Virtual Private Server User Guide

Network Servers and Server Applications

ftp

netbios ssn (samba session service)

netbios ns (samba nameserver service)

telnet

Xinetd is also configured to be aware of the following services, although they are 

turned off by default:

shell (a.k.a. rshell)

login (a.k.a. rlogin)

finger

ntalk

A variety of messages related to xinetd and the services that it listens for are 

logged to /var/log/service.log. If you experience problems with xinetd or any of the 

applications it provides service for, it may be helpful to view this log file.

Configuring Xinetd

Xinetd can be configured through a highly customizable configuration file, 

xinetd.conf, which is located in the /etc directory. This file can only be edited 

directly by the superuser. Therefore, direct configuration of the xinetd 

application is available only on the VPS Root product.

The xinetd configuration file consists of a idefaultsi section followed by separate 

sections for each network service that xinetd is to be responsible for. The defaults 

section serves two purposes   first, it tells xinetd which of the configured services 

it should enable, and second, it supplies the default settings that will be used by 

all services unless overridden in the specific service sections.

Some of the advanced features that can be taken advantage of through the 

custom configuration of xinetd include enhanced logging for each service, control 

of how many simultaneous connections each type of service should allow, and the 

allowing/denying of certain services based on things such as remote machine or 

even time of day.

There is a vast array of configuration options that can be made, and full 

documentation is found on xinetd s Web site:

http://www.xinetd.org/

Technical Training Department

August 2004

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