NAME
fingerd, in.fingerd - remote user information server
SYNOPSIS
finger stream tcp nowait nobody /usr/sbin/in.fingerd
in.fingerd
tcpd finger /usr/sbin/in.fingerd in.fingerd
DESCRIPTION
Fingerd is a simple protocol based on RFC742 that provides
an interface to the Name and Finger programs at several net-
work 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 specify-
ing 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 finger(1). Fingerd closes its connections as
soon as the output is finished.
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 par-
ticular 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 possible derivations
are returned.
SEE ALSO
finger(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.