/var/run/utmp

[Kjell Mesch_1]

I have some problems with this file on my firewall.

When i telnet it (from the inside) and give the start "top" I get the following error:
"bad data in /var/run/utmp(null)"

Logging on the system and doing the same in a xterm results in bash going superstrange on me.
It gives no output on display but reads keyboard. Pressing return gives no new line.

Starting a new xterm is the only option I have found that works :-/

It's a minor problem, but why does top do this?

btw: It's a RH6.2 installation.

[Pheroz Tengra]

I have run against similar problem on Sun Solaris, where I could log in locally from the local console, but could not telnet, or login in remotely. The problem turned out to be that the /var file system was getting full. Removing some of the old logs files helped after the system was rebooted.

This may not be directly related to your problem but it may.

[Kjell Mesch_1]

No the /var is not full.
I'we read somewere that strange things can happen when the system is out of sync with glibc libs but I have nothing installed thats not in RH6.2 so that should not be the case.
Hmm when I come to think of it I have upgraded linuxconf. I'll have to poke around a bit I guess.