microsoft / microsoft/WSL

/init does not create /var/run/utmp

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#573 15 comments 8 reactions 0 assignees View on GitHub

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feature needs-investigation wsl2
Dominant language
C++
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Description

An empty (0 bytes) /var/run/utmp file should be created by /init

This would help with certain failures and/or warning messages of various programs (not only /bin/who).

My current workaround: Use 'touch /var/run/utmp' in some "system startup script".

Contributor guide

Open the contributing guide

First steps

  1. Read the whole issue, then the project's contributing guide.
  2. Comment on the issue to say you are picking it up — it saves two people doing the same work.
  3. Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
  4. Open a pull request that references the issue number.

Research direction

Start by tracing the /init startup path and how /var/run is prepared. Reproduce the current behavior by checking whether /var/run/utmp exists after startup, then verify that it is a 0-byte file and that the reported program warnings or failures no longer occur.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Tech stack
cpp
Domain
operating-systems
Issue type
Bug
Difficulty
3/5
Estimated time
1-2 days
Activity status
Stale
Clarity
Mostly clear
Newbie friendliness
42/100

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