inetd(8) System Manager's Manual inetd(8)
NAME
inetd - Internet services daemon
SYNOPSIS
For starting the daemon: inetd [-d] [-R rate] [-r radid] [configfile]
For signaling the running daemon:
inetd [-d] [-h | -q | -s | -t]
FLAGS
Dumps debugging messages to syslogd(8) and to standard error. Sends the currently running master inetd daemon a SIGHUP signal, which
causes it to reread its configuration files. Sends the currently running master inetd daemon a SIGQUIT signal, which kills all inetd child
daemons, but none of the services that the child daemons have started. The master inetd daemon continues to run. Specifies the maximum
number of times a service can be invoked in one minute. The default is 2 billion (INT_MAX). Specifies the identifier of the Resource
Affinity Domain (RAD) on which to start an inetd child daemon. You can specify this option multiple times on the command line (see the
"Examples" section). The default is to start a child daemon on all RADs. Sends the currently running master inetd daemon a SIGUSR2 sig-
nal, which kills all inetd daemons, including the master inetd daemon, and all services that they have started. Sends the currently run-
ning master inetd daemon a SIGTERM signal, which kills all inetd daemons, including the master inetd daemon, but none of the services that
they have started. By default, the files are /etc/inetd.conf and /etc/inetd.conf.local. They contain configuration information that the
daemon reads at startup. If you specify configfile on the command line, only that file is read at startup.
DESCRIPTION
The inetd daemon should be run at boot time by inetd in the /sbin/init.d directory. At startup, it determines how many RADs are present
(if on NUMA-capable hardware) and starts an inetd child daemon on each RAD. On non-NUMA hardware, only one inetd child daemon is started.
Each inetd child then listens for connections on certain Internet sockets. When a connection is found on one of its sockets, it decides
what service the socket corresponds to, and invokes a program to service the request. After the program is finished, it continues to lis-
ten on the socket (except in some cases that are discussed later in this reference page. Essentially, inetd allows running one daemon to
invoke several others, reducing load on the system.
Upon execution, each inetd child reads its configuration information from the two configuration files, which, by default, are
/etc/inetd.conf and /etc/inetd.conf.local; the /etc/inetd.conf file is read first. There must be an entry for each field of the configura-
tion files, with entries for each field separated by a tab or a space. Comments are denoted by a # (number sign) at the beginning of a
line. If an entry exists in both configuration files, the entry in the /etc/inetd.conf.local file overrides the entry in the
/etc/inetd.conf file. See inetd.conf(4) for more information.
The inetd daemon provides several trivial services internally by use of routines within itself. These services are echo, discard, chargen
(character generator), daytime (human-readable time), and time (machine-readable time, in the form of the number of seconds since midnight
January 1, 1900). All of these services are tcp or udp based, and support both IPv4 and IPv6. (Note: These services are initially turned
off. To turn them on, you must remove the comment leader of the service in /etc/inetd.conf or /etc/inetd.conf.local, depending on your
configuration, and send a SIGHUP signal to inetd.) For details of these services, consult the appropriate RFC.
The inetd daemon rereads its configuration files when it receives a hangup signal, SIGHUP. Services may be added, deleted, or modified
when the configuration files are reread. You should use the -h option to send a SIGHUP signal.
You can use the inetd daemon to start RPC daemons by adding them to the inetd.conf or inetd.conf.local file. When you add an RPC service
it must be followed by a slash (/) and the range of version supported. Also, the protocol field must consist of the string rpc followed by
a slash (/) and protocol listed in the /etc/protocols file.
Resource Affinity Domains and inetd
When you add a new RAD, complete the following steps: Add the RAD. Configure the RAD. Issue the inetd -h command to force inetd to reread
its configuration file.
When you delete a RAD, complete the following steps: Issue the inetd -q command to kill all child daemons. Unconfigure the RAD. Remove
the RAD. Issue the inetd -h command to force inetd to reread its configuration file.
See the appropriate hardware documentation for the actual procedure for adding and deleting a RAD.
EXAMPLES
To start an inetd daemon on RADs 1 and 2, enter: # inetd -r1 -r2
FILES
Specifies the command path. The global configuration file. The cluster member-specific configuration file. Process ID.
RELATED INFORMATION
Commands: comsat(8).
Daemons: fingerd(8), ftpd(8), rexecd(8), rlogind(8), rpc.rquotad(8), rpc.rstatd(8), rpc.rusersd(8), rpc.rwalld(8), rpc.sprayd(8), rshd(8),
telnetd(8), tftpd(8).
Files: inetd.conf(4). delim off
inetd(8)