ZSERV(8)

📦 version 2025.09.18.4, in nixos 26.05, nixpkgs unstable

💅 ZSERV(8) — like, the whole vibe

okay so bestie, welcome to ZSERV(8), from the System Manager's Manual ✨ this is the page for the one and only zserv, and yes it's a system manager situation, not a "double-click it" situation. buckle up 🎀

🌸 NAME 🌸

zserv — the CERNLIB server program for transferring ZEBRA formatted files. that's it, that's the whole name section, and honestly? iconic. 💜

✨ DESCRIPTION ✨

so zserv is the server for the ZFTP file transfer program. she's a listener girly — she listens for connections on port 346 👑 and handles them when they show up.

🫶 real talk: zserv is not in general run from the command line. not even a little. she runs only via inetd(8). so like, don't go typing her name in a terminal and expecting a main character moment, because that's not her lane. she's a inetd-launched queen, periodt.

and now the serious part, bestie, please read this one 😭

💀 Please note that, like many other FTP servers, zserv receives unencrypted passwords over the network. like... plaintext. out there. on the wire. so it should therefore be used only within a trusted LAN. no cap. don't put this on the open internet, she is a local vibe only. 🔥

🎀 FILES 🎀

  • /etc/inetd.conf — specifies how inetd should call zserv. this is the file that tells inetd how to summon her 💅

🦋 SEE ALSO 🦋

and for the lore, bestie: zserv is part of the CERNLIB CSPACK package, and it's documented fully at http://wwwinfo.cern.ch/asdoc/psdir/cspack.ps.gz (PostScript) 📄 or http://wwwinfo.cern.ch/asdoc/WWW/cspack/cspmain/cspmain.html (HTML) 🌈 — pick your fighter, both links are literally right there.

💖 AUTHOR 💖

this manual page was written by Kevin McCarty <kmccarty@debian.org> for the Debian GNU/Linux system — and, cute detail, but may be used by others. 🫶 sharing is caring, we love an accessible king.

⭐ and that's a wrap! stay safe out there on your trusted LAN, keep your passwords encrypted (or at least, like, not this), and remember she's part of the CERNLIB CSPACK package, dated February 3, 2003, living her ZSERV(8) life in the System Manager's Manual 🎀💜✨

📦 where this page comes from