As many users have found out, telnet comes disable by default in a Slackware installation. If you ever find a need to turn in on, here's how:

1) Uncomment the 'telnet' line from /etc/inetd.conf.

vi /etc/inetd.conf

2) Restart the inetd server.

ps -ef |grep inetd # find inetd and take note of its PID number
kill -HUP 'PID number of inetd'

3) Test.

telnet localhost

As a note, there is a file (/var/run/inetd.pid) that contains inetd pid so to simply restart inetd, I do :

kill -HUP `cat /var/run/inetd.pid`

And for the lazy: "killall -HUP inetd".

DONT!!!

There's a reason it's disabled: it's spectacularly insecure!

Use ssh instead. It comes enabled by default because it's ... better.

But, while you're nosing around in /etc/inetd.conf, be sure to comment out the ftp line. Then use sftp instead :-)

Enjoy!
--- Cerbere

.

mb

I think Cerebere's warning was very correct and appropriate.

Me too.

Considering this is a forum where people come to learn about Linux, I would say that this is an erroneous assumption.
I'm well aware that this is a thread about telnet. However, I'm of the opinion that any thread about telnet which makes no mention of its inherent lack of security is incomplete, especially when it's presented as a 'how-to'.

I didn't post here to preach, nor to enter into a flame war, but rather to add some relevant information which you omitted. And no matter what your political affiliation, I find it highly inappropriate to attempt to shout down a differing opinion. Perhaps you should review the rules you agreed to when you registered for this forum, specifically:Enjoy!
--- Cerbere

I was trying to be funny, bro. Apparently this was lost on you. I have edited my response so that future misunderstandings may not happen.