fingerd(1M)       MISC. REFERENCE MANUAL PAGES        fingerd(1M)



NAME
     fingerd, in.fingerd - remote user information server

SYNOPSIS
     in.fingerd

DESCRIPTION
     fingerd implements the server side of the Name/Finger proto-
     col,  specified  in  RFC 742.  The Name/Finger protocol pro-
     vides a remote interface to programs which display  informa-
     tion  on  system  status and individual users.  The protocol
     imposes little structure  on  the  format  of  the  exchange
     between  client  and  server.   The client provides a single
     command line to the finger server which returns a  printable
     reply.

     fingerd waits for connections on TCP  port  79.   Once  con-
     nected  it  reads  a  single  command  line  terminated by a
     <RETURN-LINE-FEED> which is passed  to  finger(1).   fingerd
     closes its connections as soon as the output is finished.

     If the line is null (only a RETURN-LINEFEED  is  sent)  then
     finger  returns a default report that lists all users logged
     into the system at that moment.

     If a user name  is  specified  (for  instance,  eric<RETURN-
     LINE-FEED>)  then  the response lists more extended informa-
     tion for only that particular user,  whether  logged  in  or
     not.  Allowable names in the command line include both login
     names and user names.  If a name is ambiguous, all  possible
     derivations are returned.

FILES
     /var/utmp           who is logged in
     /etc/passwd         for users' names
     /var/adm/lastlog    last login times
     $HOME/.plan         plans
     $HOME/.project      projects

SEE ALSO
     finger(1)

     Harrenstien, Ken, NAME/FINGER, RFC 742, Network  Information
     Center,  SRI  International,  Menlo  Park,  Calif., December
     1977.

NOTES
     Connecting directly to the server from a TIP or  an  equally
     narrow-minded  TELNET-protocol  user  program  can result in
     meaningless attempts at option negotiation being sent to the
     server,  which will foul up the command line interpretation.
     fingerd should be taught to filter  out  IAC's  and  perhaps



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fingerd(1M)       MISC. REFERENCE MANUAL PAGES        fingerd(1M)



     even  respond  negatively  (IAC will not) to all option com-
     mands received.





















































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