Linux / UNIX: Run Commands When You Log Out

Almost all modern shell including bash allows you run run command when you log out. Typically this is used to:

1.     Clean up screen with clear command.

2.     Remove history and other temporary file.

3.     Run commands or scripts and so on.

 

Logout file name

Commands in .logout are run when you log out.

1.     bash shell: ~/.bash_logout

2.     tcsh / csh: ~/.logout

 

Edit $HOME/.bash_logout and add your command:

$ vi ~/.bash_logout

 

Sample logout configuration:

if [ "$SHLVL" = 1 ]; then

#clear screen

[ -x /usr/bin/clear_console ] && /usr/bin/clear_console -q

# delete mysql history

[ -f $HOME/.mysql_history ] && /bin/rm $HOME/.mysql_history

# Update ip accounting

[ -x /usr/bin/ip_accouting ] && /usr/bin/ip_accouting -u "$USER" -a

# call your script here

[ -x /usr/local/bin/timesheet_client.pl ] && /usr/local/bin/timesheet_client.pl

fi

 

A Note About Old Shell And Bourne / KSH Shell

Older UNIX shell and the Bourne / ksh shell don't have a logout file. So edit ~/.profile file, enter:

$ vi ~/.profile

 

Next append the following line:

trap '. $HOME/.my_shell_logout; exit' 0

 

Save and close the file. Finally create $HOME/.my_shell_logout, enter:

$ vi $HOME/.my_shell_logout

 

Sample config

# call your script here

if [ -f /usr/local/bin/timesheet_client.pl ]

then

/usr/local/bin/timesheet_client.pl

fi

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