NAME

wall, cwall − write to all users

SYNOPSIS

/etc/wall [−g groupname] [file]

/etc/cwall [−g groupname] [file]

DESCRIPTION

wall, when invoked without arguments, reads the standard input until an end-of-file. It then sends this message to all currently logged-in users preceded by:

Broadcast Message from ...

If the −ggroupname option is specified, wall sends the message to all currently logged-in groupname members (as specified in /etc/group) preceded by:

Broadcast Message from ... to group groupname

If file is specified, wall uses file as its standard input. 

wall is used to warn all users, typically prior to shutting down the system. 

In the HP Clustered environment, cwall can be used to write to all users in the cluster. 

The sender must have appropriate privileges to override any protections the users may have invoked (see mesg(1)).

wall has timing delays, and takes at least 30 seconds to complete. 

EXTERNAL INFLUENCES

International Code Set Support

Single- and multi-byte character code sets are supported. 

DIAGNOSTICS

Cannot send to ... 
The open on a user’s tty file failed.

AUTHOR

wall was developed by AT&T and, HP. 

FILES

/dev/tty∗

SEE ALSO

mesg(1), write(1). 

STANDARDS CONFORMANCE

wall: SVID2, XPG2, XPG3

Hewlett-Packard Company  —  HP-UX Release 8.05: June 1991