CHFN(1)

NAME
chfn - change user's finger information

SYNOPSYS
chfn [ -u username] [ -g gecos-string]

DESCRIPTION
chfn is used to change user's real-name information. This information is usually stored in the /etc/passwd file. This information may be stored in some other place depending on PNIAM change modules.

OPTIONS

-u  Specify user whose real-name information is to be changed

-g  Specify real-name information.

If username or real-name is not specified,
    chfn will prompt for it.

CONFIGURATION

Chfn is configured to work through the Linux-PNIAM API. Essentially, it initializes itself as a "chfn" service with Linux-PNIAM and utilizes the configured authentication, authorization, validation, and change modules for authentication, authorization and changing gecos information.

To configure a list of Linux-PNIAM modules for chfn one has to create a subdirectory chfn/ in the configuration directory of Linux-PNIAM and to create three configuration files in this subdirectory. The names of these files are authen (for authentication), author (for authorization), change (for gecos modification). In case of necessity the fourth file validate (gecos valition) may be creation. Here is a simple example of a configuration file for Linux-PNIAM :
# This is a sample configuration file for authentication
# and authorization
pniam_pwd.so
# The end.
#This is a simple configuration file for gecos changing
pniam_chfn.so
#The end.

Note, authen, author, and change module-types are all required for this application to function correctly.

CONFORMING TO
Linux-PNIAM (Pluggable Non Interactive Authentication Modules for Linux).

BUGS

None known.

SEE ALSO
finger(1)

For more complete information on how to configure this application with Linux-PNIAM, see the Pluggable Non Interactive Modules at
<http://www.msu.ru/pniam/pniam.html>

AUTHOR
Alexander A. Naumov <aln@castle.nmd.msu.ru>