slirp4netns ☆
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Description:
User-mode networking for unprivileged network namespaces
Type: Formula  |  Tracked Since: Dec 28, 2025
Links: Homepage  |  formulae.brew.sh
Category: Networking
Tags: rootless containers networking namespace security
Install: brew install slirp4netns
About:
Slirp4netns provides user-mode networking for unprivileged network namespaces, enabling rootless containers to have network connectivity. It forwards traffic between the host and the container's network namespace using a TAP device, effectively emulating a NAT router without requiring root privileges or complex network configuration.
Key Features:
  • Enables networking for rootless containers
  • No root privileges or CAP_NET_ADMIN required
  • Provides NAT and port forwarding capabilities
  • Lightweight user-mode TCP/IP stack
Use Cases:
  • Running containers without root access in secure environments
  • Development workflows requiring isolated network namespaces
  • CI/CD pipelines with restricted permissions
Alternatives:
  • VPNKit – VPNKit is more complex and primarily designed for Docker Desktop, while slirp4netns is simpler and purpose-built for rootless containers
  • Bridge networking – Traditional bridge networking requires root privileges and CAP_NET_ADMIN, whereas slirp4netns works without elevated permissions
Version History
Detected Version Rev Change Commit
Nov 26, 2024 1:44pm 0 VERSION_BUMP d3ae97ec
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