If you use inetd, the following command will add the qpopper entry to /etc/inetd.conf: echo "pop3 stream tcp nowait root /usr/sbin/popper popper" >> \ /etc/inetd.conf && killall inetd || inetd && echo "local0.notice;local0.debug /var/log/POP.log" >> \ /etc/syslog.conf && killall -HUP syslogd Issue a killall -HUP inetd to reread the changed inetd.conf file. If you use xinetd, the following command will add the qpopper entry to /etc/xinetd.conf: cat >> /etc/xinetd.conf << "EOF" service pop3 { port = 110 socket_type = stream protocol = tcp wait = no user = root server = /usr/sbin/popper } EOF Issue a killall -HUP xinetd to reread the changed xinetd.conf file.