---
name: "huntd"
section: "6"
platform: "linux"
package: "bsdgames"
version: "2.17-29+b1"
release: "Debian 12 (Bookworm)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/huntd"
---

# huntd(6)

hunt daemon, back-end for hunt game

## NAME

**huntd** – hunt daemon, back-end for hunt game

## SYNOPSIS

**huntd** \[**-s**\] \[**-p** *port*\]

## DESCRIPTION

**huntd** controls the multi-player [hunt(6)](/hunt/6.md) game. When it starts up, it tries to notify all members of the *hunt-players* mailing list (see [sendmail(8)](/sendmail/8.md)) by faking a [talk(1)](/talk/1.md) request from user “Hunt Game”.

The **-s** option is for running **huntd** forever (server mode). This is similar to running it under the control of [inetd(8)](/inetd/8.md) (see below), but it consumes a process table entry when no one is playing.

The **-p** option changes the UDP port number used to rendezvous with the player process and thus allows for private games of hunt. This option turns off the notification of players on the *hunt-players* mailing list.

### INETD

To run **huntd** from [inetd(8)](/inetd/8.md), you'll need to put the **hunt** service in */etc/services*:

```
hunt 26740/udp		# multi-player/multi-host mazewars
```

and add the following line to */etc/inetd.conf*:

```
hunt dgram udp wait nobody /usr/sbin/huntd huntd
```

Do not use any of the command line options; if you want [inetd(8)](/inetd/8.md) to start up **huntd** on a private port, change the port listed for **hunt** in */etc/services*.

## NETWORK RENDEZVOUS

When [hunt(6)](/hunt/6.md) starts up, it broadcasts on the local area net (using the broadcast address for each interface) to find a **hunt** game in progress. If a **huntd** hears the request, it sends back the port number for the **hunt** process to connect to. Otherwise, the **hunt** process starts up a **huntd** on the local machine and tries to rendezvous with it.

## SEE ALSO

[talk(1)](/talk/1.md), [hunt(6)](/hunt/6.md), [sendmail(8)](/sendmail/8.md)

## AUTHORS

Conrad Huang, Ken Arnold, and Greg Couch;\
 University of California, San Francisco, Computer Graphics Lab