# Install telnetd with Homebrew, apt TELNET server. Version 308 via Homebrew; verified 2026-04-22. ## Install ```sh sudo av install brew:telnetd ``` Additional install commands: ### macOS - Homebrew (100%): ```sh brew install telnetd ``` Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata ### Linux - Debian apt (92%): ```sh sudo apt install telnetd ``` Evidence: Debian stable package indexes: telnetd from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz ## Package facts - **Package key:** brew:telnetd - **Package manager:** Homebrew - **Package manager page:** - **Version:** 308 - **Source summary:** TELNET server - **Homepage:** - **Repository:** - **Upstream docs:** - **License:** BSD-4-Clause-UC AND BSD-3-Clause - **Source archive:** - **Last updated:** 2026-04-22T01:04:14Z - **Generated:** 2026-07-08T07:18:31+00:00 ## Install behavior - Post-install hook: not defined - Caveats: You may need super-user privileges to run this program properly. See the man page for more details. - Bottle: available on arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, sonoma ## Freshness - Page generated: 2026-07-08 - Package-manager version: 308 - Package-manager updated: 2026-04-22 - Local data: ok - Upstream repository: https://github.com/apple-oss-distributions/remote_cmds - info: No cached GitHub release or tag data was available. ## Project history and usage telnetd is the server-side daemon for the TELNET virtual terminal protocol. The Apple-distributed BSD manpage describes it as a DARPA TELNET protocol server normally invoked by `inetd` for requests to the TELNET port listed in `/etc/services`. ### Project history Like the client, telnetd belongs to the BSD TCP/IP remote-command family, with University of California copyright dates beginning in 1983. Its manual history and FreeBSD provenance show the daemon as operating-system infrastructure rather than a new standalone application. The daemon implements the protocol standardized by RFC 854 and the option negotiation system documented by RFC 855. The manpage describes support for line mode, authentication modes when compiled in, optional encryption debugging, TCP keep-alives, TOS settings, alternate login programs, and manual debug startup. ### Adoption history telnetd was historically the server counterpart to the ubiquitous telnet client and was commonly launched from an internet super-server. As secure shell became the expected remote-login mechanism, telnetd moved from default infrastructure to an optional package used for legacy environments, labs, embedded-device testing, and protocol compatibility. Its narrower package-manager footprint compared with the telnet client reflects that shift: installing a TELNET server is operationally riskier and less common than keeping a TELNET client for diagnostics. ### How it is used The manpage says telnetd is normally invoked by `inetd`, but can be started manually with debugging enabled and an alternate TCP port. It delegates user verification to `login` unless authentication support and stricter modes are configured. In the package-nerd niche, telnetd is mostly used to recreate old Unix remote-login behavior, test TELNET option negotiation, exercise clients, or run controlled legacy services. It is rarely a recommended production remote-access daemon. ### Why package nerds care telnetd is significant as the daemon half of one of the Internet's oldest terminal protocols. Its optional packaging documents the post-SSH fate of insecure network daemons: retained for compatibility and testing, but separated from default installs. The formula is also useful to people studying inetd-era service activation, terminal negotiation, and the historical relationship between network daemons, `/etc/services`, and login programs. ### Timeline - 1983: RFC 854 standardized TELNET. - 1983: RFC 855 specified TELNET option documentation and assignment. - 1983-1994: BSD telnetd manpage lineage records University of California copyrights and Berkeley manual revisions. - 2005: FreeBSD provenance in the manpage reflects continued maintenance of the BSD-derived daemon. ### Related projects - telnet is the companion client. - inetd and login are part of the traditional operating-system context in which telnetd runs. - sshd replaced telnetd for secure interactive remote login on modern systems. ### Sources - - - - source_facts.package-manager ## Security Notes No matching local secret-handling manifest was found for telnetd. Nucleus package metadata is still published here so future coverage has a stable package URL. ## Configuration and credential file locations These source-backed paths show where this package keeps local settings or durable credentials. Automic Vault can use them as review targets for secret scanning, migration, and command approval. ## Configuration files - Unix: /etc/services, /etc/gettytab, /etc/iptos ## Source Database Details - **Source Database:** Homebrew formula API - **Tap:** homebrew/core - **Full Name:** telnetd - **Version Scheme:** 0 - **Revision:** 0 - **Requirements:** macos, xcode - **Bottle Stable Root URL:** - **Deprecated:** no - **Disabled:** no - **Keg Only:** no - **URL Keys:** stable ## Other Package-Manager Records - Debian apt - telnetd - 0.17+2.6-3+deb13u3: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: telnetd from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | transitional dummy package for inetutils-telnetd default switch | https://www.gnu.org/software/inetutils/ - Ubuntu apt - telnetd - 0.17+2.5-3ubuntu4: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: telnetd from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | transitional dummy package for inetutils-telnetd default switch | https://www.gnu.org/software/inetutils/ ## Related links - [Networking and protocol packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/networking-protocol-tools/) - Matched network, protocol, or remote-service metadata. - [telnet](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/telnet/) - Shares the same upstream source repository. - [bsdmake](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/bsdmake/) - Shares the same upstream homepage. - [mtoc](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/mtoc/) - Shares the same upstream homepage. - [sshportal](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/sshportal/) - Local metadata places this package in an adjacent workflow. Shared terms: server, telnet. - [gamedig](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/npm/gamedig/) - Local metadata places this package in an adjacent workflow. Shared terms: server, telnet. ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/telnetd.yml](https://github.com/automic-vault/db/blob/main/combined/telnetd.yml) ## Sources - Nucleus package database - package-page enrichment - curated configuration and credential file locations - curated package history - package version freshness - package relationship graph - external package-manager database matches - cross-ecosystem install command graph