---
name: "talkd"
section: "8"
platform: "linux"
package: "inetutils"
version: "2.8-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux", "freebsd", "openbsd", "macos"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/talkd"
---

# talkd(8)

Talk server

## NAME

talkd - Talk server

## SYNOPSIS

**talkd** \[*OPTION*...\]

## DESCRIPTION

Talk daemon, using service \`ntalk'.

- **-a**, **--acl**=*FILE*

  read site-wide ACLs from FILE

- **-d**, **--debug**

  enable debugging

**-i**, **--idle-timeout**=*SECONDS* set idle timeout value to SECONDS

- **-l**, **--logging**

  enable more syslog reporting

- **-r**, **--request-ttl**=*SECONDS*

  set request time-to-live value to SECONDS

- **-S**, **--strict-policy**

  apply strict ACL policy

- **-t**, **--timeout**=*SECONDS*

  set timeout value to SECONDS

- \-?, **--help**

  give this help list

- **--usage**

  give a short usage message

- **-V**, **--version**

  print program version

Mandatory or optional arguments to long options are also mandatory or optional for any corresponding short options.

## AUTHOR

Written by Sergey Poznyakoff.

## REPORTING BUGS

Report bugs to \<bug-inetutils@gnu.org\>.

## COPYRIGHT

Copyright © 2026 Free Software Foundation, Inc. License GPLv3+: GNU GPL version 3 or later \<https://gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html\>.\
 This is free software: you are free to change and redistribute it. There is NO WARRANTY, to the extent permitted by law.

## SEE ALSO

[talk(1)](/talk/1.md)

The full documentation for **talkd** is maintained as a Texinfo manual.  If the **info** and **talkd** programs are properly installed at your site, the command

-

  **info talkd**

should give you access to the complete manual.