fingerd(1M)                                                     fingerd(1M)

NAME
     fingerd, in.fingerd - remote user information server

SYNOPSIS
     in.fingerd

DESCRIPTION
     fingerd implements the server side of the Name/Finger protocol, speci-
     fied in RFC 742. The Name/Finger protocol provides a remote interface
     to programs which display information 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 com-
     mand line to the finger server which returns a printable reply.

     fingerd waits for connections on TCP port 79. Once connected 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 information for only that par-
     ticular user, whether logged in or not. Allowable "names" in the com-
     mand line include both "login names" and "user names". If a name is
     ambiguous, all possible derivations are returned.

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 even respond negatively (IAC will not) to all option
     commands received.

FILES
     /var/utmp           who is logged in

     /etc/passwd         for users' names

     /var/adm/lastlog    last login times

     $HOME/.plan         plans

     $HOME/.project      projects








Page 1                       Reliant UNIX 5.44                Printed 11/98

fingerd(1M)                                                     fingerd(1M)

SEE ALSO
     finger(1).

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

















































Page 2                       Reliant UNIX 5.44                Printed 11/98