The rsh, rlogin, and rexec server should only be run on a system after carefully considering the security implications as this service offers very little security. It is strongly recommended that the OpenSSH package and SSH server (sshd) be used for better security.

In order to run an rsh, rlogin, and rexec server, the rsh-server package is required. It may be installed from your installation CDs using the rpm command:

rpm -ivh rsh-server-<version>.rpm;

Alternatively if you have your system registered with Red Hat Network (RHN), you may install it using up2date:

up2date -i rsh-server

Once you install the rsh-server, the rsh, rlogin, and rexec services are launched by xinetd. To enable the services, the redhat-config-services program in the X window system, or the ntsysv program may be used. Once enabled, the xinetd service must be restarted using the service command:

service xinetd restart

Here is a simple test to see if the service is available. Run the rsh command on the system that is hosting the rsh-server. Assuming there is a user on the system called 'someuser':

[someuser@example.com someuser]$ rsh -l someuser localhost
Password:
Last login: Mon Mar 21 12:23:24 on tty1
You have new mail.
[someuser@example.com someuser]$ exit

The option -l tells rsh to login as the user specified. Note: If the '-l someuser' option was left out, rsh will use the username running the program.