portmap

map RPC program/version numbers to TCP and UDP port numbers

Syntax:

portmap

Options:

None.

Description:

The portmap daemon maps RPC program/version numbers into TCP and UDP port numbers. Clients can make RPC calls only if portmap is running on the server.

When an RPC server starts, it tells portmap which port number it's listening to, and which RPC program/version numbers it can serve. When a client wishes to make an RPC call to a given program, it first contacts portmap on the RPC server machine to determine which port number it should send RPC packets to.

Standard RPC servers are run by inetd, so you must start portmap before inetd is invoked.

Caveats:

If portmap is stopped, you must restart all RPC-based servers.

See also:

inetd, /etc/inetd.conf file, rpcinfo