inetd(1M)              UNIX System V(Internet Utilities)              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




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inetd(1M)              UNIX System V(Internet Utilities)              inetd(1M)


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




















































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