Description: The ‘last’ command is a command-line tool in Unix and Linux systems that allows administrators and users to view the last login sessions of users on the system. This command provides a record of user sessions, displaying information such as the username, the terminal used, the date and time of the login, as well as the duration of the session. The output of the command is presented in a tabular format, making it easy to read and analyze the information. ‘Last’ is particularly useful for security auditing, as it allows administrators to track unauthorized or unusual access. Additionally, it can help identify usage patterns and better manage system resources. This command is part of the standard utilities of many Unix-based operating systems, making it an accessible and widely used tool in system administration.
History: The ‘last’ command was introduced in Unix systems in the 1970s as part of system administration tools. As Unix evolved and diversified into different variants, ‘last’ remained an essential utility for user management and security. Its simple design and functionality have endured over the years, making it a standard in most Linux distributions and other Unix-based operating systems.
Uses: The ‘last’ command is primarily used to audit user logins, allowing administrators to identify unauthorized or unusual access. It is also used to analyze usage patterns and better manage system resources. Additionally, it can be useful for troubleshooting user access issues and for system capacity planning.
Examples: A practical example of using the ‘last’ command would be running ‘last’ in the terminal to see a record of the last logins. This could reveal if an unauthorized user has accessed the system from an unknown IP address. Another example would be using ‘last -n 10’ to show only the last 10 logins, thus facilitating a quick review of recent activity.
