What is rpcbind?

rpcbind is a process with deep Unix roots that you might see running on your Mac.

What is rpcbind?

rpcbind is the RPC (Remote Procedure Call) port mapper. RPC lets programs on one computer run tasks on another computer over a network. rpcbind acts as a directory, matching RPC programme numbers to network port numbers so that clients can find the right service.

What uses it?

On macOS, rpcbind is mainly used by:

• NFS: the Network File System relies on RPC to work
• NetInfo: old macOS directory services (largely retired)
• Other traditional Unix network services that use RPC

Is it running on my Mac?

rpcbind may start on its own if any RPC-based service is needed. If you use NFS file sharing, rpcbind will be running. On a typical Mac without NFS, it may still be loaded but will have little to do.

Can you turn it off?

If you are not using NFS or any RPC-based services, rpcbind can be stopped. However, it is managed by launchd and may restart if a service asks for it.

Should you worry?

No. It is a standard Unix daemon that has been around for decades. On modern macOS, it mainly supports NFS. It uses very few resources and is no security concern on a local network.

Enjoyed this post?

Well, you could share the post with others, follow me with RSS Feeds and/or send me a comment via email.

Tags