From owner-freebsd-questions Thu Jul 31 20:42:49 1997 Return-Path: Received: (from root@localhost) by hub.freebsd.org (8.8.5/8.8.5) id UAA22689 for questions-outgoing; Thu, 31 Jul 1997 20:42:49 -0700 (PDT) Received: from srv.net (snake.srv.net [199.104.81.3]) by hub.freebsd.org (8.8.5/8.8.5) with ESMTP id UAA22677 for ; Thu, 31 Jul 1997 20:42:30 -0700 (PDT) Received: from darkstar (pmif143.ida.net [204.228.203.143]) by srv.net (8.8.5/8.8.5) with SMTP id VAA09024; Thu, 31 Jul 1997 21:41:44 -0600 (MDT) Date: Thu, 31 Jul 1997 21:41:10 -0600 (MDT) From: Charles Mott X-Sender: cmott@darkstar To: Brian Somers cc: Ruslan Ermilov , FreeBSD Questions , ari.suutari@ps.carel.fi Subject: Re: NATD -use_sockets option question In-Reply-To: <199708010041.BAA18379@awfulhak.org> Message-ID: MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII Sender: owner-freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG X-Loop: FreeBSD.org Precedence: bulk On Fri, 1 Aug 1997, Brian Somers wrote: > > Hi! > > > > I have no enough experience with natd, so my question: > > > > What does the natd's -use_sockets option? > > > > `man natd' says: > > > > -use_sockets | -s > > Allocate a socket(2) in order to establish an FTP data or IRC > > DCC send connection. This option uses more system resources, > > but guarantees successful connections when port numbers con- > > flict. > > > > But in alias.h I see: > > > > /* If PKT_ALIAS_USE_SOCKETS is set, then when partially specified > > links (e.g. destination port and/or address is zero), the packet > > aliasing engine will attempt to allocate a socket for the aliasing > > port it chooses. This will avoid interference with the host > > machine. Fully specified links do not require this. */ > > > > I don't undestand the {FTP data connection} and {partially specified links} > > relationship. What is it? Please, explain. > > I think Charles is the best person to ask about this (cc'd). > > > TIA, > > --- > > Ruslan A. Ermilov System Administrator > > ru@ucb.crimea.ua United Commercial Bank > > +380-652-247 647 Simferopol, Crimea > > -- > Brian , > > Don't _EVER_ lose your sense of humour.... Ruslan, For most users, the "use_sockets" option should be enabled (this is the default). There are certain cases when the FreeBSD machine is being only as a router that it is not necessary. I have written a (long) man page for the packet aliasing library which attempts to explain the meaning of a "partially specified aliasing link" in an appendix. I sent this man page to the FreeBSD organization but I don't know if it has been included into the -current source tree yet. Charles Mott