mesg – Set Write Permissions for the Current Terminal

The mesg command in Linux is used to control the write permissions for the current terminal. It is a simple command that allows users to enable or disable write permissions for other users trying to send messages to them.

Overview

The mesg command is used to set the write permissions for the current terminal. When a user logs into a terminal session, they are assigned a terminal device file, such as /dev/tty1 or /dev/pts/0. Other users can send messages to this terminal using the write command, but only if the receiving user has enabled write permissions using the mesg command.

To enable write permissions, simply type mesg y in the terminal. This will allow other users to send messages to your terminal. To disable write permissions, type mesg n.

Here are some examples of how to use the mesg command:

• To enable write permissions: mesg y
• To disable write permissions: mesg n

Use Cases

• In a multi-user environment, users can use the mesg command to control who can send messages to their terminal.
• System administrators can use the mesg command to disable write permissions for users who are not authorized to receive messages.

Options

The mesg command has the following options:

Troubleshooting Tips

• If you are not able to receive messages even though you have enabled write permissions using the mesg command, make sure that the other user is using the correct terminal device file to send the message.
• If you are still having issues, try logging out and logging back in to reset your terminal session.

Notes

• The mesg command only controls write permissions for the current terminal session. If you log out and log back in, you will need to use the mesg command again to enable write permissions.
• The mesg command only controls write permissions for other users trying to send messages to your terminal. It does not affect your ability to send messages to other users.