FINGERD(8)FINGERD(8)NAMEfingerd - remote user information server
SYNOPSISfingerdDESCRIPTION
Fingerd is a simple protocol based on RFC742 that provides an interface
to the Name and Finger programs at several network sites. The program
is supposed to return a friendly, human-oriented 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''.
Fingerd listens for TCP requests at port 79. Once connected it reads a
single command line terminated by a <CRLF> which is passed to fin‐
ger(1). Fingerd closes its connections as soon as the output is fin‐
ished.
If the line is null (i.e. just a <CRLF> is sent) then finger returns a
``default'' report that lists all people logged into the system at that
moment.
If a user name is specified (e.g. eric<CRLF>) then the response lists
more extended information 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 possi‐
ble derivations are returned.
SEE ALSOfinger(1)BUGS
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 WON'T) to all option
commands received.
4.3 Berkeley Distribution June 24, 1990 FINGERD(8)