---
name: "hesinfo"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "hesiod"
version: "3.2.1-5"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/hesinfo"
---

# hesinfo(1)

find out what is stored in the Hesiod database

## NAME

hesinfo - find out what is stored in the Hesiod database

## SYNOPSIS

```
hesinfo [-bl] HesiodName HesiodNameType
```

## DESCRIPTION

*hesinfo* takes two arguments, a name to be resolved and a string, known as a HesiodNameType.  It then prints the information returned by the Hesiod nameserver.

The value returned by **hesinfo** is of the type *HesiodNameType.*

*hesinfo* understands the following options:

- **-l**

  Selects long format.

- **-b**

  Prints the fully-qualified string passed to the nameserver.

### VALID Hesiod\_Names

The following types of identifiers may be used in the *HesiodName* argument to **hesinfo.** These values will be resolved by accessing the **hesiod** database.

- **\<username\>**

  the 8-character-or-less string used to identify users or classes (e.g. joeuser, root, 1.00, etc). Used with the *Hesiod\_Name\_Types* **passwd,** **pobox,** and **filsys.**

- **\<uid\>**

  the id number assigned to a user.

- **\<groupid\>**

  the id number assigned to a group.

- **\<groupname\>**

  a name identifying a unique group.

- **\<file-system-name\>**

  the name of an athena file system.

- **\<rvd server\>:\<pack\>**

  the name of an rvd's server and pack  seperated by a colon.

- **\<nfs server\>:\<partition\>**

  the name of an nfs server and its partition seperated by a colon.

- **\<workstation-name\>**

  the machine name of an Athena workstation (e.g. E40-343-3).

- **\<service-name\>**

  name of an Athena service (e.g. Zephyr).

- **\<service-type\>**

  name of Unix service (valid entries are defined in /etc/services).

- **\<printer-name\>**

  name of a printer.

- **\<printer-cluster-name\>**

  name of an Athena print cluster.

- **\<foo\>**

  some **hesinfo** calls (e.g.  **prclusterlist** ) do not require a specific *HesiodName* argument.  However, you must include a dummy string (e.g. 'foo') for **hesinfo**\
    to work properly.

### VALID Hesiod\_Name\_Types

The following symbols are valid substitutions for the *HesiodNameType* argument to **hesinfo.**

- **passwd**

  returns string suitable for inclusion in */etc/passwd,* searching with **\<username\>.**

- **pobox**

  returns information on the pobox assigned to the user specified by *HesiodName,* searching with **\<username\>.**

- **uid**

  returns string suitable for inclusion in */etc/passwd,* searching with **\<uid\>.**

- **gid**

  returns string suitable for inclusion in */etc/group,* searching with **\<groupid\>.**

- **group**

  returns string suitable for inclusion in */etc/group,* searching with **\<groupname\>.**

- **grplist**

  returns subgroups included in superset defined by  **\<groupname\>.**

- **filsys**

  returns file system type, export point, server, mount mode, and import point for the following valid *HesiodNames* (see above) **- \<file system name\>, \<username\>, \<rvd server\>:\<pack\>,** **and \<nfs server\>:\<partition\>**

- **cluster**

  returns information about the local cluster the workstation, specified by **\<workstation name\>.** Included is information about the local file and print servers.  This information is accesses by  **clusterinfo** at boot time.

- **sloc**

  returns network name of service host for **\<service-name\>.**

- **service**

  returns Internet protocol type and protocol service port for **\<service-type\>.**

- **pcap**

  returns a valid entry for /etc/printcap for **\<printer-name\>.**

- **prcluserlist**

  returns a list of print clusters.

- **prcluster**

  returns a list of printers in a cluster specified by **\<printer-cluster-name\>.**

## FILES

/etc/athena/hesiod.conf

## SEE ALSO

\`Hesiod - Project Athena Technical Plan -- Name Service', [named(8)](/named/8.md), [hesiod(3)](/hesiod/3.md)

## AUTHOR

Steve Dyer, IBM/Project Athena\
 Copyright 1987, 1988, 1996 by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.\