Linux From Scratch: Version 5.1-pre1
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# Installing Inetutils-1.4.2

The Inetutils package contains programs for basic networking.

    Approximate build time:  0.2 SBU
    Required disk space:     11 MB

Official download location for Inetutils (1.4.2):
ftp://ftp.gnu.org/gnu/inetutils/
And for the Inetutils No-Server-Man-Pages Patch:
http://www.linuxfromscratch.org/patches/lfs/cvs/inetutils-1.4.2-no_server_man_pages-1.patch

For its installation Inetutils depends on: Bash, Binutils, Coreutils, Diffutils, GCC, Glibc, Grep, Make, Ncurses, Sed.

##

## Installation of Inetutils

We are not going to install all the programs that come with Inetutils. However, the Inetutils build system will insist on installing all the man pages anyway. The following patch will correct this situation:

    patch -Np1 -i ../inetutils-1.4.2-no_server_man_pages-1.patch

Now prepare Inetutils for compilation:

    ./configure --prefix=/usr --libexecdir=/usr/sbin \
        --sysconfdir=/etc --localstatedir=/var \
        --disable-logger --disable-syslogd \
        --disable-whois --disable-servers

The meaning of the configure options:

- `--disable-logger`: This option prevents Inetutils from installing the logger program, which is used by scripts to pass messages to the System Log Daemon. We do not install it because Util-linux installs a better version later.

- `--disable-syslogd`: This option prevents Inetutils from installing the System Log Daemon, which is installed with the Sysklogd package.

- `--disable-whois`: This option disables the building of the Inetutils whois client, which is woefully out of date. Instructions for a better whois client are in the BLFS book.

- `--disable-servers`: This disables the installation of the various network servers included as part of the Inetutils package. These servers are deemed not appropriate in a basic LFS system. Some are insecure by nature and are only considered safe on trusted networks. More information can be found at http://www.linuxfromscratch.org/blfs/view/stable/basicnet/inetutils.html. Note that better replacements are available for many of these servers.

Compile the package:

    make

Install it:

    make install

And move the ping program to its proper place:

    mv /usr/bin/ping /bin

##

## Contents of Inetutils

Installed programs: ftp, ping, rcp, rlogin, rsh, talk, telnet and tftp

## Short descriptions

ftp is the ARPANET file transfer program.

ping sends echo-request packets and reports how long the replies take.

rcp does remote file copy.

rlogin does remote login.

rsh runs a remote shell.

talk is used to chat up another user.

telnet is an interface to the TELNET protocol.

tftp is a trivial file transfer program.

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