Open System Services Shell and Utilities Reference Manual (G06.28+, H06.05+)

File Format Reference Pages .rhosts(4)
NAME
.rhosts - Describes individual user files for trusted remote hosts and users
SYNOPSIS
~/ . r h o s t s
DESCRIPTION
The /etc/hosts.equiv and .rhosts files provide the "remote authentication" database for the
rsh
command. The files specify remote hosts and users that are considered trusted. Only trusted
users from the remote hosts are allowed to access the local system. The /etc/hosts.equiv file
applies to the entire system, while individual users can maintain their own .rhosts files in their
home directories. To maintain system security, these files must be carefully created and main-
tained. The remote authentication procedure determines whether a user from a remote host
should be allowed to access the local system with the identity of a local user. This procedure
first checks the /etc/hosts.equiv file and then checks the .rhosts file in the home directory of the
local user who is requesting access. The rsh command fails if the remote authentication pro-
cedure fails.
Each entry in the file has the form:
hostname [username]
If the entry is in the form:
hostname
then all users from the named host are trusted. That is, they are allowed to access the system
with the same user name as they have on the remote system. This form of entry can be used in
both the /etc/hosts.equiv and .rhosts files.
If the entry is in the form:
hostname username
then the named user from the named host is allowed to access the system. This form can be used
in individual .rhosts files to allow remote users to access the system as a different local user. If
this form is used in the /etc/hosts.equiv file, the named remote user is allowed to access the sys-
tem with the same capabilities as any local user.
FILES
/etc/hosts.equiv
~/ . r h o s t s
NOTES
A hostname value used in the /etc/hosts.equiv and .rhosts files must be the official name of the
host, not one of its nicknames.
Super ID access is handled as a special case. Only the .rhosts file is checked when access is
attempted for the super ID. To help maintain system security, the /etc/hosts.equiv file is not
checked.
RELATED INFORMATION
Commands: rsh(1).
Files: hosts(4), hosts.equiv(4).
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