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services available for all distributions January 4, 2006
By Jaqui Greenlees
Takeaway
This document lists the majority of services available for any distribution of Linux. The list includes a description of
each service's purpose, and a comment regarding whether it is a required service.
Linux services
This document lists the majority of services available for any distribution of Linux. The list includes a description of
each service's purpose, and a comment regarding whether it is a required service. This listing is not specifically
directed at desktop or a server installation; it includes the services for both types.
I will also list as required only those services that the system must have functioning to run, not services which act
as enhancements. This listing is from the Mandriva Free 2006 Distribution and there are two distribution specific
items in the list, which I have specified within Table A.
I generated this list by installing absolutely everything from the three CD-ROMs, not something you will need to
do. If you use this list as a guideline and see services listed here that are not in your list, this is a good thing. You
should actually never see this long a list on any installation you intend to use.
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Linux 101: A comprehensive list of Linux services available for all distributions
Table A
Alphabetical Listing of Services
adsl No Internal ADSL switch control Use this only if you have an
internal adsl switch for your
internet connection.
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Linux 101: A comprehensive list of Linux services available for all distributions
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Linux 101: A comprehensive list of Linux services available for all distributions
diald No Smart auto dialer for dialup This service will connect to
networking the network on demand, as
in you type an email and hit
send, it will connect you,
send the email and
disconnect you.
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Linux 101: A comprehensive list of Linux services available for all distributions
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Linux 101: A comprehensive list of Linux services available for all distributions
iptables Yes kernel based Packet All good Linux firewalls are
Filtering firewall based on this service.
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Linux 101: A comprehensive list of Linux services available for all distributions
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Linux 101: A comprehensive list of Linux services available for all distributions
numlock No number lock light control This will keep the Numlock
activated, turning the
keyboard number pad on.
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Linux 101: A comprehensive list of Linux services available for all distributions
Postgresql No The Postgresql Database You only need this if you are
Engine either running a postgresql
db drives application or are
developing one.
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Linux 101: A comprehensive list of Linux services available for all distributions
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Linux 101: A comprehensive list of Linux services available for all distributions
upsmon No Monitoring tool for UPS This will monitor the status
of the ups, and shut the
system down when it's
running low.
vncserver No Server for Virtual network Very useful for using VNC in
computing projects.
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Linux 101: A comprehensive list of Linux services available for all distributions
x-inetd Yes Server for monitoring and This is required service, and
controlling other servers it actually reduces CPU load
on a server. if you need
SSH, ftp, etc but not all the
time, the x-inetd version will
start them on request, even
remote request. This allows
for them to be available, but
frees the clock-cycles if they
are only being used a few
times a day / week.
ypbind No Name Server for Sun's YP This is for GLIBC based NIS
server / YP networked systems.
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Linux 101: A comprehensive list of Linux services available for all distributions
Additional resources
• TechRepublic's Downloads RSS Feed
• Sign up for our Downloads Weekly Update newsletter
• Sign up for TechRepublic's Linux NetNote newsletter
• Check out all of TechRepublic's free newsletters
• Linux 101: Configuring and managing iptables for better network security
• Linux 101: How to set up Linux on a personal computer
• 10 things you should do to a new Linux PC before connecting to the Internet
Version history
Version: 1.0
Published: January 4, 2006
Thanks!
—The TechRepublic Downloads Team
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