SYNOPSIS

nntptest [ -t keyfile ] [ -p port ] [ -m mechanism ]

         [ -a userid ] [ -u userid ] [ -k num ] [ -l num ]

         [ -r realm ] [ -f file ] [ -n num ] [ -s ] [ -c ]

         [ -i ] [ -o option=value ] [ -v ] hostname

DESCRIPTION

nntptest is a utility that allows you to authenticate to a NNTP server and interactively issue commands to it. Once authenticated you may issue any NNTP command by simply typing it in. It is capable of multiple SASL authentication mechanisms and handles encryption layers transparently. This utility is often used for testing the operation of a nntp server. Also those developing NNTP clients find it useful.

OPTIONS

-t keyfile

Enable TLS. keyfile contains the TLS public and private keys. Specify "" to negotiate a TLS encryption layer but not use TLS authentication.

-p port

Port to connect to. If left off this defaults to nntp as defined in /etc/services.

-m mechanism

Force nntptest to use mechanism for authentication. If not specified the strongest authentication mechanism supported by the server is chosen. Specify user to use the AUTHINFO USER/PASS commands instead of AUTHINFO SASL.

-a userid

Userid to use for authentication; defaults to the current user. This is the userid whose password or credentials will be presented to the server for verification.

-u userid

Userid to use for authorization; defaults to the current user. This is the userid whose identity will be assumed after authentication. NOTE: This is only used with SASL mechanisms that allow proxying (e.g. PLAIN, DIGEST-MD5).

-k num

Minimum protection layer required.

-l num

Maximum protection layer to use (0=none; 1=integrity; etc). For example if you are using the KERBEROS_V4 authentication mechanism specifying 0 will force nntptest to not use any layer and specifying 1 will force it to use the integrity layer. By default the maximum supported protection layer will be used.

-r realm

Specify the realm to use. Certain authentication mechanisms (e.g. DIGEST-MD5) may require one to specify the realm.

-f file

Pipe file into connection after authentication.

-n num

Number of authentication attempts; default = 1. The client will attempt to do SSL/TLS session reuse and/or fast reauth (e.g. DIGEST-MD5), if possible.

-s

Enable NNTP over SSL (nntps).

-c

Enable challenge prompt callbacks. This will cause the OTP mechanism to ask for the the one-time password instead of the secret pass-phrase (library generates the correct response).

-i

Don't send an initial client response for SASL mechanisms, even if the protocol supports it.

-o option=value

Set the SASL option to value.

-v

Verbose. Print out more information than usual.