Installing Identd on Mepis 6.0

When I tried to install pidentd using synaptic in Mepis 6.0, it didn't take long to figure out that the package was missing needed configuration files and init scripts and that it didn't generate an identd.key file or setup the identd service. After some trial and error, I finally figured out how to get it up and running. Here's how.

First, install pidentd using synaptic.

After pidentd is installed, open a console and su to root.

Type the following command '/usr/sbin/ikeygen' without the apostrophes.

This will generate the file /etc/identd.key

Next, as root in your console, type 'nano -w /etc/init.d/identd' and enter the following code:

#!/bin/sh
#
# identd control script
#
#

PIDFILE=/etc/identd.pid
IDENTD=/usr/sbin/identd

if [ -f $PIDFILE ]; then
pid=`cat $PIDFILE`
fi

case $1 in
'start')
if [ -x $IDENTD ]; then
echo "Starting Identd"
$IDENTD
fi
;;

'stop')
if [ "${pid}" != "" ]; then
/bin/kill ${pid}
fi
;;

*)
echo 'usage: /etc/init.d/identd {start|stop}'
;;
esac

Hit Control-O to save the file to /etc/init.d/identd and then hit Control-X to exit nano.

As root, type the command 'chmod a+x /etc/init.d/identd'

As root, type the command 'ln -s /etc/init.d/identd /etc/rc5.d/SS99identd'

This will create a symbolic link in /etc/rc5.d/S99identd to the init script in /etc/init.d/identd

Next, edit /etc/identd.conf to configure your identd daemon to your liking (don't worry, the file is well documented and easy to understand)

You can now start the identd daemon by typing, as root in your console, '/etc/init.d/identd start' or you can just reboot and the daemon will start automatically. You can confirm that the daemon is running using ksysv (install it using synaptic if you haven't already done so.)

And THAT is how I got identd up and running in Mepis 6.0. I hope you find this HOWTO helpful and any remarks are appreciated as this is my first Linux HOWTO.