> Melissa, if you're running Linux to Linux, make sure that you are running > identd. Lot's of speedup happens if you do it.
Identd is a courtesy service, providing to the remote server the name of the user on the client side initiating the connection. Many people don't use it, and so you are subjected to one- or two-minute pauses while the remote server waits for an answer. You really have two choices, both very simple:
1. Activate the pidentd service if your box is Linux. "chkconfig pidentd on" and "service pidentd start" are the two commands you would need to run (as root, of course).
2. Use your firewall to REJECT identd connections (tcp port 113). By doing this, when anyone asks you for identd information you will instantly send back a REJECT packet and there will be no nasty pause.
I recommend #2, since identd is:
* only a courtesy, not a requirement
* one less service to run
* uses less memory
* opens one less port on my box
* lowers my security risk
* provides less info about my users to others
-- Rodolfo J. Paiz rpaiz@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
