iputils-20250605

#### Supplemental Linux® From Scratch - Version 13.0

### Chapter 4. System Utilities

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# iputils-20250605

## Introduction to iputils

The iputils contains a collection of networking utilities.

- Download: https://github.com/iputils/iputils/releases/download/20250605/iputils-20250605.tar.gz

### iputils Dependencies

#### Recommended

libidn2

## Installation of iputils

First, create the installation directory as the `root` user:

    mkdir -pv /opt/iputils-20250605 &&
    ln -svfn iputils-20250605 /opt/iputils

Install iputils by running the following commands:

    mkdir build &&
    cd    build &&

    meson setup --prefix=/opt/iputils-20250605        \
                --buildtype=release                   \
                -D INSTALL_SYSTEMD_UNITS=false        \
                .. &&

    ninja

Now, as the `root` user:

    ninja install

## Command Explanations

### Note

Inspect `meson_options.txt` or `meson.options` for a full list of options.

`--buildtype=release`: Specify a buildtype suitable for stable releases of the package, as the default may produce unoptimized binaries.

`--prefix=/opt/iputils-20250605`: Installs the package into a versioned subdirectory of /opt in order to avoid filename collisions with the ping command installed in LFS.

`-D INSTALL_SYSTEMD_UNITS=false`: Disables some dead code which is not used anywhere in the package.

`-D USE_IDN=false`: This option disables IDN support. Use it if you have not installed the recommended dependency.

## Configuring iputils

### Configuration Information

As the `root` user, create the `/etc/profile.d/iputils.sh` file to be able to use the newly installed tools:

    cat > /etc/profile.d/iputils.sh << "EOF"
    # Begin /etc/profile.d/iputils.sh

    pathprepend /opt/iputils/bin PATH

    # End /etc/profile.d/iputils.sh
    EOF

Immediately after installation, update the current PATH for your current shell as a normal user:

    source /etc/profile.d/iputils.sh

To use mandb to include the iputils man pages in its database, issue, as the `root` user:

    cat >> /etc/man_db.conf << "EOF" &&
    # Begin iputils addition
    MANDATORY_MANPATH     /opt/iputils/share/man
    MANPATH_MAP           /opt/iputils/bin           /opt/iputils/share/man
    MANDB_MAP             /opt/iputils/share/man     /var/cache/man/iputils
    # End iputils addition
    EOF

    mkdir -p /var/cache/man &&
    mandb -c /opt/iputils/share/man

## Contents

Installed Programs: arping, clockdiff, ping, and tracepath
Installed Libraries: None
Installed Directories: /opt/iputils, symbolic link to /opt/iputils-20250605

### Short Descriptions

arping | sends an ARP request to a neighboring host
clockdiff | measures clock difference between hosts
ping | sends an ICMP ECHO request to a host
tracepath | traces the path to a network host

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