"last" command returning duplicates

[grinder332518]

Hi

I am running a “last” command and saving the output to a file, which I am going to
ftp to my PC for loading into a DB table.

last > last.txt

I am finding that I am getting lots of duplicate entries for most logins in last.txt.

Eg

userabc pts/3 12.42.35.120 Mon Jun 14 09:17 - 09:19 (03:00)
userabc pts/3 12.42.35.120 Mon Jun 14 09:14 - 09:16 (02:00)
userabc pts/3 12.42.35.120 Mon Jun 14 09:12 - 09:13 (01:00)
userdef pts/2 12.42.35.126 Mon Jun 14 10:27 - 09:28 (01:00)
userdef pts/2 12.42.35.126 Mon Jun 14 10:24 - 09:26 (02:00)


Is there a way to only retrieve the last login for each user ?

Thanks

[ashitpro]

Instead of 'last' try 'lastlog'.

It should display the username and last login time.
Something like this:

Username         Port     From             Latest
root             pts/5    172.18.28.86     Fri Dec 17 14:53:18 +0530 2010
bin                                        **Never logged in**
daemon                                     **Never logged in**
adm                                        **Never logged in**
lp                                         **Never logged in**
sync                                       **Never logged in**
shutdown                                   **Never logged in**
halt                                       **Never logged in**
 
 

If you are not happy with "Never logged in" message, you can use following command:

lastlog | grep -v 'Never'

--Ash

[grinder332518]

Hi Ashitpro
My version of unix does not recognise your "lastlog" command.
Thanks anyway.

PS The command :
awk '$1==u || /^$/ {next} {print; u=$1}'
removes duplicates for me !