About log analysis

This is an article about log analysis.

hello!

This time, we will learn about log analysis.

Before starting the writing in earnest,

—Today’s TMI—

It’s been a while since I played a proper game called Lost Ark, and the raid was really fun!

There seems to be a lot of inflow, so I’m looking forward to the next new user event.

If you are interested in the RPG genre, give it a try!

—TMI End—

Let’s get back to writing!

Logs are important tools for recording information related to the behavior of a system.

In particular, kernel logs refer to logs created by the kernel, which is a core part of the system.

In this article, we will learn about the most commonly used kernel logs: wtmp, utmp, btmp, and lastlog.

The wtmp log contains information about users logging into the system and logging out.

These logs are used to track and analyze user activity by recording login-related information.

It is primarily utilized for security auditing and user activity tracking purposes.

For example, wtmp logs include a user’s login history, logout history, session start and end times, etc.

The utmp log records information about the currently logged in user.

Similar to wtmp logs, but utmp logs only contain information about the current session.

This log is used by system administrators to monitor current user activity in real time and identify sessions that do not log out.

For example, the user’s login time, terminal device, process ID, etc. are included in the utmp log.

The btmp log records information about login attempts.

Even if a login attempt fails, the information is recorded and used to analyze and track security issues.

For example, the ID of the user who attempted to log in, the time of the failed login, the failed IP address, etc. are included in the btmp log.

The lastlog log records information related to the last time a user logged in.

These logs are used to track users’ login history and identify users who have not logged in for a long time.

For example, the lastlog log includes the user’s last login time, login terminal device, and IP address.

These kernel logs provide important information for system security and auditing.

Through log analysis, you can identify abnormal system behavior, security threats, user activities, etc.

This is a useful resource to help investigate security-related issues or solve system problems.