chfn(1)
NAME
chfn − change finger entry
SYNTAX
chfn [ name ]
DESCRIPTION
The chfn command is used to change information about users. This information is used by the finger program, among others. It consists of the user’s real life name, office room number, office phone number, and home phone number. The chfn command prompts the user for each field. Included in the prompt is a default value, which is enclosed between brackets. The default value is accepted simply by pressing the RETURN key. To enter a blank field, type the word “none”. Below is a sample run:
Name [Biff Studsworth II]:
Office location []:
521E
Office Phone (Ex: 1632) []:
1863
Home Phone (Ex: 987532) [5771546]:
none
The chfn command allows phone numbers to be entered with or without hyphens.
It is a good idea to run finger after running chfn to make sure everything is the way you want it.
The optional argument name is used to change another person’s finger information. This can only be done by the superuser.
RESTRICTIONS
Because two users may try to write the passwd file at once, a synchronization method was developed. On rare occasions, a message that the password file is “busy” will be printed. In this case, chfn sleeps for a while and then tries to write to the passwd file again.
FILES
/etc/passwd, /etc/ptmp