mesg Command
  
  
  Purpose
  
  Permits or refuses write messages.
  
   Syntax
  
  mesg [ n |  y ]
  
  Description
  
  The mesg command controls whether other users on the system can
  send messages to you with either the  write command or the  talk
  command.  Called without arguments, the mesg command displays the
  current workstation message-permission setting.
  
  The shell startup process permits messages by default.  You can
  override this default action by including the line mesg n in your
  $HOME/.profile file.  A user with root user authority can send
  write messages to any workstation, regardless of its message per-
  mission setting.    Message  permission has no effect on messages
  delivered through the electronic mail system ( sendmail).
  
  If you add mesg y to your $HOME/.profile, you will be able to re-
  ceive 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 using the write command or the
  talk command.
  
  Flags
  
  n	Allows only the root user the permission to send messages to
  your  workstation.   Use this form of the command to avoid having
  others clutter your display with incoming messages.
  
  y	Allows all workstations on the local network the permission to
  send messages to your workstation.
  
  Exit Status
  
  This command returns the following exit values:
  
  0	Receiving messages is allowed.
  
  1	Receiving messages is not allowed.
  
  >1	An error occurred.
  
  Examples
  
  1.	To allow only the root user the permission to send messages to
  your workstation, enter:
  
  mesg n
  
  2.	To allow everyone the permission to send messages to your
  workstation, enter:
  
  mesg y
  
  3.	To display what your current message-permission setting is,
  enter:
  
  mesg
  
  Information similar to the following is displayed:
  
  is y
  
  In the previous example, the current message-permission setting
  is  y (allowing all users on the local network the permission to
  send messages  to  your workstation).  If you change the message-
  permission setting to  n (allowing only the root user the permis-
  sion to send  messages  to your workstation), information similar
  to the following is displayed:
  
  is n
  
  Implementation Specifics
  
  This command is part of Base Operating System (BOS) Runtime.
  
  Files
  
  /dev/tty*	Supports the controlling terminal interface.
  
  $HOME/.profile	Controls startup processes and daemons.
  
  Related Information
  
  The  sendmail command,  talk command,  write command.
  
   Network Overview in AIX Version 3.2 System Management Guide:
  Communications and Networks.