Original Question:
> From marius@tequila.randomc.com Tue Sep  9 01:15:33 1997
> 
> Has anyone got a utility that rotates the utmp, utmpx, wtmp, wtmpx files 
> correctly ( without messing up the 'w', 'finger', 'who' commands ) ?  If you 
> do, I'd appreciate a copy of it if at all possible.  Thanks ;)
> 
> R. Dows <marius@randomc.com>
> SysAdmin
> 
Here are the replies I received:
>From Karl Vogel (vogelke@c17mis.region2.wpafb.af.mil)
#!/bin/sh
#
# $Id: rotate_log,v 1.3 1995/06/16 16:27:56 vogelke Exp $
# $Source: /source/usr/local/cron/log/RCS/rotate_log,v $
#
# Shell script to rotate a log.  Usage:
#
# rotate_log log [ -L src_dir ] [ -n n ] [ -c ] [ -B backup_dir ]
#	[ -b backup_name ] [ -m mode ] [ -o owner ] [ -g group ]
#	[ -M mode ] [ -O owner ] [ -G group ] [ -e prolog_cmd ]
#	[ -E postlog_cmd ] logfile
#
# where the switches mean:
#
#  -L	Name of the directory 'log' is found in.
#  -n	Number of backup copies to keep.
#  -s	Skip empty logs.
#  -c   Compress the backup copy with compress.
#  -z   Compress the backup copy with gzip.
#  -B   Dir to keep the backup copies in.
#  -b   Name of backup copy. 
#  -m   Mode of new log.
#  -o   Owner of new log (only root can use this option).
#  -g   Group of new log (only root can use this option).
#  -M   Mode of backup copy.
#  -O   Owner of backup copy (only root can use this option).
#  -G   Group of backup copy (only root can use this option).
#  -e	Command to be executed immediately before copying the logfile.
#  -E	Command to be executed immediately after copying the logfile.
#
# Stylistic note -- any error that says 'Unexpected error' means I
# thought this particular error can't happen.
#
# This program is Copyright 1989, 1994, Steven C. Simmons.  It may be
# freely redistributed provided this notice remains intact and any changes
# you make are clearly marked as such.
#
# ORIGINAL RCS INFORMATION:
#     Source: /home/lokkur/scs/src/rotate_log/rotate_log/RCS/rotate_log,v
#     Revision: 0.9
#     Author: scs 	Date: 1994/11/14 23:28:31
#     State: Exp 	Locker: 
#
#     Log: rotate_log,v 
# Revision 0.9  1994/11/14  23:28:31  scs
# Added gzip compression.
#
# Revision 0.8  1991/08/02  19:01:20  scs
# Corrected error in paraterization of chmod/chgrp/chown.  Didn't
# this get fixed once before?
#
# Revision 0.7  91/04/30  22:10:10  scs
# Added -s switch.
# 
# Revision 0.6  91/04/27  16:16:59  scs
# Fixed bug with -b/-n combo losing arguements.  Patch supplied by
# Michael Bredeweg (...clif!comnet!mike).
# 
# Revision 0.5  91/04/03  19:49:00  scs
# Parameterized locations of chmod, chgrp, chown.
# 
PATH=/bin:/usr/local/bin
export PATH
SCRIPT=`basename $0`
#
#  Commonly used commands
#
MV=/bin/mv
CP=/bin/cp
CHMOD=/bin/chmod
CHOWN=/bin/chown
CHGRP=/bin/chgrp
#
#  Assign default values as needed
#
SOURCE_DIR=""
SOURCE_NAME=""
BACKUP_NAME=""
BACKUP_DIR=""
BACKUP_COUNT="3"
COMPRESS=""
SOURCE_MODE=""
SOURCE_OWNER=""
SOURCE_GROUP=""
BACKUP_MODE=""
BACKUP_OWNER=""
BACKUP_GROUP=""
SKIP_FLAG="false"
#
#  Basic switch parsing.  Right now, this forces us to use whitespace
#  between switch char and actual execution.  Whenever we get data
#  for a switch, errorcheck it immediately.
#
while [ "$#" -gt "0" ] ; do
        case $1 in
        -L )	if [ "$2" = "" ] ; then
                        echo "${SCRIPT}: The $1 switch requires a directory name.  Aborting."
                        exit 0
                fi
                if [ -w "${2}" -a -d "${2}" ] ; then
                        :
                else
                        echo "${SCRIPT}: Sorry, you cannot modify the directory ${2}.  Aborting."
                        exit 0
                fi
                SOURCE_DIR="${2}/"
                shift
                ;;
        -b )	if [ "$2" = "" ] ; then
                        echo "${SCRIPT}: The $1 switch requires a backup name.  Aborting."
                        exit 0
                fi
                BACKUP_NAME="$2"
                shift
                ;;
        -B )	if [ "$2" = "" ] ; then
                        echo "${SCRIPT}: The $1 switch requires a directory name.  Aborting."
                        exit 0
                fi
                if [ -w "${2}" -a -d "${2}" ] ; then
                        :
                else
                        echo "${SCRIPT}: Sorry, you cannot create files in ${DIR}.  Aborting."
                        exit 0
                fi
                BACKUP_DIR="${2}/"
                shift
                ;;
        -n )	if [ "$2" = "" ] ; then
                        echo "${SCRIPT}: The $1 switch requires a backup count.  Aborting."
                        exit 0
                fi
                if echo $2 | grep '[^0-9]' > /dev/null 2>&1 ; then
                        echo "${SCRIPT}: The backup count ($2) must be a positive number.  
Aborting."
                        exit 0
                fi
                if [ $2 -eq 0 ] ; then
                        echo "${SCRIPT}: The backup count ($2) must be greater than zero.  
Aborting."
                        exit 0
                fi
                BACKUP_COUNT="$2"
                shift
                ;;
        -s )	SKIP_FLAG="true"
                ;;
        -c )	COMPRESS="compress"
                COMP_EXT=".Z"
                ;;
        -z )	COMPRESS="gzip"
                COMP_EXT=".gz"
                ;;
        -m )	if [ "$2" = "" ] ; then
                        echo "${SCRIPT}: The $1 switch requires a permissions mode.  Aborting."
                        exit 0
                fi
                SOURCE_MODE="$2"
                shift
                ;;
        -M )	if [ "$2" = "" ] ; then
                        echo "${SCRIPT}: The $1 switch requires a permissions mode.  Aborting."
                        exit 0
                fi
                BACKUP_MODE="$2"
                shift
                ;;
        -o )	if [ "$2" = "" ] ; then
                        echo "${SCRIPT}: The $1 switch requires the name of the new owner.  
Aborting."
                        exit 0
                fi
                if grep '^${2}:' < /etc/passwd > /dev/null 2>&1 ; then
                        echo "${SCRIPT}: No such login id as $2.  Aborting."
                        exit 0
                fi
                SOURCE_OWNER="$2"
                shift
                ;;
        -O )	if [ "$2" = "" ] ; then
                        echo "${SCRIPT}: The $1 switch requires the name of the new owner.  
Aborting."
                        exit 0
                fi
                if grep '^${2}:' < /etc/passwd > /dev/null 2>&1 ; then
                        echo "${SCRIPT}: No such login id as $2.  Aborting."
                        exit 0
                fi
                BACKUP_OWNER="$2"
                shift
                ;;
        -g )	if [ "$2" = "" ] ; then
                        echo "${SCRIPT}: The $1 switch requires the name of the new group.  
Aborting."
                        exit 0
                fi
                if grep '^${2}:' < /etc/group > /dev/null 2>&1 ; then
                        echo "${SCRIPT}: No such group as $2.  Aborting."
                        exit 0
                fi
                SOURCE_GROUP="$2"
                shift
                ;;
        -G )	if [ "$2" = "" ] ; then
                        echo "${SCRIPT}: The $1 switch requires the name of the new group.  
Aborting."
                        exit 0
                fi
                if grep '^${2}:' < /etc/group > /dev/null 2>&1 ; then
                        echo "${SCRIPT}: No such group as $2.  Aborting."
                        exit 0
                fi
                BACKUP_GROUP="$2"
                shift
                ;;
        -e )	if [ "$2" = "" ] ; then
                        echo "${SCRIPT}: The $1 switch requires a command to be executed.  
Aborting."
                        exit 0
                fi
                CMD_BEFORE="${2}"
                shift
                ;;
        -E )	if [ "$2" = "" ] ; then
                        echo "${SCRIPT}: The $1 switch requires a command to be executed.  
Aborting."
                        exit 0
                fi
                CMD_AFTER="${2}"
                shift
                ;;
        -* )	echo "${SCRIPT}: No such switch as $1.  Aborting."
                exit 0
                ;;
        * )	if [ "${SOURCE_NAME}" != "" ] ; then
                        echo "${SCRIPT}: You must specify only one log file.  Aborting."
                        exit 0
                else
                        SOURCE_NAME=$1
                fi
                ;;
        esac
        shift
done
if [ "${SOURCE_NAME}" = "" ] ; then
        echo "${SCRIPT}: You must specify a log file.  Aborting."
        exit 0
fi
#
#  Do sanity checks
#
#  If he specified a source directory or backup directory, the source
#  and backup file names cannot contain a slash.
#
if [ "${SOURCE_DIR}" != "" ] ; then
        if echo $SOURCE_NAME | grep / > /dev/null ; then
                cat << EOF
${SCRIPT}: If you specify a source directory (eg, -L ${SOURCE_DIR}),
then the log file name (${SOURCE_NAME}) must be a simple file name,
ie, not containing any slashes.  Aborting.
EOF
                exit 0
        fi
        #
        #  If they don't explicitly select a backup directory but the
        #  do specify a log directory, use the same for both.
        #
        if [ "${BACKUP_DIR}" = "" ] ; then
                BACKUP_DIR="${SOURCE_DIR}"
        fi
fi
if [ "${BACKUP_DIR}" != "" ] ; then
        if echo $BACKUP_NAME | grep / > /dev/null ; then
                cat << EOF
${SCRIPT}: If you specify a backup directory (eg, -B ${BACKUP_DIR}),
then the backup log name (${BACKUP_NAME}) must be a simple file name,
ie, not containing any slashes.  Aborting.
EOF
                exit 0
        fi
fi
#
#  Make sure we can mod the directory where the log is.
#
if [ -w `dirname "${SOURCE_NAME}"` ] ;  then
        :
else
        cat << EOF
${SCRIPT}: Sorry, you do not have permission to move/rename the
log file (file '`basename ${SOURCE_NAME}`', directory '`dirname 
${SOURCE_NAME}`').  Aborting.
EOF
        exit 0
fi
#
#  Make sure we can read/write the log itself.
#
SOURCE_PATH="${SOURCE_DIR}${SOURCE_NAME}"
if [ -w "${SOURCE_PATH}" -a -r "${SOURCE_PATH}" ] ; then
        :
else
        echo "${SCRIPT}: Sorry, you do not have permission to read and modify"
        echo "the file '${SOURCE_PATH}'.  Aborting."
        exit 0
fi
#
#  If the log is empty and the skip flag (-s) is set, do nothing.
#
if [ "${SKIP_FLAG}" = "true" ] ; then
        set `wc -c ${SOURCE_PATH}`
        if [ 0 = $1 ] ; then
                exit 0
        fi
fi
#
#  Make sure root operations are only run by root
#
if [ "${BACKUP_OWNER}" != "" -o "${SOURCE_OWNER}" != "" -o "${BACKUP_GROUP}" 
!= "" -o "${SOURCE_GROUP}" != "" ]
then
        # If we can write the password file, we have root privs
        if [ -w /etc/passwd ] ; then
                :
        else
                echo "${SCRIPT}: Sorry, you can only change owner or group if you are root."
                echo "Aborting."
                exit 0
        fi
fi
#
#  Build the list of backup names, in reverse order.  Make them
#  full pathnames.
#
if [ "${BACKUP_NAME}" = "" ] ; then
        BACKUP_NAME="${SOURCE_NAME}"
fi
while expr $BACKUP_COUNT \> 0 > /dev/null ; do
        BACKUP_COUNT=`expr $BACKUP_COUNT - 1`
        BACKUP_FILES="${BACKUP_FILES} ${BACKUP_DIR}${BACKUP_NAME}.${BACKUP_COUNT}"
done
#
#  Rotate the existing backups.  Assume no change in permissions, etc.
#
set ${BACKUP_FILES}
if [ "${1}" = "" ] ; then
        echo "${SCRIPT}: unexpected error in using backup list.  Aborting."
        exit 0
fi
OLDEST="${1}"
NEXT="${1}"
shift
while [ "$1" != "" ] ; do
        NEXT="${1}"
        rm -f "${OLDEST}" "${OLDEST}${COMP_EXT}"
        if [ -f "${NEXT}" ] ; then
                ${MV} "${NEXT}" "${OLDEST}"
        elif [ -f "${NEXT}${COMP_EXT}" ] ; then
                ${MV} "${NEXT}${COMP_EXT}" "${OLDEST}${COMP_EXT}"
        else
                echo "${SCRIPT}: Missing backup log ${NEXT} or ${NEXT}${COMP_EXT}.  
Continuing."
        fi
        OLDEST="${NEXT}"
        shift
done
#
#  Copy the current log to be the first backup.  Use full pathnames
#  as appropriate.
#
if [ "${SOURCE_DIR}" != "" ] ; then
        if cd "${SOURCE_DIR}" ; then
                :
        else
                echo "${SCRIPT}: unexpected error in command 'cd ${SOURCE_DIR}'.  Aborting."
                exit 0
        fi
fi
rm -f "${NEXT}" "${NEXT}${COMP_EXT}"
if [ "${CMD_BEFORE}" != "" ] ; then
        ${CMD_BEFORE}
fi
if ${MV} "${SOURCE_NAME}" "${NEXT}" ; then
        :
else
        echo "${SCRIPT}: unexpected error making first backup.  Aborting."
        exit 0
fi
if [ "${CMD_AFTER}" != "" ] ; then
        ${CMD_AFTER}
fi
rm -f "${SOURCE_NAME}" "${SOURCE_NAME}${COMP_EXT}"
if cat > "${SOURCE_NAME}" < /dev/null ; then
        :
else
        echo "${SCRIPT}: unexpected error emptying log file.  Continuing."
fi
#
#  Set ownership and permission on the log as requested.
#
if [ "${SOURCE_MODE}" != "" ] ; then
        if ${CHMOD} ${SOURCE_MODE} "${SOURCE_NAME}" ; then
                :
        else
                echo "${SCRIPT}: unexpected error executing command '${CHMOD} ${SOURCE_MODE} 
${SOURCE_NAME}'."
                echo "Aborting."
                exit 0
        fi
fi
if [ "${SOURCE_OWNER}" != "" ] ; then
        if ${CHOWN} ${SOURCE_OWNER} "${SOURCE_NAME}" ; then
                :
        else
                echo "${SCRIPT}: unexpected error executing command '${CHOWN} 
${SOURCE_OWNER} ${SOURCE_NAME}'."
                echo "Aborting."
                exit 0
        fi
fi
if [ "${SOURCE_GROUP}" != "" ] ; then
        if ${CHGRP} ${SOURCE_GROUP} "${SOURCE_NAME}" ; then
                :
        else
                echo "${SCRIPT}: unexpected error executing command '${CHGRP} 
${SOURCE_GROUP} ${SOURCE_NAME}'."
                echo "Aborting."
                exit 0
        fi
fi
#
#  Set ownerships and permissions as requested on the backed up log.
#  Note that the compress must come last in this sequence.
#
if [ "${BACKUP_MODE}" != "" ] ; then
        if ${CHMOD} ${BACKUP_MODE} "${NEXT}" ; then
                :
        else
                echo "${SCRIPT}: unexpected error executing command '${CHMOD} ${BACKUP_MODE} 
${NEXT}'."
                echo "Aborting."
                exit 0
        fi
fi
if [ "${BACKUP_OWNER}" != "" ] ; then
        if ${CHOWN} ${BACKUP_OWNER} "${NEXT}" ; then
                :
        else
                echo "${SCRIPT}: unexpected error executing command '${CHOWN} 
${BACKUP_OWNER} ${NEXT}'."
                echo "Aborting."
                exit 0
        fi
fi
if [ "${BACKUP_GROUP}" != "" ] ; then
        if ${CHGRP} ${BACKUP_GROUP} "${NEXT}" ; then
                :
        else
                echo "${SCRIPT}: unexpected error executing command '${CHGRP} 
${BACKUP_GROUP} ${NEXT}'."
                echo "Aborting."
                exit 0
        fi
fi
if [ "${COMPRESS}" != "" ] ; then
        if ${COMPRESS} "${NEXT}" ; then
                :
        else
                echo "${SCRIPT}: unexpected error executing command '${COMPRESS} ${NEXT}'."
                echo "Aborting."
                exit 0
        fi
fi
exit 0
>From Miquel Cabanas (miquel@proton.uab.es)
And Simon-Bernard Drolet (Simon-Bernard.Drolet@M3iSystems.com)
>From Rachel Polanskis (grove@zeta.org.au)
http://tequila.randomc.com/~marius/code/trimwtmp.tar.gz
>From P. Alejandro (alejolo@ideam.gov.co)
#/sbin/sh
$DATE=3D`date +%m.%d.%y`
if [ -as /var/log/wtmp]
        cp /var/log/wtmp /var/log/wtmp.$DATE ;
        cp /dev/null /var/log/wtmp ;
        exit 0;
else
        /bin/mailx -s "We messed up" root;
        exit 1;
fi
>From Randall S. Winchester (rsw@Glue.umd.edu)
He suggested using newsyslog from MIT, also keeps syslog in order.
Thanks to everyone involved, I am really glad I joined the list, and very 
grateful to all those that answered my questions ;)
R Dows <marius@randomc.com>
SysAdmin, Random Access Inc.,
Atlanta, GA.,
30328
(770)804-1190
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.2 : Fri Sep 28 2001 - 23:12:03 CDT