How to Save Failed Login Attempts

1. Become superuser or assume an equivalent role.

2. Create the loginlog file in the /var/adm directory.

   # touch /var/adm/loginlog

3. Set read and write permissions for root on the loginlog file.

   # chmod 600 /var/adm/loginlog

4. Change group membership to sys on the loginlog file.

   # chgrp sys /var/adm/loginlog

5. Make sure that the log works by attempting to log into the system five times with the wrong password. Then, display the /var/adm/loginlog file.

   # more /var/adm/loginlog rimmer:/dev/pts/1:Wed Jan 16 09:22:31 2002 rimmer:/dev/pts/1:Wed Jan 16 09:22:39 2002 rimmer:/dev/pts/1:Wed Jan 16 09:22:45 2002 rimmer:/dev/pts/1:Wed Jan 16 09:22:53 2002 rimmer:/dev/pts/1:Wed Jan 16 09:23:01 2002 #

   The loginlog file contains one entry for each failed attempt. Each entry contains the user's login name, tty device, and time of the failed attempt. If a person makes fewer than five unsuccessful attempts, no failed attempts are logged.

   The loginlog file might grow quickly. To use this file in a timely manner, you should check and clear its contents occasionally. A loginlog file that shows a lot of activity can indicate an attempt to break into the computer system. For more information, see the loginlog(4) man page.