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- NAME
- in.fingerd - remote user information server
-
- SYNOPSIS
- in.fingerd file
-
- DESCRIPTION
- 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 re
- quired format and the protocol consists mostly of specifying a single
- `command line'.
-
- Fingerd is started by inetd when it receives a TCP connection request
- at port 79. Once connected it reads a single command line terminated by
- a <CRLF> which is passed to finger. 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, file given as its argument.
-
- If a user name is specified (e.g. eric<CRLF>) then the response lists
- more extended information for that particular user, whether logged in or
- not. Allowable `names' in the command line include both `login names'
- and `user names'.
-
- SEE ALSO
- finger
-
- 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.
-
- Fingerd requires the APipe handler installed and mounted in the system
- for correct operation.
-
- HISTORY
- The fingerd command appeared in 4.3BSD.
-