man Pages(4): File Formats

protocols(4)

NAME

protocols- protocol name database

SYNOPSIS

/etc/inet/protocols

/etc/protocols

DESCRIPTION

The protocols file is a local source of information regarding the known protocols used in the DARPA Internet. The protocols file can be used in conjunction with or instead of other protocols sources, including the NIS maps ``protcols.byname'' and ``"protocols.bynumber'' and the NIS+ table ``protocols''. Programs use the getprotobyname(3N) routine to access this information.

The protocols file has one line for each protocol. The line has the following format:

: official-protocol-name protocol-number aliases

Items are separated by any number of blanks and/or TAB characters. A `#' indicates the beginning of a comment; characters up to the end of the line are not interpreted by routines which search the file. Protocol names may contain any printable character other than a field delimiter, NEWLINE, or comment character.

EXAMPLES

Example 1 A sample database.

The following is a sample database:

#
# Internet (IP) protocols
#
ip	0	IP	# internet protocol, pseudo protocol number
icmp	1	ICMP	# internet control message protocol
ggp	3	GGP	# gateway-gateway protocol
tcp	6	TCP	# transmission control protocol
pup	12	PUP	# PARC universal packet protocol
udp	17	UDP	# user datagram protocol

FILES

/etc/nsswitch.conf: configuration file for name-service switch

NOTES

/etc/inet/protocols is the official SVR4 name of the protocols file. The symbolic link /etc/protocols exists for BSD compatibility.

SunOS 5.7 Last Revised 22 Feb 1994