pyrad
RADIUS tools
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes. pyrad is a stable, actively maintained library with low install friction, no known vulnerabilities, and a permissive license. Install it if you need to speak RADIUS protocol—either as a client authenticating against an existing RADIUS server or as a server component in a custom AAA system. The single dependency and broad Python version support make it a low-risk addition to most projects.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Requires a RADIUS dictionary file and a reachable RADIUS server to send packets to.
- Low friction: pure Python wheel, single runtime dependency (netaddr).
- Active maintenance with recent commits (last 2026-07-06) and mature codebase (since 2007).
License · maintenance · safety
BSD-3-Clause (permissive) — BSD-3-Clause permissive license allows commercial and private use with minimal restrictions; include license text in distributions.
last release 2026-02-05 (190 days) · last repo commit 2026-07-06 · 309 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 535,414 downloads/mo, #6,129 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
from pyrad.client import Client
from pyrad.dictionary import Dictionary
import pyrad.packet
srv = Client(
server="localhost",
secret=b"shared_secret",
dict=Dictionary("dictionary"),
)
req = srv.CreateAuthPacket(
code=pyrad.packet.AccessRequest,
User_Name="username"
)
reply = srv.SendPacket(req)- Whether netaddr is a compile-time or pure-Python dependency affecting installation on all platforms
- Performance characteristics under high-volume packet throughput or concurrent connections
What it is and what it does
pyrad is a mature, RFC2865-compliant RADIUS client and server library for Python. It abstracts the low-level details of RADIUS packet construction, cryptographic operations (password encryption, message authentication), and network I/O, letting developers focus on authentication logic rather than protocol mechanics. The library handles both client-side authentication requests and server-side response generation, supporting the full AAA (authentication, authorization, accounting) workflow.
The package depends only on netaddr for IP address handling and runs on Python 3.8 or later. It's actively maintained with a stable API, making it suitable for production systems that need to integrate with existing RADIUS infrastructure—common in enterprise networks, ISPs, and access control systems. The codebase has been in active use since 2007, with recent updates addressing modern Python versions.
Use it for
- Integrate legacy enterprise authentication systems (Active Directory, FreeRADIUS) into Python applications via RADIUS protocol
- Build a custom RADIUS server for testing or lab environments without deploying full-scale infrastructure
- Implement network device authentication (switches, routers, VPN gateways) that speak RADIUS
- Add AAA (authentication, authorization, accounting) to Python-based access control systems
- Migrate or bridge authentication between RADIUS and modern identity systems
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes.
pyrad is a stable, actively maintained library with low install friction, no known vulnerabilities, and a permissive license. Install it if you need to speak RADIUS protocol—either as a client authenticating against an existing RADIUS server or as a server component in a custom AAA system. The single dependency and broad Python version support make it a low-risk addition to most projects.
Install
pyrad on PyPI
Before you install
Low friction: pure Python wheel, single runtime dependency (netaddr). Active maintenance with recent commits (last 2026-07-06) and mature codebase (since 2007). Supports Python 3.8 through 3.14.
Requires a RADIUS dictionary file and a reachable RADIUS server to send packets to.
License in practice
BSD-3-Clause permissive license allows commercial and private use with minimal restrictions; include license text in distributions.
Quickstart
from pyrad.client import Client
from pyrad.dictionary import Dictionary
import pyrad.packet
srv = Client(
server="localhost",
secret=b"shared_secret",
dict=Dictionary("dictionary"),
)
req = srv.CreateAuthPacket(
code=pyrad.packet.AccessRequest,
User_Name="username"
)
reply = srv.SendPacket(req)Verify before relying
- Whether netaddr is a compile-time or pure-Python dependency affecting installation on all platforms
- Performance characteristics under high-volume packet throughput or concurrent connections
Package facts
| License | BSD-3-Clause permissive |
| Python support | Supports the current Python release >=3.8 |
| Install friction | Low. Pure-Python wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | 1 packagenetaddr |
| Maintenance | Actively maintained 190 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 535,414 / month, #6,129 on PyPI 30-day window, as of 2026-08-14 |
| Known vulnerabilities | None known OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14 |
| Classifiers | Development Status :: 6 - MatureIntended Audience :: DevelopersProgramming Language :: Python :: 3Programming Language :: Python :: 3.10Programming Language :: Python :: 3.11Programming Language :: Python :: 3.12Programming Language :: Python :: 3.13Programming Language :: Python :: 3.14Programming Language :: Python :: 3.8Programming Language :: Python :: 3.9Topic :: Software Development :: Libraries :: Python ModulesTopic :: System :: Systems Administration :: Authentication/Directory |
Evidence: pyrad-2.5.4-py3-none-any.whl
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