FC2: SSH Default?
 

Should fedora core 2 be running an SSH daemon as default?

It's just that a netstat -a | grep ssh brings up:

[tom@delphinius-ii tom]$ netstat -a | grep ssh
tcp 0 0 *:ssh *:* LISTEN
unix 2 [ ACC ] STREAM LISTENING 4200 /tmp/ssh-Rpws2312/agent.2312


And I can indeed ssh localhost, which lets my login and use my pc over ssh.

Is this on by default, or should i be worried?

It is on by default. You can turn it off by going to the Fedora Menu >> System Setting >> Server Settings >> Services if you have that installed.

Yeah, I just noticed its entry in Services after I posted. Seems an odd service, as most newbies won't know how to use SSH, and most power users would enable it themselves anyway. I suppose the firewall blocks its port by default, but it's still a bit odd.

You do have a point. I would say, however, that most distributions have it turned on by default. I know all don't but in my experience most have it on. I could be wrong, though.

Along similar lines: Isn't it a bit odd that xinetd also gets started at boot time? I can't see why it should as for the best of my knowledge it is only used to accommodate other server programs. Is it used for some internal server programs like a font or an x server or something? Does anyone know if you can safely uninstall it if your box is only used as a desktop?

Btw, wouldn't it be a good idea to start a "stuff you can ditch when using FC2 as a basic standalone desktop" thread or something? It would be very helpful for a n00b like myself..

I don't believe that there are any net services running under xinetd by default. I would just prevent it from starting up on start up. I"m pretty sure that's how I set mine to do. I'm not in front of it right now so I can't say for sure. But you shouldn't have any problem by disabling it.