macOS
Homebrewverified ยท 100%
brew install swtpmprovider-native install command
brew / rank 2130
Install swtpm with Homebrew
Software TPM Emulator based on libtpms. Version 0.10.1 via Homebrew; verified 2026-07-13.
install
Additional install commands
overview
Package summary
Software TPM Emulator based on libtpms
Project links
Commands and aliases
- swtpm
- swtpm_bios
- swtpm_cert
- swtpm_ioctl
- swtpm_localca
- swtpm_setup
history
Project history and usage
swtpm is a libtpms-based software TPM emulator with socket, character-device, and Linux CUSE interfaces. It is a command-line and service-oriented building block for virtual TPM workflows in QEMU, libvirt, testing, and confidential-computing-adjacent development.
Project history
The upstream README credits David Safford and Stefan Berger and describes a package that provides TPM emulators with different front-end interfaces to libtpms. It also ships tools for using the emulator, creating TPM certificates, and simulating TPM manufacturing by creating endorsement-key and platform certificates.
Adoption history
The input package facts show swtpm packaged across Homebrew, Alpine, Debian, Fedora, Nix, Arch, Ubuntu, and openSUSE. The upstream wiki includes build instructions for Ubuntu/Debian, RHEL, openSUSE, Alpine, OpenBSD, Cygwin, and macOS, reflecting a project maintained for distribution packaging and virtualization integration rather than a single application bundle.
How it is used
Common usage is to run the swtpm emulator as part of a virtual-machine stack, control it with swtpm_ioctl, prepare state with swtpm_setup, and use supporting tools such as swtpm_cert and swtpm_localca for certificate-related TPM setup. The README directs users to per-tool READMEs and the wiki for operational details.
Why package nerds care
Package nerds care because swtpm is infrastructure glue: a small C/Shell-heavy package that lets VM stacks expose TPM functionality reproducibly. Its packaging footprint matters because TPM emulation is only useful when libtpms, QEMU/libvirt integration, init scripts, config files, and distro build flags line up.
Timeline
- v0.1.0 era: The upstream repository exposes early v0.1.x release tags.
- 2025: GitHub lists v0.10.1 as the latest swtpm release on April 30, 2025.
- Current packaging: The input package facts list swtpm in Homebrew and major Linux package ecosystems.
Related projects
- Related projects and topics include libtpms, QEMU, libvirt, TPM 1.2/2.0 tooling, virtual TPM devices, and distro packaging for virtualization hosts.
Sources
- https://github.com/stefanberger/swtpm
- https://github.com/stefanberger/swtpm/blob/master/README
- https://github.com/stefanberger/swtpm/wiki
- source_facts.executables
- source_facts.package-manager
security posture
No protected-tool coverage found yet
No matching local secret-handling manifest was found for swtpm. Nucleus package metadata is still published here so future coverage has a stable package URL.
Install behavior
- No Homebrew bottle metadata was recorded.
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
${XDG_CONFIG_HOME}/swtpm_setup.conf${HOME}/.config/swtpm_setup.conf/etc/swtpm_setup.conf/etc/swtpm-localca.conf/etc/swtpm-localca.options
executables
Installed executables
| Command | Kind | Exposure | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
swtpm | executable | indexed executable | Discovered from the local executable index. |
swtpm_bios | executable | indexed executable | Discovered from the local executable index. |
swtpm_cert | executable | indexed executable | Discovered from the local executable index. |
swtpm_ioctl | executable | indexed executable | Discovered from the local executable index. |
swtpm_localca | executable | indexed executable | Discovered from the local executable index. |
swtpm_setup | executable | indexed executable | Discovered from the local executable index. |
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 generated2026-08-03
manager version0.10.1
manager updated2026-07-13
local dataunknown
upstreamnot available
latest detectednot detected
- okNo freshness warnings were generated.
install metadata
Package metadata
| Package key | brew:swtpm |
|---|---|
| Version | 0.10.1 |
| Package manager | Homebrew |
| Homepage | https://github.com/stefanberger/swtpm |
| Repository | https://github.com/stefanberger/swtpm |
| Last updated | 2026-07-13T17:31:48+09:00 |
| Pulse | updated |
| Bottle | not recorded |
| Service | none declared |
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
- curated configuration and credential file locations
- curated package history
- pkgdb category and tag curation