mesg(1) — Commands
OSF
NAME
mesg − Permits or refuses write messages
SYNOPSIS
mesg [n | y]
DESCRIPTION
The mesg command controls whether other users on the system can send messages to you with the write command. Called without arguments, mesg displays the current terminal message permission setting. The shell start-up process permits messages by default. You can override this default action by including the line mesg n in your $HOME/.profile (sh), .cshrc (csh) or .login (csh) file. A user with superuser authority can send write messages to any terminal, regardless of its message permission setting. Message permission has no effect on messages delivered through the electronic mail system.
If you add mesg y to your $HOME/.profile, you will be able to receive messages from other users via the write command or the talk command. If you add mesg n to your $HOME/.profile, you will not be able to receive messages from other users via the write command or the talk command.
Arguments
nDisables incoming write messages, except by the superuser. Use this form of the command to avoid having others clutter your display with incoming messages.
yPermits write messages by all systems on the local network.
The mesg command also accepts the current locale’s equivalent of y and n. These equivalents are determined by the setting of the LC_MESSAGES environment variable.
EXAMPLES
1.To allow only the superuser to send messages to your terminal, enter:
mesg n
2.To allow everyone the permission to send messages to your terminal, enter:
mesg y
FILES
$HOME/.profileUser profile.
.cshrcUser profile (csh).
.loginUser profile (csh).
/dev/tty∗To suspend messages.