How to Configure Telnet Server in Linux

Telnet is a network protocol that allows you to access a text-based console on a remote computer. The remote computer must be running a Telnet server. Most Linux distributions provide you with the Telnet client software by default, but the Telnet server software must be installed separately. The server software is called "telnetd" or "telnet-server," depending on which distribution you are using. Telnet is not a secure protocol. The commands are sent over the network in clear text rather than encrypted. Telnet has been replaced by the SSH protocol in many instances.

Things You'll Need

• Telnetd or telnet-server package

Instructions

1. Open a terminal window. The terminal window is called "Terminal," "Konsole" or "Xterm," depending on the distribution that you are using.

2. Download and install the "telnetd" package from your system's software repository. Ubuntu, Linux Mint or Debian users type "apt-get install telnetd" while "yum install telnet-server telnet" should be typed by Fedora users.

3. Type the command "vi /etc/xinetd.d/telnet" to open the telnet configuration file if you are installing it on a Fedora machine. Change the "disable = no" line to "disable = yes". Ubuntu, Linux Mint and Debian users should skip this step.

4. Restart the telnet service. Type "/etc/init.d/inetd restart" if you are a Ubuntu, Linux Mint or Debian user. Type "/etc/init.d/xinetd restart" if you are a Fedora user.

Tips & Warnings

• Telnet is not a secure protocol. All information is sent as clear text.

References

• UnixCraft: How do I turn on telnet service on for a Linux / FreeBSD system?
• Ubuntu Geek: Setting Up a Telnet Server in Ubuntu