LAST(1) — Unix Programmer’s Manual
NAME
last − indicate last logins of users and teletypes
SYNOPSIS
last [ option ] [ name ... ] [ tty ... ]
DESCRIPTION
Last reads from the wtmp file records all logins and logouts for information about a user, a teletype, or any group of users and teletypes. Arguments specify names of users or teletypes of interest. Names of teletypes may be given fully or abbreviated. For example ‘last 0’ is the same as ‘last tty0’. If multiple arguments are given, the information which applies to any of the arguments is printed. For example ‘last root console’ would list all of "root’s" sessions as well as all sessions on the console terminal.
Last prints the sessions of the specified users and teletypes, most recent first, indicating the times at which the session began, the duration of the session, and the teletype which the session took place on. Last also indicates if the session is still continuing or was cut short by a reboot.
The pseudo-user reboot logs in at reboots of the system, thus
last reboot
will give an indication of mean time between reboot.
Last with no arguments prints a record of all logins and logouts, in reverse order.
If last is interrupted, it indicates how far the search has progressed in wtmp. If interrupted with a quit signal (generated by a control-\), last indicates how far the search has progressed and continues the search.
OPTION
−N Limits the report to N lines.
FILES
/usr/adm/wtmplogin data base
/usr/adm/shutdownlogrecord of shutdowns and reasons for wtmp
SEE ALSO
4th Berkeley Distribution — April 29, 1985