The simplest way to install atftp is using either the Debian package or one provided by your distribution if any. If you need to install atftp from source, here's the procedure. 1) Needed libraries ---------------- libpthread Needed for the atftpd server. libwrap Optional if you need host access control. libpcre Optional if you want to perform file name substitution. See README.PCRE. libreadline Optional. Used by the atftp client for better command line input and history. 2) Needed tools ------------ At least, you need these programs: make gcc You may also need these: cvs automake (tested using version 1.7 and 1.8) autoconf (tested with version 2.50) 3) How to compile -------------- 3.1) From tarball ./configure [options] (this generates makefiles) make (actually build the programs) su -c 'make install' (install files (default location is /usr) 3.2) From cvs checkout ./autogen.sh (this generate the configure script) ./configure [options] (this generate makefiles) make (actually build the programs) su -c 'make install' (install files (default location is /usr) 4) How to start atftpd server -------------------------- 4.1) Using the inetd super server Add this line to the /etc/inetd.conf file: tftp dgram udp wait nobody /usr/sbin/tcpd /usr/sbin/in.tftpd /tftpboot You can add needed option to atftpd as you which at the end of the line. 4.2) Using xinetd Add this to the /etc/xinetd.conf file, or create /etc/xinetd.d/tftp-udp file with the following content: # tftp-udp service tftp { id = tftp-udp disable = no socket_type = dgram protocol = udp wait = no user = nobody nice = 5 server = /usr/local/sbin/atftpd server_args = /tftpboot # add other server argument as necessary } # eof 4.3) As a stand alone server from init.d scripts You need to add the proper init script in you boot sequence. The Debian package automatically does that. I'm not aware if any rpm based distribution include init scripts. If you absolutely need this on rpm based distribution or on other systems, start with the Debian scripts and adapt it to your particular system.