>> detailed description:
>> --------------------
>> Maybe not everyone would call this a bug, but finger(1) prints the name
>> of the host connected to (if any) before it is actually connected. This
>> is confusing for people who are used to finger(1) printing the hostname
>> when actually having made the connection. The hostname appearing on
>> your screen gives you an indication of whether the host you are trying to
>> finger to is down/unreachable.
>
>actually, on every machine i've used, finger printing out the hostname
>was an indication that it could _look up_ the name in question, not
>that it connected...

Ya know, I thought this was the case as well, but it's not true under SunOS -
it doesn't print that message until it's connected.

Under Ultrix 4.2, it follows 4.4 BSD.

My 4.3 tapes are on 9-track, otherwise I'd look on there :-)

(Whether or not this is desirable is another question - I'm not sure which is
"right".  I think I prefer the 4.4BSD behavior).

--Ken