SESSREG(1)

💅 SESSREG — bestie's guide to utmpx/wtmpx wrangling

okay so real talk: this is the sessreg page from X Version 11, and honestly? she's lowkey a legend. let's get into it 💖

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✨ NAME ✨

sessreg — manages utmpx/wtmpx entries for non-init clients 🎀

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🌸 SYNOPSIS 🌸

sessreg [-w wtmpx-file] [-u utmpx-file] [-L lastlog-file]
    [-l line-name] [-h host-name] [-s slot-number]
    [-x Xservers-file] [-t ttys-file] [-V] [-a] [-d] user-name

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🦋 DESCRIPTION 🦋

Sessreg is a simple lil program for managing utmpx/wtmpx and lastlog entries for xdm sessions. she's not doing the most, she's just doing her job ✨

This version of sessreg is built using the modern POSIX pututxline(3c) interfaces, which no longer require the slot-number, ttys-file, or Xservers-file mappings. so like… the mapping era is over, we've moved on 💅 For compatibility with older versions and other operating systems, the -s, -t, and -x flags are accepted, but ignored. yes bestie, they're still in the group chat, they just don't say anything 🙈

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🎀 USAGE 🎀

In Xstartup, place a call like:

sessreg -a -l $DISPLAY -x /etc/X11/xdm/Xservers $USER

and in Xreset:

sessreg -d -l $DISPLAY -x /etc/X11/xdm/Xservers $USER

like, that's it. that's the whole ritual 🕯️✨

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👑 OPTIONS 👑

• -w wtmpx-file — this specifies an alternate wtmpx file, instead of /var/log/wtmp. the special name "none" disables writing records to the wtmpx file. (yes, literally the word "none", no cap)
• -u utmpx-file — this specifies an alternate utmpx file, instead of /var/run/utmp. the special name "none" disables writing records to the utmpx file.
• -L lastlog-file — this specifies an alternate lastlog file, instead of /var/log/lastlog, if the platform supports lastlog files. the special name "none" disables writing records to the lastlog file. platform-dependent queen 🫶
• -l line-name — this describes the "line" name of the entry. for terminal sessions, this is the final pathname segment of the terminal device filename (e.g. ttyd0). for X sessions, it should probably be the local display name given to the users session (e.g. :0). if none is specified, the terminal name will be determined with ttyname(3) and stripped of leading components. she'll figure it out herself, she's resourceful 💅
• -h host-name — this is set to indicate that the session was initiated from a remote host. in typical xdm usage, this options is not used. (remote vibes only when you actually need them 🌈)
• -s slot-number — this option is accepted for compatibility, but does nothing in this version of sessreg. ghost flag 💀
• -x Xservers-file — this option is accepted for compatibility, but does nothing in this version of sessreg. also a ghost 👻
• -t ttys-file — this option is accepted for compatibility, but does nothing in this version of sessreg. ghost #3, she's still invited tho 🎀
• -V, --version — this option causes the command to print its version and exit. short and iconic ⭐
• -a — this session should be added to utmpx/wtmpx. the "you're so back" flag ✨
• -d — this session should be deleted from utmpx/wtmpx. the "it's so over" flag 😭**

⚠️ real talk: one of -a/-d must be specified. you literally cannot run this without picking a side. main character decision energy 🔥

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🔥 SEE ALSO 🔥

xdm(1), utmpx(5), wtmpx(5) — go read these, iykyk 📚

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💜 AUTHOR 💜

Keith Packard, MIT X Consortium — legend behavior, honestly 👑

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sessreg 1.1.4 · 2025-03-22 — that's the version and the date bestie, screenshot it for the group chat 📸 mwah, go log your sessions responsibly 💋✨