[Q] what do these portmap log entries mean?

[Olaf Meeuwissen <olaf@epkowa.co.jp>]

Dear all,

I've been seeing entries like below in my logs for a while.

  Aug 24 12:38:01 bilbo portmap[27641]: connect from 172.16.x.y to callit(390109): request from unauthorized host
  Aug 24 12:38:04 bilbo portmap[27641]: connect from 172.16.x.y to callit(390109): request from unauthorized host

and

  Aug 24 12:43:34 bilbo portmap[27659]: connect from 172.16.a.b to getport(300598): request from unauthorized host

I've implemented a default deny-all policy in /etc/hosts.deny with

  ALL : ALL

My /etc/hosts.allow effectively reads

  nmbd smbd : 172.16.

>From the log messages I assume that the portmap connect attempts fail
(as per policy), but what do these connect attempts mean?  Is someone
trying to crack my server or something?  I did challenge our network
admin ...
-- 
Olaf Meeuwissen       Epson Kowa Corporation, Research and Development