Linux From Scratch - Version 6.0

Chapter 6. Installing Basic System Software

6.31. Inetutils-1.4.2

The Inetutils package contains programs for basic networking.

Approximate build time: 0.2 SBU

Required disk space: 11 MB

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

6.31.1. Installation of Inetutils

Inetutils has issues with the Linux 2.6 kernel series. Fix these issues by applying the following patch: 

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

All programs that come with Inetutils will not be installed. 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

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. 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This option disables the building of the Inetutils whois client, which is out of date.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/svn/basicnet/inetutils.html. Note that better replacements are available for many of these servers.

Compile the package: 

make

Install the package: 

make install

Move the ping program to its FHS-compliant place: 

mv /usr/bin/ping /bin

6.31.2. Contents of Inetutils

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

Short Descriptions

ftp

Is the file transfer protocol program

ping

Sends echo-request packets and reports how long the replies take

rcp

Performs remote file copy

rlogin

Performs remote login

rsh

Runs a remote shell

talk

Is used to chat with another user

telnet

An interface to the TELNET protocol

tftp

A trivial file transfer program