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A super-server or sometimes called a service dispatcher is a type of daemon run generally on Unix-like systems.
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Usage
It starts other servers when needed, normally with access to them checked by a TCP wrapper. It uses very few resources when in idle state. This can be ideal for workstations used for local web development, client/server development or low traffic daemons with occasional usage such as ident and SSH.
Performance
There is a slight delay in connecting to the sub-daemons. Thus, when compared to standalone servers, a super-server setup may perform worse, especially when under high load. Some servers, such as hpa-tftpd, therefore take over the internet socket and listen on it themselves for some specified interval, anticipating more connections to come.