What is PFinger

PFinger consists of server and client for the standard finger service.

PFinger Server

The PFinger server is a replacement for the standard Unix finger server. It also implements the pip-protocol which could become the finger v2 protocol. Its advantage over existing finger servers like GNU Finger or similar enhanced Finger servers are its configurability, compatibility and security (e.g. the server does not run as root).

Features

The PFinger Server provides the following features

• Highly configurable
• Site Finger deamon like in GNU Finger
• Does not run as root
• PI-Protocol
• Can be used as a replacement for the GNU Finger in.fingerd
  (If you are using GNU Finger as site finger deamon).
• Configurable special files (e.g. users can have .pgpkey files)
• Configurable Site information
• Configurable Help information
• No printing of users shell, home directory and last login time
• User can turn off to be fingered with a .nofinger file
• System accounts cannot be fingered (configurable)
• Allows users to update their online information
• Allows users to store information on the server
• ACL support: See Documentation Page

PFinger Client

The Pfinger client can be used for several tasks: First it provides an easy way to edit the information the PFinger Server gives out about you. Then it can be used as graphical version of the standard finger client to monitor who is online.

Features

The PFinger Server provides the following features. Note that some features are only available in conjunction with a PFinger Server.

• Graphical user interface to the finger service
• Edit your user information
• Contact list: Monitor when your collegues are online (à la ICQ, AOL IM, etc)
• Set your own online status

Last change: 7th. July 1999
Michael Baumer (baumi@vis.ethz.ch)