb13u1
LMDB backend for PowerDNS
sudo apt install pdns-backend-lmdb- Section: net
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: pdns
- 7 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Pdns
Debian apt95%
pdns-backend-lua2 4.9.16-0+deb13u1
Lua2 backend for PowerDNS
sudo apt install pdns-backend-lua2- Section: net
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: pdns
- 5 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Pdns
Debian apt95%
pdns-backend-mysql 4.9.16-0+deb13u1
MySQL backend for PowerDNS
sudo apt install pdns-backend-mysql- Section: net
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: pdns
- 5 dependencies
- 1 provides
- 1 optional deps
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Pdns
Debian apt95%
pdns-backend-odbc 4.9.16-0+deb13u1
UnixODBC backend for PowerDNS
sudo apt install pdns-backend-odbc- Section: net
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: pdns
- 5 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Pdns
Debian apt95%
pdns-backend-pgsql 4.9.16-0+deb13u1
PostgreSQL backend for PowerDNS
sudo apt install pdns-backend-pgsql- Section: net
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: pdns
- 5 dependencies
- 1 provides
- 1 optional deps
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Pdns
Debian apt95%
pdns-backend-pipe 4.9.16-0+deb13u1
pipe/coprocess backend for PowerDNS
sudo apt install pdns-backend-pipe- Section: net
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: pdns
- 4 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Pdns
Debian apt95%
pdns-backend-remote 4.9.16-0+deb13u1
remote backend for PowerDNS
sudo apt install pdns-backend-remote- Section: net
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: pdns
- 4 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Pdns
Debian apt95%
pdns-backend-sqlite3 4.9.16-0+deb13u1
sqlite 3 backend for PowerDNS
sudo apt install pdns-backend-sqlite3- Section: net
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: pdns
- 4 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Pdns
Debian apt95%
pdns-backend-tinydns 4.9.16-0+deb13u1
tinydns compatibility backend for PowerDNS
sudo apt install pdns-backend-tinydns- Section: net
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: pdns
- 5 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Pdns
Debian apt95%
pdns-ixfrdist 4.9.16-0+deb13u1
Redistribute DNS zones over AXFR/IXFR
sudo apt install pdns-ixfrdist- Section: net
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: pdns
- 9 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Pdns
Debian apt95%
pdns-server 4.9.16-0+deb13u1
extremely powerful and versatile nameserver
sudo apt install pdns-server- Section: net
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: pdns
- 12 dependencies
- 2 optional deps
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Pdns
Debian apt95%
pdns-tools 4.9.16-0+deb13u1
Tools for DNS debugging by PowerDNS
sudo apt install pdns-tools- Section: net
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: pdns
- 7 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Pdns
Nix95%
pdns
nix profile install nixpkgs#pdns- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Pdns
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
- 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