fingerd(1)                                                   fingerd(1)

  fingerd

  NAME

    fingerd - remote user-information server

  SYNOPSIS

    fingerd [-PSls]  [-p filename]

  DESCRIPTION

    The fingerd daemon is a simple protocol based on RFC1288 that provides an
    interface to the name and finger(1) programs at several network sites. The
    program returns a user-friendly status report on either the system at the
    moment or a particular person in depth. There is no required format, and
    the protocol consists mostly of specifying a single command line.

    The fingerd daemon is started by inetd(1), which listens for transmission
    control protocol (TCP) requests at port 79. Once connected, it reads a
    single command line terminated by a , which is passed to finger. The
    fingerd daemon closes its connections as soon as the output is finished.

    If the command line is null (that is, just a  is sent), finger
    returns a default report that lists all people logged onto the system at
    that moment.

    If a user name is specified (for example, eric), the response lists
    more extended information only for that particular user, whether the user
    is logged on or not. Allowable names in the command line include both user
    names and full names. If a name is ambiguous, all possible derivations are
    returned.

  OPTIONS

    The following options can be passed to fingerd as server program arguments
    in /etc/inetd.conf:

    -P
        Prevent fingerd from displaying the contents of the .plan and .project
        files.

    -S
        Print user information in short mode, one line per user. This
        overrides the whois switch that might be passed in from the remote
        client.

    -l
        Enable logging. The name of the host originating the query is reported
        through syslog(3) at LOG_NOTICE priority.

    -s
        Enable secure mode. Forwarding of queries to other remote hosts is
        denied.
    -p filename
        Use an alternate program as the local information provider. The
        default local program executed by fingerd is finger. By specifying a
        customized local server, this option allows a system manager to have
        more control over which information is provided to remote sites.

  NOTES

    This daemon must be invoked from inetd(1); it cannot be started as a
    service directly.

  SEE ALSO

    finger(1)

    inetd(1)