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FINGERD(8)                BSD System Manager's Manual               FINGERD(8)

NAME
     fingerd -- remote user information server

SYNOPSIS
     fingerd [-s] [-l] [-p filename]

DESCRIPTION
     Fingerd is a simple protocol based on RFC1196 that provides an interface to the Name and Finger pro-grams programs
     grams 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 required format
     and the protocol consists 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 <CRLF> which is passed to finger(1).  Fingerd closes its connections as soon as the output is fin-ished. finished.
     ished.

     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 particular 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.

     The following options may be passed to fingerd as server program arguments in /etc/inetd.conf:

     -l      Enable logging.  The name of the host originating the query is reported via syslog(3) at
             LOG_NOTICE priority.

     -p filename
             Use an alternate program as the local information provider.  The default local program executed
             by fingerd is finger(1).  By specifying a customized local server, this option allows a system
             manager to have more control over what information is provided to remote sites.

     -s      Enable secure mode.  Queries without a user name are rejected and forwarding of queries to
             other remote hosts is denied.

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.

HISTORY
     The fingerd command appeared in 4.3BSD.

4.3 Berkeley Distribution        June 4, 1993        4.3 Berkeley Distribution