fingerd(1M)                                           fingerd(1M)



     NAME
          fingerd - remote user information server

     SYNOPSIS
          /usr/etc/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 reports status information about
          either the system at the moment or a particular person in
          depth.  There is no required format and the protocol con-
          sists 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 <CR><LF>
          which is passed to finger(1).  fingerd closes its connec-
          tions as soon as the output is finished.

          If the line is null (i.e. just a <CR><LF> is sent) then
          finger returns a ``default'' report that lists all people
          logged into the system at that moment.

          If a login name is specified (so fingerd receives
          eric<CR><LF>), then more extensive information is provided
          for that user, whether logged in or not.  Allowable user
          names in the command line include both login names and user
          names.  If a name is ambiguous, all possible derivations are
          returned.

     FILES
          /usr/etc/in.fingerd

     SEE ALSO
          finger(1).
          RFC742 (DNN Network Information Center, SRI International)

     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 enhanced to filter out IAC's and perhaps
          even respond negatively (IAC WON'T) to all option commands
          received.










     April, 1990                                                     1