If the helper script in the previous panel doesn't work for you, the old-fashioned method is even easier. You can stop inetd using the killall command:

# killall inetd

You can start it again simply by invoking it on the command line. It will automatically run in the background:

# /usr/sbin/inetd

And there's a shortcut to instruct inetd to reread the configuration file without actually stopping it: just send it the HUP signal:

# killall -HUP inetd

At this point you shouldn't be able to telnet or ftp into this system, since telnet and ftp are disabled. Try telnet localhost to check. If you need telnet or ftp access, all you need to do is to re-enable it!

Here's what happens for me:

# telnet localhost
telnet: Unable to connect to remote host: Connection refused