inetd.conf and /etc/services

[RJA]

Hi,
I need to add an entry to the inetd.conf file and restart inetd which I know I can do with inetd -c. I also need to add an entry to the /etc/services file. Does inetd -c also reread this file? Thanks

[Pete Randall · Accepted solution]

The /etc/services file really only serves as documentation and therefore there is no need to reread it.


Pete

[Srikanth Arunachalam]

Hi,

/etc/services is not part of the inetd program exactly, but it is used by inetd.

The service information available in /etc/inetd.conf will be referred while restarting inetd -c. The port number mapping for a given service will be translated using the information in /etc/services.

For example, a pop3 service in inetd.conf with information as
"pop3 stream tcp nowait root /usr/sbin/tcpd in.pop3d"

will refer the port number information from /etc/services, that is given as
pop3 110/tcp # POP version 3

Thanks,
Srikanth

[RJA]

Thanks guys.

[spex]

/etc/services is merely a convenience for associating service names with ports. It is read on an as-needed basis, so your question does not apply.