Wtmp empty everyday


 
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Operating Systems AIX Wtmp empty everyday
# 1  
Old 05-27-2013
[Solved] Wtmp empty everyday

Anyone got experience where wtmp logs get truncated everyday? Though sulog, failedlogin and lastlog seems to be fine.

The server uptime is 18 days running on AIX 5.3. Sorry this seems to be a generic questions but never really encountered before.
# 2  
Old 05-27-2013
Hi,

i don't know about a automatism, which clean the wtmp by default but there are some script (search in the forum or use google) which can do that.
Most of these scripts use the /usr/sbin/acct/fwtmp comman. man fwtmp

I would have a look at the crontab for such script...

Regards
# 3  
Old 05-27-2013
Hi.
You can check in /etc/logrotate.conf
There is the way to rotate wtmp log file.
# 4  
Old 05-28-2013
Another possible cause could be skulker. It could be configured to shorten the wtmp file, see the man page of skulker.

I hope this helps.

bakunin
# 5  
Old 05-28-2013
Thanks. Found a 'cp -p dev/null /var/adm/wtmp' from crontab.

Moderator's Comments:
Mod Comment edit by bakunin: thanks for the follow-up. I changed the threads title to "solved".

Last edited by bakunin; 05-28-2013 at 07:15 PM..
# 6  
Old 05-28-2013
This solves the riddle. I'd like to comment, though, that this is a dangerous practice, because it changes the files inode-number. I suggest to change this to

Code:
cat /dev/null > /var/adm/wtmp

which will shorten the file too but leaves its metadata intact.

I hope this helps.

bakunin
# 7  
Old 05-28-2013
Quote:
Originally Posted by bakunin
Code:
cat /dev/null > /var/adm/wtmp

cat serves no purpose in that construct. The file is truncated by the shell when it handles the redirection operation, before invoking cat. The following should do it:
Code:
> /var/adm/wtmp

Regards,
Alister
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