Finger is a network tool that lets you
obtain information about all users on a network
host. This information includes a display
of current users logged on the host (their userids
and usernames). Also displayed for each user are
the home directory, login time, idle times, office
location, last time they received mail, and last
time they read mail.
A Finger request will
also display any information contained in the .plan
or the .project file in the user's home directory.
These files are often used as a simple way to distribute
information.
You can use the Finger tool to search for specific
users on a network host.
To use the Finger tool, do the following:
Select the Finger tab.
Enter in the Query text box a query text
(for example, alexv@mit.edu).
The drop-down
list shows the previous queries entered.
Click the Start button.
The Finger
client establishes a connection with the host's
Finger server. The results of the query appear
in the Response area. If the specified host
does not have a Finger server, the Finger client
displays the message:
No server found
there.
Tip: You can right-click the
Response area to display the pop-up menu.
Note:
Usually, only UNIX hosts or NT hosts provide
a Finger server. Many system administrators disable
Finger servers, as they perceive it as a security
risk.
