HP OpenVMS Systems Documentation

For displaying information about users on remote systems and your local system, TCP/IP Services includes the FINGER utility. For example, you can use the FINGER utility to determine which users are logged on to a system or to refresh your memory about the correct login name to use before using FTP or another service to connect to an account on a remote host.

The FINGER listing can include such information as:

• User name
• Account name
• Program the user is running
• User's home directory
• User's plans, activities, and other information
• User's project

The following table lists the capabilities provided by the FINGER utility and the sections that explain how to use them.

The FINGER software must be enabled on your local OpenVMS host (see your system manager). If FINGER has not been started, then attempts to use the FINGER command might cause an error message because of missing privileges. You must start the utility before attempting to use it.

7.1 Typing FINGER Commands

Use the following rules for command syntax and wildcards when you enter FINGER command lines.

7.1.1 Wildcards

Wildcards are not accepted for OpenVMS hosts but may be valid for some UNIX hosts.

7.1.2 Qualifiers

Qualifiers to the FINGER command must follow immediately after the command verb and must precede the user or host name. If the qualifier follows the user or host name, the FINGER utility interprets the qualifier as a user name. For example, in the following command, the qualifier /FULL incorrectly appears after the user specification. As indicated by the last line in the display, the FINGER server interprets /FULL as a user login name.

$ FINGER ROLLINS /FULL

Username     Program      Login     Term/Location
ROLLINS      $            Mon 15:02 64626::ROLLINS

Login name: ROLLINS        In real life: Professor Rollins
Account: RES9              Directory: WORK1$:[ROLLINS]
Last login: Tue  3-MAR-2002 09:05:29
Unread mail: 25
Project: Homeopathic medicine/Silica
No Plan.
Login name: /FULL          In real life: ???

The following example shows the correct position of the qualifier (the information displayed now includes user ROLLINS' real name and current program).

$ FINGER /FULL ROLLINS

[stlab1.bastyr.edu]
Username     Real Name           Program      Login     Term/Location
ROLLINS      Ben Rollins         $            Mon 15:02 64606::ROLLINS
                                 $            Mon 09:42 64606::ROLLINS

Login name: ROLLINS       In real life: Professor Rollins
Account: RES9              Directory: WORK1$:[ROLLINS]
Last login: Tue  3-MAR-2002 09:05:29
Unread mail: 27
Project: Homeopathic medicine/Silica
No Plan.

You can obtain online help for the FINGER utility by entering either of the following commands:

$ HELP TCPIP_SERVICES FINGER
$ HELP FINGER

To display information about all users on a remote host, enter the FINGER command followed by the host name (FINGER @hostname). To display more detailed information about a particular user, specify the user name with the host name (format FINGER username@hostname). To display information about all users on your local host, enter the FINGER command without specifying a host name. To display detailed information about a specific user on your local host, enter the FINGER command followed by the user name. Table 7-1 summarizes the different ways to display user information.

7.3.1 Displaying Information about All Users

$ FINGER @SCIENCE

[science.ucd.edu]
Username     Program      Login     Term/Location
BRADY        $            Thu 07:50 dialin_706_101.ucd.lab.edu
CORRIT       $            Tue 13:30 64334::CORRIT
DAVE         MAIL         Mon 15:02 64334::DAVE
DAWSON       $            Thu 14:57
FLOYD        $            Mon 17:00
KITT         TPU          Mon 16:57 62555::KITT
MIRTH        $            Wed 16:04 UCDVAX::MIRTH
NATALIE      $            Tue 09:23 64222::NATALIE
RAPSONG      $            Mon 18:50 64442::RAPSONG

To display details about one or more users on a remote host, specify the user name or a list of user names, including the host name with each user name, as shown in the examples that follow. To display more information about users on your local host, specify the user names without a host name. The information about each user includes the following items in addition to the user (login) name, program, login time, and terminal/location that is returned in the default, brief display:

• Login name
• Full name (real name)
• Working directory
• Last (previous) login
• Number of unread mail messages
• Plans and project, if the user has made the information available

The following examples show how to display information about specific users.

1. This example shows how to receive detailed information about user HOWE on host BEARINGS. The second line of information indicates user HOWE is logged in and using the OpenVMS Mail utility.

   $ FINGER HOWE@BEARINGS [bearings.us.beacorp.com] Username Program Login Term/Location HOWE MAIL Mon 15:02 84640::HOWE Login name: HOWE In real life: Abe Howe Account: INVENT Directory: DISK$1:[HOWE] Last login: Tue 3-MAR-2002 10:15:39 No unread mail Project: Inventory No Plan.

2. This example displays information about several specific users on a remote host. The command displays detailed information about users HOWE and JESSE on host BEARINGS, and user billings on UNIX host class . Note that user HOWE is not currently logged in to host BEARINGS. JESSE is logged in, so FINGER displays a line of information for JESSE, including the program JESSE is using (DCL at present) and the time of login.

   $ FINGER HOWE@BEARINGS JESSE@BEARINGS BILLINGS@CLASS [bearings.us.beacorp.com] Login name: HOWE In real life: Abe Howe Account: INVENT Directory: DISK$1:[HOWE] Last login: Tue 3-MAR-2002 10:15:39 No unread mail Project: Inventory No Plan. [bearings.us.beacorp.com] Username Program Login Term/Location JESSE $ Thu 09:24 Login name: JESSE In real life: JESSE BOYD Account: PLAN3 Directory: DISK$1:[JESSE] Last login: Mon 2-MAR-2002 16:48:50 Unread mail: 1 Project: Planning Plan: Next phase: December E-mail: jesse@bearings.us.beacorp.com Phone: 526-5444 [class.ucb.beacorp.com] Login name: billings (messages off) In real life: M. T. Billings Office: BLDG2-2, 555-7873 Home phone: 111-222-3333 Directory: /usr/users/billings Shell: /usr/bin/csh On since Jan 17 14:33:06 on :0 On since Jan 17 14:33:13 15 days Idle Time on ttyp1 On since Jan 17 14:33:13 2 days 23 hours Idle Time on ttyp2 On since Feb 4 13:13:50 2 days 23 hours Idle Time on ttyp5 No Plan.

3. This command displays detailed information about one or more specific users and brief information about all other users who are logged in to a remote host. For example:

   $ FINGER DALB@BEARINGS @BEARINGS Username Program Login Term/Location Login name: DALB In real life: Bob Dalb Account: ENG_3 Directory: WORK1$:[DALB] Last login: Thu 5-MAR-2002 16:26:06 No unread mail Project: TCP/IP Services for OpenVMS No Plan. BRADY $ Thu 07:50 dialin_706_101.lkg.dec.com BYRD $ Mon 17:00 CORTEZ $ Tue 13:30 60121::CORTEZ DALB TCPIP$FINGER Thu 16:26 54242::DALB KURT $ Mon 16:57 32556::KURT LARSON SHWCLSTR Mon 17:01 MUELLER $ Wed 16:04 VALVE::MUELLER NASAN $ Tue 09:23 44500::NASON PHILLIPS $ Tue 02:42 REMHST::PHILLIPS ROLLINS $ Mon 18:50 46142::ROLLINS SIMMEL MAIL Thu 14:12 VALVE::SIMMEL

4. This command displays detailed information about a specific user and brief information about the remaining logged-in users on a local host. Note use of the /ALL qualifier which displays specific information about user HOWE at the local host plus brief information about all other users logged in. The output of this command is similar to that shown in the preceding example.

   $ FINGER/ALL HOWE

To display information about users on all nodes in your local OpenVMS Cluster, use the /CLUSTER qualifier, as in the following examples.

1. This example shows the default display for the FINGER/CLUSTER command.

   $ FINGER/CLUSTER Username Node Program Login Term/Location ANND UCDAXP $ Mon 17:00 BRADY UCDAXP $ Thu 07:50 dialin_101.ads.com CALLING UCDALP RTPAD Thu 14:50 CALLING UCDAXP $ Thu 14:57 CURREN UCDAXP $ Tue 13:30 84051::CURREN DOBB UCDWON TCPIP$FINGER Mon 11:50 GILBERT UCDVAX MAIL Thu 14:34 pcgil.admin.ucd.edu IMMIN UCDALP $ Wed 16:21 BIXBY::IMMIN KITT UCXAXP $ Mon 16:57 62555::KITT KITTEL UCXALP $ Thu 14:12 AGGIE::KITTEL LEVINE UCDUNI DECW$SESSION Thu 10:50 LEVINE UCDALP TCPIP$UCP Thu 10:30 llevine.ads.com MILLLER UCDALP TCPIP$FINGER Thu 15:00 AGGIE::MILLER MIRTH UCDVAX $ Tue 17:09 MIRTH UCDVAX RTPAD Mon 17:27 NATALIE UCDAXP $ Tue 09:23 64222::NATALIE POFF UCXAXP $ Tue 02:42 AGGIE::POFF RAPSONG UCDAXP $ Mon 18:50 64442::RAPSONG TIBBS AGGIE $ Tue 20:43 UCXAXP::TIBBS

2. This example displays each user's real name and every login to cluster members by including the /FULL qualifier.

   $ FINGER/CLUSTER/FULL Username Real Name Node Program Login Term/Location ANND Ann Darin UCDAXP $ Mon 17:00 UCDAXP $ Tue 11:51 BRADY Robert Brady UCDAXP $ Thu 07:50 dialin_101.ads.com UCDWON $ Fri 08:31 CALLING Alvin Calling UCDALP RTPAD Thu 14:50 UCDAXP $ Thu 14:57 CURREN Steve Curren UCDAXP $ Tue 13:30 84051::CURREN UCDVAX $ Tue 14:20 DOBB Barry Dobb UCDWON TCPIP$FINGER Mon 11:50 UCDAXP $ Wed 09:20 GILBERT Joanne Gilbert UCDVAX MAIL Thu 14:34 pcgil.ads.com IMMIN Armen Immin UCDALP $ Wed 16:21 BIXBY::IMMIN KITT Evelyn Kitt UCXAXP $ Mon 16:57 62555::KITT UCDALP SEARCH Mon 16:43 62555::KITT KITTEL Herb Kittel UCXALP $ Thu 14:12 AGGIE::KITTEL LEVINE Larry Levine UCDUNI DECW$SESSION Thu 10:50 UCDALP TCPIP$UCP Thu 10:30 slevine.ads.com MILLLER Paul Miller UCDALP TCPIP$FINGER Thu 15:00 AGGIE::MILLER MIRTH Phil Anson UCDVAX $ Tue 17:09 UCDVAX RTPAD Mon 17:27 NATALIE Natalie Beardsley UCDAXP $ Tue 09:23 64222::NATALIE POFF Pamela Offred UCXAXP $ Tue 02:42 AGGIE::POFF RAPSONG Aaron Feller UCDAXP $ Mon 18:50 64442::RAPSONG TIBBS Eugene Tibbs AGGIE $ Tue 20:43 UCXAXP::TIBBS

If your host does not have a direct connection to a remote host, you can use a forwarding host to get the information about users on that remote host. Your local host must be able to connect directly to the forwarding host, and the forwarding host must be able to connect directly to the destination. Specify the destination host and the forwarding host in the following format: username@destination_host@forwarding_host. For example, system UNION.CTSTATEU.EDU is not directly reachable, but you can get information from it indirectly through a gateway named U-GW.PA.ABCORP.COM. To get information about user JONES on host UNION.CTSTATEU.EDU, enter the following command:

$ FINGER JONES@UNION.CTSTATEU.EDU@U-GW.PA.ABCORP.COM

By default, the FINGER server does not allow queries to be forwarded from one host to another. To enable forwarding on the FINGER server, see your system manager.

7.5 Making Your Information Available to Other Users

You can use the FINGER utility to display a user's project and plans. The project (a single line of text) indicates the user's current project, work assignment, or work group. The user's plans can include several lines of information, such as where the user will be throughout the week, what the user plans to accomplish during the week, or even such information as the user's web site, e-mail address, and telephone number, as in the following example:

I will be in my office Monday through Wednesday working at the S.F. lab.
On Thursday and Friday, I will be at UC Irvine for a conference.
Web site http://bio.ucd.edu/peters/r_peters.html

If you want to make such information about yourself available to other users through the FINGER utility, create the following files in your home directory and add the appropriate information:

To use FINGER commands, enter them at the DCL prompt.

This section provides a complete description of the FINGER command, its parameters, and its qualifiers.

Displays the following information about users on a host:

• Brief listings of all users on a host
• Detailed listings about specific users
• Listing of users on a cluster

Specifying the FINGER command without a user or host specification displays information about users logged in on your local system.

Format

FINGER [/ALL | /CLUSTER | /FULL] [username][@hostname]

Parameters

username

Optional. Required for detailed information about a user.

Specify the user login name. For information about a user on your local system, do not include the @hostname. For information about a user on a remote system, include the host name (username@hostname).

@hostname

Optional. Required for information about users on a remote system.

For information about a specific user on a remote host, include the user name with the host name (username@hostname). For information about all users on the remote host, specify the host name only (@hostname). Omit the host name to display information about users on your local host.

Qualifiers

/ALL

Optional. Use when specifying a local user name. The /ALL qualifier immediately follows the FINGER command.

Displays a brief listing of all users in addition to detailed information about any specified users. Use this qualifier primarily for displaying information about users on the local host. The /ALL qualifier is ignored by most remote FINGER servers when you specify a remote host name in the command line. To display brief information about all users on a remote host in addition to detailed information about specific users, specify the user@hostname format for each user, along with @hostname (to list brief information about all users). Separate each user@hostname and @hostname specification with a space.

/CLUSTER

Optional. The /CLUSTER qualifier must immediately follow the FINGER command. Do not specify a remote host name with this qualifier.

Displays information about all users logged in to the local OpenVMS Cluster system.

/FULL

Optional. The /FULL qualifier must immediately follow the FINGER command.

Displays detailed information, such as the user's real name and all the user's logins. (Without /FULL, the display includes the last login only.) Use this qualifier primarily for displaying information about users on the local host.

Examples

$ FINGER FRANKEL@KCRA
Username        Program      Login      Term/Location
FRANKEL         $            Mon 15:10  KCRA::FRANKEL

Login name:  frankel         In real Life:  Sam Frankel
Account:  CC_Y9M             Directory:  WORK1$:[FRANKEL]
Last login:  Mon 30-MAR-1998 13:10:22
No unread mail
No plan
      

Displays detailed information about user FRANKEL at host KCRA.

$ FINGER @OXYGEN
[oxygen.gp.org]
Username     Program      Login     Term/Location
BARD         $            Mon 17:00
CASON        LSEDIT       Thu 14:57
CORR         $            Tue 13:30 24151::CORR
DUDLEY       $            Mon 15:02 24646::DUDLEY
GRAND        $            Thu 07:50 NITROGEN::GRAND
KURT         $            Mon 16:57 22556::KURT
KYLIE        MAIL         Thu 14:12 ELEMENT::KYLIE
MYRA         $            Wed 16:04 BIGVAX::MYRA
NASON        $            Tue 09:23 24200::NASON
PHILLIPS     $            Tue 02:42 BIGALP::PHILLIPS
RAWLINGS     $            Mon 18:50 24042::RAWLINGS
      

Displays brief information about users logged in to host OXYGEN.

$ FINGER/FULL
Username    Real Name           Program     Login     Term/Location
BAIRD       Randall Baird       $           Mon 17:00
CARR        Rich Carr           LSEDIT      Thu 14:57
                                SHWCLSTR    Mon 17:01
CORTEZ      Julia Cortez        $           Tue 13:30 23441::CORTEZ
DANBOY      Dan Keller          $           Thu 16:12 ogrady.ucsb.edu
GANDHI      T.J. Gandhi         TPU         Mon 16:57 12556::GANDHI
                                TPU         Tue 15:27 12556::GANDHI
LIMO        Michael Limorley    MAIL        Thu 14:12 TOPDAY::LIMO
                                LSEDIT      Thu 19:03 TOPDAY::LIMO
MENNING     Mark Menning        $           Wed 16:04 TOPDAY::MENNING
                                $           Mon 18:58 HAPDAY::MENNING
NELSON      Anne Nelson         $           Tue 09:23 22200::NELSON
ROBERTS     Michael Roberts     $           Mon 18:50 22042::ROBERTS
                                $           Mon 18:34 HAPDAY::ROBERTS
      

Displays the real name and all logins for each user.

$ FINGER/CLUSTER
Username     Node   Program      Login     Term/Location
SMITH        MOUNTB TPU          Fri 09:47 MOUNTB::SMITH
JONES        MOUNTC $            Tue 18:02
BROWN        MOUNTC $            Mon 17:04
TAYLOR       MOUNTB EDT          Thu 15:59
CROSBY       MOUNTC RTPAD        Thu 14:59
CARPENTER    MOUNTB $            Wed 17:23 MOUNTB::SYSTEM
BLACK        MOUNTC $            Tue 10:42 MOUNTC::BLACK
      

Displays information about all users on all members of the cluster.