NAME

wall, cwall − write message to all users

SYNOPSIS

/usr/sbin/wall [-g groupname] [file]

/usr/sbin/cwall [-g groupname] [file]

DESCRIPTION

Without arguments, the wall command reads a message from standard input until end-of-file.  Then it sends this message to all currently logged-in users preceded by:

Broadcast Message from ... 

If the -ggroupname option is specified, wall sends the message to all currently logged-in groupname members (as specified in /etc/group) preceded by:

Broadcast Message from ... to group groupname

If file is specified, wall reads file instead of standard input. 

wall is typically used to warn all users prior to shutting down the system. 

In a diskless cluster, cwall can be used to write to all users in the cluster. 

The sender must have appropriate privileges to override any protections the users may have invoked (see mesg(1)).

wall has timing delays, and takes at least 30 seconds to complete. 

You must have appropriate privileges to override any protections users may have invoked (see mesg(1)).

EXTERNAL INFLUENCES

International Code Set Support

Single- and multibyte character code sets are supported. 

DIAGNOSTICS

Cannot send to ... 

The open on a user’s tty file failed. 

AUTHOR

wall was developed by AT&T and HP. 

FILES

/dev/tty*

SEE ALSO

mesg(1), write(1). 

STANDARDS CONFORMANCE

wall: SVID2, SVID3, XPG2, XPG3

Hewlett-Packard Company  —  HP-UX Release 10.20:  July 1996