---
name: "fingerd"
section: "8"
platform: "freebsd"
package: "base"
version: "16.0-CURRENT-20261027-61c70dc16a79"
release: "FreeBSD 16.0-CURRENT (2026-10-27)"
platforms: ["linux", "freebsd", "openbsd"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/fingerd"
---

# fingerd(8)

remote user information server

## NAME

**fingerd** – remote user information server

## SYNOPSIS

**fingerd** \[**-d**\] \[**-k**\] \[**-s**\] \[**-l**\] \[**-p** *filename*\]

## DESCRIPTION

The **fingerd** utility uses a simple protocol based on that provides an interface to [finger(1)](/finger/1.md) at several network sites. It 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”, thus, **fingerd** can also be used to implement other protocols in conjunction with the **-p** flag.

The **fingerd** utility is started by [inetd(8)](/inetd/8.md), which 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)](/finger/1.md). The **fingerd** utility closes its connections as soon as the output is finished.

If the line is null (i.e., just a ⟨CRLF⟩ is sent) then [finger(1)](/finger/1.md) 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*:

- **-d**

  Enable debugging mode. In debugging mode, **fingerd** will not attempt any network-related operations on *stdin*, and it will print the full **finger** command line to *stderr* before executing it.

- **-k**

  Suppress login information. See the description of the **-k** option in [finger(1)](/finger/1.md) for details.

- **-s**

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

- **-l**

  Enable logging. The name of the host originating the query is reported via [syslog(3)](/syslog/3.md) at LOG\_NOTICE priority.

- **-p**

  Use an alternate program as the local information provider. The default local program executed by **fingerd** is [finger(1)](/finger/1.md). By specifying a customized local server, this option allows a system manager to have more control over what information is provided to remote sites. If **-p** is specified, **fingerd** will also set the environment variable FINGERD\_REMOTE\_HOST to the name of the host making the request.

## SEE ALSO

[finger(1)](/finger/1.md), [inetd(8)](/inetd/8.md)

## HISTORY

The **fingerd** utility appeared in 4.3BSD.