Finger
Finger is a protocol used to obtain information about another
individual or host system. Users who want to provide such information
can create a .PLAN file and place it in their home directory. From a
UNIX command line, the syntax for Finger is: finger
username@hostname.com
When fingering a particular user on a particular host system, information stored in the .PLAN file of the targeted user's home directory will be displayed. If no .PLAN file is available, default information will be displayed depending on how the Finger server is set up--such as last login date and time, and whether the user has e-mail pending. The setup of the Finger server depends on the server administrator. Below is an example of a screen display result:
Welcome to Linux version 1.3.35 at ds9.comland.com ! 5:52pm up 13 days, 16:46, 11 users, load average: 1.15, 1.14, 1.11 Login: dbsmith Name: David B Smith Directory: /home/users/dbsmith Shell: /bin/ksh Last login Thu Nov 9 07:12 (CST) on tty27 from 21600 New mail received Thu Nov 16 17:41 1995 (CST) Unread since Thu Nov 16 17:07 1995 (CST) No Plan.
The Finger protocol breaks down into a request for information and a sending of information. Some Internet users have created Finger gateways that permit the use of a Web browser to perform the finger command.