The
utility is a server that converts
RPC
program numbers into
universal addresses.
It must be running on the host to be able to make
RPC
calls
on a server on that machine.
When an
RPC
service is started,
it tells
the address at which it is listening,
and the
RPC
program numbers it is prepared to serve.
When a client wishes to make an
RPC
call to a given program number,
it first contacts
on the server machine to determine
the address where
RPC
requests should be sent.
The
utility should be started before any other RPC service.
Normally, standard
RPC
servers are started by port monitors, so
must be started before port monitors are invoked.
When
is started, it checks that certain name-to-address
translation-calls function correctly.
If they fail, the network configuration databases may be corrupt.
Since
RPC
services cannot function correctly in this situation,
reports the condition and terminates.
The
utility can only be started by the super-user.