'finger' isn't working for NIS users

[Robert Gamble]

If I issue 'finger' i get a report of all logged in users with no problems.

But if I try to issue finger username, it returns:
Login name: username In real life: ???


If I grep passwd /etc/nsswitch.conf returns files nis.

If I swap and have nis 1st, it doesnt matter.

The 'who', 'last' and 'lastb' commands all return expected data without garbage.

Any ideas where to look now ?

[Jeff Schussele]

Hi Robert,

Is finger commented out in /etc/inetd.conf on the NIS server?

Jeff

[Michael Steele_2]

Run "...pwck..." and check for passwd file corruption.

Check permissions on /etc/utmp and /var/amd/wtmp.

Is it commented out in inetd.conf?

[S.K. Chan]

What about having ..
passwd: compat
in the nsswitch.conf instead , did you try that. Your local password file, any username/uid clashes ?

[Robert Gamble]

pwck on /etc/passwd and on the output of ypcat-k passwd doesn't show any missing fields or that kind of error.

finger IS commented out of inetd.conf. But it is also commented out of the servers where the command works fine for NIS users.

hrmm

[Robert Gamble]

SK, I did try compat, it did not resolve the issue.

[Robert Gamble]

Permissions are set correctly (644) on utmp & wtmp, and I do not have filesystem capacity issues.

[Robert Gamble]

Ok, maybe this is a clue.

If I issue: finger robert

I get a list of properly formatted data for all the Roberts in NIS, but if I issue: finger gamble I get Login name: gamble In real life: ???

I went to the NIS master (which is still 10.20) and issued: finger gamble

and it worked correctly, so I don't think the passwd.* maps are corrupt.

I am having someone run 'pwck' on those large maps overnight.

Any other ideas ?

[S.K. Chan]

What about being specific, does that work ..?
$ finger -m gamble
.. ie assuming you have a valide username "gamble" entry in the passwd map and/or local passwd file. At this point it's hard to figure out what's the problem until we do more test. Try the chfn command .. (change finger info). I just want to see if changes made are written back to your master passwd file. For example ..
# chfn -r nis skchan
You'll be prompted for password entry and then the GECOS field changes. Try changing something (for example tel number) and then check the nis passwd map to see if the change got overwritten ..
# ypcat passwd|grep \^skchan

[Michael Steele_2]

May as well go all out and run "...grpck..." as well.