{
    "mode": "man",
    "parameter": "pam_timestamp_check",
    "section": "8",
    "url": "https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/pam_timestamp_check/8/json",
    "generated": "2026-07-24T17:33:14Z",
    "synopsis": "pamtimestampcheck [-k] [-d] [targetuser]",
    "sections": {
        "NAME": {
            "content": "pamtimestampcheck - Check to see if the default timestamp is valid\n",
            "subsections": []
        },
        "SYNOPSIS": {
            "content": "pamtimestampcheck [-k] [-d] [targetuser]\n",
            "subsections": []
        },
        "DESCRIPTION": {
            "content": "With no arguments pamtimestampcheck will check to see if the default timestamp is valid, or\noptionally remove it.\n",
            "subsections": []
        },
        "OPTIONS": {
            "content": "",
            "subsections": [
                {
                    "name": "-k",
                    "content": "Instead of checking the validity of a timestamp, remove it. This is analogous to sudo's\n-k option.\n",
                    "flag": "-k"
                },
                {
                    "name": "-d",
                    "content": "Instead of returning validity using an exit status, loop indefinitely, polling regularly\nand printing the status on standard output.\n\ntargetuser\nBy default pamtimestampcheck checks or removes timestamps generated by pamtimestamp\nwhen the user authenticates as herself. When the user authenticates as a different user,\nthe name of the timestamp file changes to accommodate this.  targetuser allows one to\nspecify this user name.\n",
                    "flag": "-d"
                }
            ]
        },
        "RETURN VALUES": {
            "content": "0\nThe timestamp is valid.\n\n2\nThe binary is not setuid root.\n\n3\nInvalid invocation.\n\n4\nUser is unknown.\n\n5\nPermissions error.\n\n6\nInvalid controlling tty.\n\n7\nTimestamp is not valid.\n",
            "subsections": []
        },
        "NOTES": {
            "content": "Users can get confused when they are not always asked for passwords when running a given\nprogram. Some users reflexively begin typing information before noticing that it is not being\nasked for.\n",
            "subsections": []
        },
        "EXAMPLES": {
            "content": "auth sufficient pamtimestamp.so verbose\nauth required   pamunix.so\n\nsession required pamunix.so\nsession optional pamtimestamp.so\n\n",
            "subsections": []
        },
        "FILES": {
            "content": "/var/run/sudo/...\ntimestamp files and directories\n",
            "subsections": []
        },
        "SEE ALSO": {
            "content": "pamtimestampcheck(8), pam.conf(5), pam.d(5), pam(7)\n",
            "subsections": []
        },
        "AUTHOR": {
            "content": "pamtally was written by Nalin Dahyabhai.\n\n\n\nLinux-PAM Manual                             06/08/2020                       PAMTIMESTAMPCHECK(8)",
            "subsections": []
        }
    },
    "summary": "pamtimestampcheck - Check to see if the default timestamp is valid",
    "flags": [
        {
            "flag": "-k",
            "long": null,
            "arg": null,
            "description": "Instead of checking the validity of a timestamp, remove it. This is analogous to sudo's -k option."
        },
        {
            "flag": "-d",
            "long": null,
            "arg": null,
            "description": "Instead of returning validity using an exit status, loop indefinitely, polling regularly and printing the status on standard output. targetuser By default pamtimestampcheck checks or removes timestamps generated by pamtimestamp when the user authenticates as herself. When the user authenticates as a different user, the name of the timestamp file changes to accommodate this. targetuser allows one to specify this user name."
        }
    ],
    "examples": [
        "auth sufficient pamtimestamp.so verbose",
        "auth required   pamunix.so",
        "session required pamunix.so",
        "session optional pamtimestamp.so"
    ],
    "see_also": [
        {
            "name": "pamtimestampcheck",
            "section": "8",
            "url": "https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/pamtimestampcheck/8/json"
        },
        {
            "name": "pam.conf",
            "section": "5",
            "url": "https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/pam.conf/5/json"
        },
        {
            "name": "pam.d",
            "section": "5",
            "url": "https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/pam.d/5/json"
        },
        {
            "name": "pam",
            "section": "7",
            "url": "https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/pam/7/json"
        }
    ]
}