PORTMAP(8) | System Manager's Manual | PORTMAP(8)

# NAME

`portmap` — Internet protocol port to RPC program number mapper

# SYNOPSIS

`portmap` | [`-d`]

# DESCRIPTION

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

When an RPC server is started, it will tell `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 will first contact `portmap` on the server machine to determine the port number where RPC packets should be sent.

`portmap` must be started before any RPC servers are invoked.

Normally `portmap` forks and dissociates itself from the terminal like any other daemon. `portmap` then logs errors using syslog(3).

The options are as follows:

`-d`
  (debug) prevents `portmap` from running as a daemon, and causes errors and debugging information to be printed to the standard error output.

# SEE ALSO

inetd(8), rpcinfo(8)

# HISTORY

The `portmap` command appeared in 4.3BSD.

# BUGS

If `portmap` crashes, all servers must be restarted.

March 3, 2019 | Debian