Commands Reference, Volume 4

rexecd Daemon

Purpose

Provides the server function for the rexec command.

Syntax

Note: The rexecd daemon is normally started by the inetd daemon. It can also be controlled from the command line, using SRC commands.

/usr/sbin/rexecd [ -sc ]

The /usr/sbin/rexecd daemon is the server for the rexec command. This daemon processes commands issued by a foreign host and returns the output of those commands to that foreign host. The rexecd daemon sends and receives data over a Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) connection.

Changes to the rexecd daemon can be made using Web-based System Manager, the System Management Interface Tool (SMIT) or System Resource Controller (SRC), by editing the /etc/inetd.conf or /etc/services file. Entering rexecd at the command line is not recommended.The rexecd daemon is started by default when it is uncommented in the /etc/inetd.conf file.

The inetd daemon get its information from the /etc/inetd.conf file and the /etc/services file.

After changing the /etc/inetd.conf file, run the refresh -s inetd or kill -1 InetdPID command to inform the inetd daemon of the changes to its configuration file.

Flags

-s	Enables socket-level debugging.
-c	Prevents reverse name resolution. When the -c flag is not specified, the rexecd daemon will fail if the reverse name resolution of the client fails.

Service Request Protocol

When the rexecd daemon receives a request, it initiates the following protocol:

The server reads characters from the socket up to a null (\0) byte and interprets the resulting string as an ASCII number (decimal).
If the number received is nonzero, the rexecd daemon interprets it as the port number of a secondary stream to be used for standard error output. The rexecd daemon then creates a second connection to the specified port on the client machine.
The rexecd daemon retrieves a null-terminated user name of up to 16 characters on the initial socket.

Related Information

The kill command, lssrc command, refresh command, rexec command, startsrc command, stopsrc command.

The inetd daemon.

The rexec subroutine.

The /etc/inetd.conf file format.

TCP/IP Overview for System Management in AIX 5L Version 5.1 System Management Guide: Communications and Networks.

For information on installing the Web-based System Manager, see Chapter 2: Installation and System Requirements in AIX 5L Version 5.1 Web-based System Manager Administration Guide.

TCP/IP Daemons in AIX 5L Version 5.1 System Management Guide: Communications and Networks.