1. How do I set up Telnet? I mean that. From the beginning. What do I install and what files do I modify in order to get it working?
Install openssh, ssh is an "encrypted telnet".
2. In order for Firebird to work, I had to install xinetd. When I did so, Yast told me I would have to set START_INETD to NO. Where do I do this?
Not sure, but fyi inetd and xinetd perform similar functions - start and stop services at boot and shutdown.
3. Will xinetd automatically start at boot time? The reason I ask is that even after installing inetd and rebooting the system, I had to manually start it up. How do I ensure that these things start at boot time?
Try here: YaST2 -> System Properties -> Runlevel Properties I expect that without X you are normally booting to runlevel 3. Check /etc/inittab to be sure. First uncommented line in the file should be something like: id:5:initdefault:
4. Following on from the above, what is the general rule for getting something to run at boot time? What file should you put the commands in?
Either use the runlevel editor above, or put them in /etc/init.d/boot.local. -- John LeMay KC2KTH Senior Enterprise Consultant NJMC | http://www.njmc.com | Phone 732-557-4848 Specializing in Microsoft and Unix based solutions