The port number used by the client must be the same as that used for the server. As for the server, if not supplied the port number will be resolved if possible in the services database (e.g., the /etc/services file), and will revert to a default if not found.
In Xic and WRspice, the port number to use can be specified with the host name, by appending the number following a colon, i.e.,
hostname[:port]
A WRspice server can receive jobs from Xic, and from WRspice (rspice command). Both programs have means by which the SPICE server can be specified from within the program. One means common to both programs is through use of the SPICE_HOST environment variable. The variable should be set to the host name of the SPICE server, as resolvable by the client, followed by the optional colon and port number. When set, Xic will by default use this server for SPICE jobs initiated with the Run button in the side menu, and WRspice will use this host in the rspice command. In a situation where the SPICE server provides the only SPICE available, the SPICE_HOST variable should be set in the user's shell startup script. In WRspice the rhost shell variable and the rhost command can also be used to specify the remote host, and these override any value set in the environment.
Note: In Xic, when WRspice connects, a message is printed in the terminal window similar to
Stream established to wrspice://chaucer, port 4573.The ``port'' in this case is not the wrspiced port discussed above, but is a transient port created for the process.