brew / rank 121

Install util-linux with Homebrew, apk, apt, dnf, MacPorts, Nix, pacman, zypper, winget

Collection of Linux utilities. Version 2.42.2 via Homebrew; verified 2026-07-14. Also installable with debian: sudo apt install bsdextrautils.

Install command Security notes

install

Additional install commands

macOS

Homebrewverified · 100%

brew install util-linux

local Homebrew formula metadata

MacPortsverified · 94%

sudo port install util-linux

MacPorts ports tree · devel/util-linux/Portfile · source: api.github.com

Linux

Alpine Linux apkverified · 92%

sudo apk add util-linux

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

Debian aptverified · 92%

sudo apt install util-linux

Debian stable package indexes · util-linux · source: deb.debian.org

Fedora dnfverified · 92%

sudo dnf install util-linux

Fedora Rawhide package metadata · util-linux · source: dl.fedoraproject.org

Nixverified · 92%

nix profile install nixpkgs#util-linux

nixpkgs package indexes · pkgs/by-name/ut/util-linux/package.nix · source: api.github.com

Arch Linux pacmanverified · 92%

sudo pacman -S util-linux

Arch Linux sync databases · util-linux · source: geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com

openSUSE zypperverified · 92%

sudo zypper install util-linux

openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · util-linux · source: download.opensuse.org

Windows

Windows Package Managerverified · 92%

winget install --id Cal.Cal -e

Windows Package Manager source index · Cal.Cal · source: cdn.winget.microsoft.com

overview

Package summary

Collection of Linux utilities

Project links

Homepage

Commands and aliases

addpart
agetty
bits
blkdiscard
blkid
blkpr
blkzone
blockdev
cal
cfdisk
chcpu
chmem
choom
chrt
col
colcrt
colrm
column
copyfilerange
coresched
ctrlaltdel
delpart
dmesg
eject
enosys
exch
fadvise
fallocate
fdisk
fincore
findfs
findmnt

history

Project history and usage

util-linux is a long-running collection of Linux system utilities. Its README calls it a random collection of Linux utilities, and the input executable list shows the breadth: partitioning, block-device inspection, login/session tools, scheduling tools, namespace tools, terminal utilities, UUID tools, and many small commands that scripts and administrators expect to exist.

Project history

The official Git history reaches back to 1992-10-31, making util-linux one of the oldest still-maintained user-space utility collections in the Linux ecosystem. Its history is partly a history of consolidating small Unix/Linux commands that distributions needed to ship somewhere.

The README records an important naming era: from 2006 to 2010 the project was named util-linux-ng. Release notes for util-linux-ng 2.13, dated 2007-08-28, show the package modernizing around autotools, SELinux and audit support, mount changes, libblkid/libvolume_id probing, and additions such as rtcwake.

The AUTHORS file shows util-linux as an aggregation point for tools and libraries from many origins. It records commands merged from e2fsprogs, sysvinit, coreutils-derived code, schedutils, rfkill, and individual contributors, while also listing core libraries such as libblkid, libmount, libuuid, libsmartcols, and liblastlog2.

The project continues to evolve rather than merely preserve legacy commands. The 2.40 release notes introduced new commands and libraries such as lastlog2, lsclocks, enosys, exch, and setpgid, plus filtering and counter support in libsmartcols used by tools such as lsfd and lsblk.

Adoption history

util-linux is foundational distribution infrastructure. The input package metadata maps the formula to Homebrew, MacPorts, Nix, pacman, and several Linux distribution package families, while also showing that distributions sometimes split the suite into packages named for individual components such as libblkid or bsdextrautils.

Its adoption history is tied to the Linux base system: administrators use its commands directly, shell scripts rely on them, and higher-level tools depend on its libraries for block-device probing, mount handling, UUIDs, and tabular output. Because the suite is broad, packagers often make policy decisions about which commands belong in minimal systems, base installs, rescue images, or compatibility packages.

How it is used

Common package-nerd workflows include using `lsblk`, `blkid`, `findmnt`, `mount`, `umount`, `fdisk`, `sfdisk`, `losetup`, `fstrim`, `uuidgen`, `flock`, `nsenter`, `unshare`, `taskset`, `chrt`, `logger`, `script`, `hexdump`, `more`, and many other commands from the same source package.

The suite also exposes libraries and command behavior that packagers track closely: libmount for mount table behavior, libblkid for probing, libuuid for UUID generation/parsing, libsmartcols for structured terminal tables, and release/deprecation notes that warn when scripts should move to newer flags or commands.

Why package nerds care

util-linux is package-nerd bedrock. It is not one tool but a source package that determines a large part of the Linux command-line substrate, and packaging it means deciding how old Unix interfaces, Linux-specific tools, libraries, translations, suid-sensitive programs, man pages, and distribution splits all fit together.

Its deprecation file is especially relevant to maintainers because it documents compatibility promises and migration paths, such as keeping deprecated utilities in maintenance mode for backward compatibility while recommending replacements like `blockdev --getsz`, `read`, `less` or `more`, and newer output options.

Timeline

1992-10-31: Official Git history begins.
2006-2010: Project known as util-linux-ng according to the README.
2007-08-28: util-linux-ng 2.13 release notes published.
2024-03-27: Official tag v2.40 created.
2024: util-linux 2.40 release notes introduce lastlog2, lsclocks, enosys, exch, and setpgid.
2026-06-30: Official Git history shows ongoing development on libsmartcols.

Related projects

The official AUTHORS file records code or tools merged from e2fsprogs, sysvinit, coreutils-derived su, schedutils, and rfkill, and names libraries such as libblkid, libmount, libuuid, libsmartcols, and liblastlog2.

Sources

https://github.com/util-linux/util-linux/blob/master/AUTHORS
https://github.com/util-linux/util-linux/blob/master/Documentation/deprecated.txt
https://github.com/util-linux/util-linux/blob/master/Documentation/releases/v2.13-ReleaseNotes
https://github.com/util-linux/util-linux/blob/master/Documentation/releases/v2.40-ReleaseNotes
https://github.com/util-linux/util-linux/blob/master/README
input source_facts.package-manager
official git log and tags from https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/utils/util-linux/util-linux.git

security posture

Risk level: yellow

generalized runtime or code generation signal.

Risk classifier

yellow risk · medium confidence · runtime

Why

generalized runtime or code generation signal

Signals

text:repl

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.

executables

Installed executables

Command	Kind	Exposure	Note
`addpart`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`agetty`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`bits`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`blkdiscard`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`blkid`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`blkpr`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`blkzone`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`blockdev`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`cal`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`cfdisk`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`chcpu`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`chmem`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`choom`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`chrt`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`col`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`colcrt`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`colrm`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`column`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`copyfilerange`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`coresched`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`ctrlaltdel`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`delpart`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`dmesg`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`eject`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`enosys`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`exch`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`fadvise`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`fallocate`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`fdisk`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`fincore`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`findfs`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`findmnt`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`flock`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`fsck`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`fsck.cramfs`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`fsck.minix`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`fsfreeze`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`fstrim`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`getino`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`getopt`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`hardlink`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`hexdump`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`hwclock`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`ionice`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`ipcmk`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`ipcrm`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`ipcs`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`irqtop`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`isosize`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`last`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`lastb`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`lastlog2`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`ldattach`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`linux32`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`linux64`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`logger`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`look`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`losetup`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`lsblk`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`lsclocks`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`lscpu`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`lsfd`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`lsipc`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`lsirq`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`lslocks`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`lslogins`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`lsmem`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`lsns`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`mcookie`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`mesg`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`mkfs`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`mkfs.bfs`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`mkfs.cramfs`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`mkfs.minix`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`mkswap`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`more`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`mount`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`mountpoint`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`namei`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`nologin`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`nsenter`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`partx`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`pipesz`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`pivot_root`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`prlimit`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`readprofile`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`rename`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`renice`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`resizepart`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`rev`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`rfkill`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`rtcwake`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`script`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`scriptlive`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`scriptreplay`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`setarch`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`setpgid`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`setsid`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`setterm`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`sfdisk`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`sulogin`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`swaplabel`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`swapoff`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`swapon`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`switch_root`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`taskset`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`uclampset`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`ul`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`umount`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`uname26`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`unshare`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`utmpdump`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`uuidd`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`uuidgen`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`uuidparse`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`waitpid`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`wall`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`wdctl`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`whereis`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`wipefs`	executable	indexed executable	Discovered from the local executable index.
`zramctl`	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 version2.42.2

manager updated2026-07-14

local dataunknown

upstreamnot available

latest detectednot detected

okNo freshness warnings were generated.

install metadata

Package metadata

Package key	brew:util-linux
Version	2.42.2
Package manager	Homebrew
Homepage	https://github.com/util-linux/util-linux
Last updated	2026-07-14T20:07:13+09:00
Pulse	updated
Bottle	not recorded
Service	none declared

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%

bsdextrautils 2.41-5

extra utilities from 4.4BSD-Lite