AIDE
What it is
AIDE is free, GPL-2.0-licensed software for checking file and directory integrity on modern Unix systems. It creates a database from configuration rules, then compares monitored paths against that baseline to identify inconsistencies. Checks can include file type, permissions, inode, ownership, link name, size, block count, and timestamps. Supported message digests include MD5, SHA-1, RIPEMD-160, Tiger, CRC32, SHA-256, SHA-512, and Whirlpool. Plain-text configuration files and regular expressions let administrators include or exclude files and directories. When compiled support is available, AIDE can check POSIX ACLs, SELinux, XAttrs, and extended file-system attributes. Gzip database compression is available with zlib support. The project describes a stand-alone static binary for client/server monitoring configurations. AIDE runs on modern Unix, with packages listed for Linux distributions, FreeBSD, OpenBSD, Homebrew, MacPorts, and NixOS. Version 0.19.4 is listed as the current stable release, dated 2026-08-30. Support includes a mailing list, IRC channel, and GitHub issues.
For and against
For
- Free and GPL-2.0 licensed
- Checks permissions, ownership, sizes, and timestamps
- Supports many message digest algorithms
- Regular expressions control monitored paths
- Runs across modern Unix systems
Against
- No real-time alerts
- Agentless monitoring is not supported
- Some attribute checks require compiled support
The verdict
AIDE provides configurable baseline checking for Unix file and directory integrity. Its open-source model, broad digest support, and path-selection rules suit administrators comfortable managing local configuration files.
Who it suits
AIDE suits administrators who need configuration-based integrity checks for files and directories on Unix systems. It is appropriate for Linux, BSD, macOS package users, and self-hosted monitoring setups.
Plans and prices
AIDE
GPL-2.0 licensed software
Read 5 Oct 2026 · aide.github.io
On the record
- Configuration
- AIDE uses plain text configuration files and supports regular expressions to include or exclude monitored files and directories.aide.github.io · read 5 Oct 2026
- Database compression
- Database compression with gzip is available when zlib support is compiled in.aide.github.io · read 5 Oct 2026
- Deployment
- The site describes a stand-alone static binary for client/server monitoring configurations.aide.github.io · read 5 Oct 2026
- Digest algorithms
- The site lists MD5, SHA-1, RIPEMD-160, Tiger, CRC32, SHA-256, SHA-512 and Whirlpool among its supported message digest algorithms.aide.github.io · read 5 Oct 2026
- Extended attributes
- It supports POSIX ACL, SELinux, XAttrs and extended file system attributes when support is compiled in.aide.github.io · read 5 Oct 2026
- File attributes
- AIDE can check attributes including file type, permissions, inode, ownership, link name, size, block count and timestamps for inconsistencies.aide.github.io · read 5 Oct 2026
- Latest stable release
- The site lists version 0.19.4 as the current stable version, released 2026-08-30.aide.github.io · read 5 Oct 2026
- License
- AIDE is licensed under GPL-2.0.aide.github.io · read 5 Oct 2026
- Operating systems
- The site says AIDE runs on any modern Unix and lists packages for Linux distributions, FreeBSD, OpenBSD, Homebrew, MacPorts and NixOS.aide.github.io · read 5 Oct 2026
- Origins
- AIDE was originally written by Rami Lehti and Pablo Virolainen in 1999.aide.github.io · read 5 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- AIDE is a file and directory integrity checker that uses a database initialized from configuration rules to verify file integrity.aide.github.io · read 5 Oct 2026
- Release verification
- The site says source tarballs and repository tags since v0.16a1 are GnuPG-signed and recommends verifying a release signature before use.aide.github.io · read 5 Oct 2026
- Support
- The project directs usage questions and release announcements to its mailing list, and also offers an IRC discussion channel and GitHub issue tracker.aide.github.io · read 5 Oct 2026
