update-inetd(8) dpkg suite update-inetd(8)
NAME
update-inetd - create, remove, enable or disable entry /etc/inetd.conf
SYNOPSIS
update-inetd [option...] command argument
DESCRIPTION
update-inetd can be used to add, remove, enable or disable entries in
the /etc/inetd.conf file (you can specify a different file by using the
--file option). After the /etc/inetd.conf file has been changed, update-
inetd will send a SIGHUP signal to the inetd process to make sure that
inetd will use the new /etc/inetd.conf file. For Perl scripts you can
also use the Perl module DebianNet. See DebianNet(3pm) for further
information. update-inetd can also be used to add entries that are
commented out by default. They will be treated like normal entries.
That also means that if you already have an entry that is commented out
you cannot add an entry for the same service without removing the old
one first.
In accordance with the Debian Policy, update-inetd treats entries that
are prefixed with a single '#' character as commented out by a user.
This means that for a user to disable a service using update-inetd, and
for the service to remain disabled after upgrades, the user must run
update-inetd with --comment-chars '#' (see relevant option below).
Conversely, package maintainer scripts should not override the default
comment chars (and when they do, they must not use '#').
Also note that --enable and --remove will not be acted upon for service
entries that are commented out using anything but the value specified
with --comment-chars (or the default value if none is specified).
COMMANDS
--add entry-line
Add an entry to /etc/inetd.conf. A description of the entry-line
format can be found in the inetd(8) or inetd.conf(5) manual pages
(or just look at /etc/inetd.conf). In order to prevent the shell
from changing your entry-line definition you have to quote the
entry-line using single or double quotes. You can use tabs (tab
character or \t) and spaces to separate the fields of the entry-
line. To add the entry-line to a specific section in the
/etc/inetd.conf file please use the --group option.
If you are trying to add an entry which already exists, update-inetd
will not add the entry. For uncommented entries it will do nothing
and for entries that are commented out by the comment-chars (see
option --comment-chars) it will enable the existing entry. If you
want to completely replace an entry just remove the entry with the
--remove command first.
--remove entry-regex
Remove an entry-line matching entry-regex (e.g. "telnet") from
/etc/inetd.conf. The entry-regex will be anchored at the beginning
of the entry line.
--enable service[,...]
Enable service (e.g. "ftp") in /etc/inetd.conf. If you want to
enable more than one service you can use a comma-separated list of
services (no whitespace characters allowed).
--disable service[,...]
Disable service (e.g. "ftp") in /etc/inetd.conf. If you want to
disable more than one service you can use a comma-separated list of
services (no whitespace characters allowed).
OPTIONS
--group groupname
Specify that the new entry should be placed in group groupname (e.g.
"MAIL"). If the group does not exist the entry will be placed at the
end of the file. The default group is "OTHER".
This option is only relevant with the --add command.
--pattern pattern
This option can be used to select a service. You only need this
option if you have two (or more) services of the same name.
This option is not relevant with the --add command.
--comment-chars characters
update-inetd uses "#<off># " as the default comment characters. You
can use this option to specify different comment characters. This is
only necessary if you have to deal with two (or more) services of
the same name. If you do use this option, it is your responsibility
to eventually remove the commented out entry.
--multi
If you want to disable/remove more than one entry at a time you
should use this option. If you try to remove more than one entry at
a time without using this option the program will show a warning and
prompt the user for an explicit confirmation.
--file filename
Use filename instead of /etc/inetd.conf.
--verbose
Explain what is being done.
--debug
Enables debugging mode.
--help
Print a usage message on standard output and exit successfully.
--version
Print version information on standard output and exit successfully.
EXAMPLES
You have installed ssh (secure encrypting remote shell) and wish to
disable its unencrypted cousins:
update-inetd --comment-chars '#' --disable login,shell,exec,telnet
Using a single '#' character as a comment-char prevents update-inetd to
re-enable the services on package upgrades.
You think the clock on your computer is often inaccurate and wish to
make sure other computers cannot read it:
update-inetd --comment-chars '#' --disable time,daytime
You get the clock fixed:
update-inetd --enable time,daytime
You hear a rumor that inetd is easily crashed via a SYN attack against
the time and daytime services, you want to turn off only their TCP
versions, while leaving the analogous UDP services enabled:
update-inetd --comment-chars '#' --pattern tcp --disable time,daytime
You just finished writing a POP3 server and want to install the
/etc/inetd.conf entry from the Makefile:
update-inetd --group MAIL --add \
'pop-3\t\tstream\ttcp\tnowait\troot\t/usr/sbin/tcpd\t/usr/sbin/in.pop3d'
FILES
/etc/inetd.conf /run/inetd.pid
SEE ALSO
inetd(8), DebianNet(3pm).
4.53 2023-02-26 update-inetd(8)
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