wtmp utmp - bit confused

[Denys Vlasenko]

On Tuesday 08 February 2011 12:41, David Collier wrote:
> > > 1. is there an "official position" of the use of these files
> > 
> > In the boot scripts somewhere at the point where they purge 
> > /var/run.
> 
> sorry, I made a typo ... I meant "is there an "official position" _ON_
> the use of these files"

These files are not essential, they are meant to enable
"who", "wall" and "last" tools. If these files do not exist,
most tools will work fine. Some will create them (which
looks like a minor bug to me - only admin should be able to decide
whether he wants them). Buggy ones may bail out.

-- 
vda