inetd(1M)                        (TCP/IP)                         inetd(1M)


   NAME
         inetd - Internet services daemon

   SYNOPSIS
         inetd [ -d ] [ -s ] [ configuration-file ]

   DESCRIPTION
         inetd, the Internet services daemon, is normally run at boot time by
         the Service Access Facility (SAF).  When started, inetd reads its
         configuration information from configuration-file, the default being
         /etc/inetd.conf.  See inetd.conf(4) for more information on the
         format of this file.  It listens for connections on the Internet
         addresses of the services that its configuration file specifies.
         When a connection is found, it invokes the server daemon specified by
         that configuration file for the service requested. Once a server
         process exits, inetd continues to listen on the socket.

         The -s option allows you to run inetd ``stand-alone,'' outside the
         Service Access Facility (SAF).

         Rather than having several daemon processes with sparsely distributed
         requests each running concurrently, inetd reduces the load on the
         system by invoking Internet servers only as they are needed.

         inetd itself provides a number of simple TCP-based services.  These
         include 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).  For details of
         these services, consult the appropriate RFC, as listed below, from
         the Network Information Center.

         inetd rereads its configuration file whenever it receives a hangup
         signal, SIGHUP.  New services can be activated, and existing services
         deleted or modified in between whenever the file is reread.

   SEE ALSO
         comsat(1M), ftpd(1M), rexecd(1M), rlogind(1M), rshd(1M), telnetd(1M),
         tftpd(1M), inetd.conf(4).

         Postel, Jon, ``Echo Protocol,'' RFC 862, Network Information Center,
         SRI International, Menlo Park, Calif., May 1983.

         Postel, Jon, ``Discard Protocol,'' RFC 863, Network Information
         Center, SRI International, Menlo Park, Calif., May 1983.

         Postel, Jon, ``Character Generater Protocol,'' RFC 864, Network
         Information Center, SRI International, Menlo Park, Calif., May 1983.

         Postel, Jon, ``Daytime Protocol,'' RFC 867, Network Information
         Center, SRI International, Menlo Park, Calif., May 1983.



   7/91                                                                 Page 1

   inetd(1M)                        (TCP/IP)                         inetd(1M)


         Postel, Jon, and Ken Harrenstien, ``Time Protocol,'' RFC 868, Network
         Information Center, SRI International, Menlo Park, Calif., May 1983.



















































   Page 2                                                                 7/91