mesg

NAME

       mesg - display (do not display) messages from other users

SYNOPSIS

       mesg [ n ] [ y ]

DESCRIPTION

       The  mesg  utility  is invoked by a users to control write
       access others have to the terminal device associated  with
       the  standard  error  output.  If write access is allowed,
       then programs such as talk(1)  and  write(1)  may  display
       messages on the terminal.

       Traditionally,  write  access is allowed by default.  How-
       ever, as users become more conscious of  various  security
       risks, there is a trend to remove write access by default,
       at least for the primary login shell.  To make  sure  your
       ttys  are set the way you want them to be set, mesg should
       be executed in your login scripts.

       Options available:

       n      Disallows messages.

       y      Permits messages to be displayed.

       If no arguments are given, mesg displays the present  mes-
       sage status to the standard error output.

       The mesg utility exits with one of the following values:

        0     Messages are allowed.

        1     Messages are not allowed.

       >1     An error has occurred.

FILES

       /dev/[pt]ty[pq]?

SEE ALSO

       biff(1), talk(1), write(1), wall(1), login(1), xterm(1)

HISTORY

       A mesg command appeared in Version 6 AT&T UNIX.