[plug] repairs to /var/log/lastlog

[Ambrose B Scafidi]

/var/log/lastlog has an internal structure to it. Every time a user is added
to the system there is a incremental increase in size of this file as a
datastructure representing the new user is tacked onto the end. How this one
got to 18meg is beyond me....

see http://danny.at.box.sk/articles/lastlog.txt

Ambrose.

----- Original Email -----
From: Tony Breeds <magni at plug.linux.org.au>
To: plug at plug.linux.org.au
Date: 20-May-2003 10:34
Subject: Re: [plug] repairs to /var/log/lastlog

> On Tue, May 20, 2003 at 01:57:50AM -0000, Ambrose B Scafidi wrote:
> 
> > Does anyone have any idea how to fix a /var/log/lastlog ?
> > 
> > I have a RH7.3 machine here where the file weighs in at 18meg and I think
it
> > needs to be trimmed somewhat. Prob is that it can not be deleted and then
> > "touched up". Need something to rebuild it. Anyone have any ideas?
> 
> Umm I;m not exactly sure what you mean.  I do:
> ---
> cp -a lastlog lastlog.fred
> > lastlog
> # insert remainder of script here
> ---
> 
> Seem to work for me.
> 
> Yours Tony
> 
>         Linux.Conf.AU       http://lca2004.linux.org.au/
>         Jan 12-17 2004      The Australian Linux Technical Conference!
> 
> 
>