NAME

portmap − DARPA port to RPC program number mapper

SYNOPSIS

/etc/portmap

DESCRIPTION

Portmap is a server that converts RPC program numbers into DARPA protocol port numbers.  It must be running in order to make RPC calls. 

When an RPC server is started, it tells portmap what port number it is listening to, and what RPC program numbers it is prepared to serve.  When a client wishes to make an RPC call to a given program number, it first contacts portmap on the server machine to determine the port number where RPC packets should be sent. 

Normally, standard RPC servers are started by inetd(8c), so portmap must be started before inetd is invoked. 

SEE ALSO

servers(5), inetd(8C), rpcinfo(8)

BUGS

If portmap crashes, all servers must be restarted. 

4BSD