---
name: "sessreg"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "xorg-sessreg"
version: "1.1.4-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/sessreg"
---

# sessreg(1)

manage utmpx/wtmpx entries for non-init clients

## NAME

sessreg - manage utmpx/wtmpx entries for non-init clients

## 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
```

## DESCRIPTION

**Sessreg** is a simple program for managing utmpx/wtmpx and lastlog entries for xdm sessions.

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.  For compatibility with older versions and other operating systems, the **-s**, **-t**, and **-x** flags are accepted, but ignored.

## 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
```

## 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.

- **-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.

- **-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)](/ttyname/3.md) and stripped of leading components.

- **-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.

- **-s** *slot-number*

  This option is accepted for compatibility, but does nothing in this version of **sessreg**.

- **-x** *Xservers-file*

  This option is accepted for compatibility, but does nothing in this version of **sessreg**.

- **-t** *ttys-file*

  This option is accepted for compatibility, but does nothing in this version of **sessreg**.

- **-V**, **--version**

  This option causes the command to print its version and exit.

- **-a**

  This session should be added to utmpx/wtmpx.

- **-d**

  This session should be deleted from utmpx/wtmpx. One of **-a**/**-d** must be specified.

## SEE ALSO

[**xdm**(1)](/xdm/1.md), [**utmpx**(5)](/utmpx/5.md), **wtmpx**(5)

## AUTHOR

Keith Packard, MIT X Consortium