Summary

Knowing how to start a server program is critically important to using Linux as a server computer. Considered broadly, there are three major methods of starting a Linux server: SysV startup scripts, super servers, and local startup scripts. Every Linux distribution is unique in the details of how it starts servers using these methods, so you'll have to study your own distribution's methods in order to adjust your system's configuration. Particularly important are the locations and startup sequence numbers of SysV startup scripts, and whether the computer uses inetd or xinetd as its super server. Once you've learned the methods provided by your distribution for starting servers, you'll be well prepared for setting up both common and uncommon servers and other network tools, as described in the rest of this book.