Configuring the Services File

Locating the services file

You do not need to configure a service port entry for your Firebird server or clients if the server uses the installation defaults, gds_db on port 3050. If gds_db is the port service name and it cannot be resolved to any other port, it will map to port 3050 automatically.

If you are configuring the service port for a different port or service name, both the server and the client must be explicitly updated to reflect the reconfiguration. On both Linux and Windows, this information is stored in the services file.

Locating the services file

Windows XP/S2003: C:\windows\system32\drivers\etc\services
Windows NT/2000: C:\winnt\system32\drivers\etc\services
Windows 95/98/ME: C:\windows\services
Linux/UNIX: /etc/services

A services entry looks like this:

  gds_db 3050/tcp # Firebird Server 1.5

Open the file using a text editor and either add a line or edit the existing gds_db entry, as follows:

for a Firebird 1.0.x server or client, alter either the service name or the port number to reflect how your server will start up.
for a Firebird 1.5 or higher server, edit or add a line, as required. If you have a Firebird 1.0 or InterBase server installed on the same host, retain the entries they require and add a new entry reflecting how the Firebird 1.5 server will start up.