Re: network finger

[John Cowan]

Alfredo Tomasini scripsit:

>     BEGIN {
>       NetService = "/inet/tcp/0/localhost/finger"
>       print "name" |& NetService
>       while ((NetService |& getline) > 0)
>         print $0
>       close(NetService)
>     }
> 
> and I get all time this error
> 
> gawk: finger.awk:3: fatal: can't open two way socket 
> `/inet/tcp/0/localhost/finger' for input/output (No such file or directory)

That is because you are not running a finger daemon.  Most systems don't
nowadays, as they leak too much information about the system users (who
is logged in and when, how long you have been idle, etc.)  Most functions
of finger have now been replaced by home pages and IM status.

Unfortunately, such simple services are mostly in decay on the Internet.
Here's one that survives:

    BEGIN {
      NetService = "/inet/tcp/0/gdead.berkeley.edu/gopher"
      print "0/lyrics/i.fought.the.law" |& NetService
      while ((NetService |& getline) > 0)
        print $0
      close(NetService)
    }


> I use the same example a while back under solaris 2.7/2.8 and it works !

Probably those versions run a finger daemon by default.

-- 
John Cowan    http://www.ccil.org/~cowan   <address@hidden>
    "Any legal document draws most of its meaning from context.  A telegram
    that says 'SELL HUNDRED THOUSAND SHARES IBM SHORT' (only 190 bits in
    5-bit Baudot code plus appropriate headers) is as good a legal document
    as any, even sans digital signature." --me