Configuring and Managing MPE/iX Internet Services (August 2002)

Chapter 5

TFTP Service

Overview of tftpd

TFTP is a simplified version of the File Transfer Protocol (FTP). The primary function of the TFTP daemon

tftpd is to support the Bootstrap Protocol BOOTP, which allows network devices to get the information they

need to boot, or start, themselves. Network devices commonly use TFTP to transmit boot files because TFTP is

simple enough to be implemented in ROM.

On the HP e3000, the TFTP daemon tftpd transfers files to or from the host HP e3000 to remote systems or

printers. Configuring tftpd on your system allows you to make boot files (and other kinds of files) available to

remote clients that support TFTP.

Configuring tftpd

To configure tftpd, you will edit two files: the services file, which lists the individual services that comprise

the suite of Internet Services, and the inetd configuration file, which informs the Internet daemon about

running tftpd on this system. These tasks are explained in the next sections.

Editing the Services File

The services file associates official service names and aliases with the port number and protocol the services

use. To enable tftpd, you must update the services file. Perform the following:

1. Open the services file with an MPE text editor. You may edit the /etc/services file from the POSIX

shell or the SERVICES.NET.SYS file from MPE/iX, whichever you prefer. Both names should point to the

same file.

2. Verify that the following line exists in the file or add it if it does not:

tftp 69/udp # Trivial File Transfer Protocol

3. If the line already exists in the file and it is preceded by a pound symbol (#), delete the symbol and any

spaces before the service name to enable the service.

4. Save the file and exit the editor program.

Adding TFTP Service to inetd Configuration

The configuration file for inetd determines which installed Internet Services are available to users. To add

tftpd to your system, you will need to edit this configuration file, then have inetd re-read the configuration.

To do so:

1. Open the inetd configuration file with a text editor. You may edit the /etc/inetd.conf file from the

POSIX shell or the INETDCNF.NET.SYS file from MPE/iX, whichever you prefer. Both names point to the

same file.

2. Verify that the following line exists in the file or add it if it does not:

tftp dgram udp wait USER.TFTP /SYS/NET/TFTPD tftpd

3. If the line already exists in the file and it is preceded by a pound symbol (#), delete the symbol and any

spaces before the service name to enable the service.