Linux Pocket Guide

Name

mesg [y|n] — SysVinit

Synopsis

/usr/bin stdin stdout - file -- opt --help --version

The mesg program controls whether talk and write connections can reach your terminal. mesg y permits them, mesg n denies them, and mesg prints the current status (y or n).^[18] mesg has no effect on modern instant messaging programs like gaim.

$ mesg
is n
$ mesg y

^[18] At press time, mesg y on Fedora fails with the error message, "tty device is not owned by group ‘tty’.” We expect this problem will get sorted out.