[NTLUG:Discuss] suspicious output from "last -d" command

[Kenneth Loafman]

Leroy Tennison wrote:
> I know how to spell Ubuntu and that's it but was wondering if it was 
> configured to support multiple terminal sessions via Ctrl-Alt-F1 through 
> Ctrl-Alt-F? (however many are configured).  The reason I ask is, if it 
> does and gdm is really the culprit, wouldn't you be able to:
> 
> boot (but don't do a graphical login)
> Ctrl-Alt-F? (pick a valid number)
> login
> do 'last -d' (or whatever variant you desire)
> 
> NOT see this strange behavior for the current date?

Since those terminals don't go through gdm, you can just do:

Ctrl-Alt-F1 to get first console
login to console	
'last -d -a' to see clean last
Ctrl-D to logout
Ctrl-Alt-F7 to go back to X
'last -d -a' to see persistance

Note that on a console you are on ttyN, where you are on pts/N for
terminals in gdm.  'getty' clears the structure properly.

...Ken