Finger

The UNIX finger service can be used to provide a form of user directory service. After you have installed the finger service, remote users will have the ability to query user profiles on your Virtual Private Server. User profiles include information such as full name, login name, home directory, as well as the contents of the .plan, .project, or .forward files. The .plan,.project, and .forward files must be located in each of your users home directories (if they exist).

Installation

To install the finger service, simply connect to your Virtual Private Server via Telnet or SSH and type the following command.

% vinstall finger

Using a Finger Client

In order for remote users to query the finger service on your Virtual Private Server, they will need to use a finger client. A finger client is included with the standard distribution of most UNIX operating systems. Finger clients for the Macintosh and Microsoft Windows operating systems are available by searching the major shareware archives.

You can also write a simple CGI script to interface with a finger client. This would allow any remote user that has access to a web browser to perform finger queries. We have written such a Finger CGI script.