On Fri, 22 May 1998, Christopher H. Boggs wrote:

> We're on 5.5 here, and that type of info is in the SERVICES.NET.SYS
> file.  However, apparently some entries for ports are required to
> be in this file, while some are not. Maybe someone with more expertise
> can clear things up for both of us (and maybe more?).

 It's my understanding that "properly" written server software should
request the port to which it should bind by calling the function
getservbyname which will search the /etc/services file for the appropriate
entry.

 This allows an administrator to change server port assignments in one
file.

 However, not all software follows this standard.  It is becoming more
commonplace to find port assignments within the configuration files of the
server software.  This can be problematic when port assignments collide.


Jim
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
James R. Alton                        phone: (905) 575-2281
Systems Analyst                         Fax: (905) 575-2302
Mohawk College                       mailto:[log in to unmask]
Hamilton, Ontario  Canada