Description of problem: If $HISTTIMEFORMAT is inherited through the environment, instead of being set by .bashrc or manually, then it works as expected for displaying history, but does not cause timestamps to be written into the history file. Version-Release number of selected component (if applicable): 3.2.25 How reproducible: completely Steps to Reproduce: 1. ensure no shell startup files set HISTTIMEFORMAT 2. HISTFILE=testfile HISTTIMEFORMAT="%T %F " bash 3. run some commands, run 'history' and see timestamps 4. exit the subshell and examine testfile Actual results: command history stored without timestamps Expected results: commands interspersed with timestamps Additional info: Seems to have been fixed in RHEL6 (bash 4.1.2). e.g. http://groups.google.com/group/gnu.bash.bug/browse_thread/thread/eab1cc050109969d/5fa02785a2f7c48e?lnk=gst&q=HISTTIMEFORMAT#5fa02785a2f7c48e We use wrapper scripts to start special purpose shells for which we'd like to capture history with timestamps. A backport of the fix to RHEL5 would be great.
This request was evaluated by Red Hat Product Management for inclusion in the current release of Red Hat Enterprise Linux. Because the affected component is not scheduled to be updated in the current release, Red Hat is unfortunately unable to address this request at this time. Red Hat invites you to ask your support representative to propose this request, if appropriate and relevant, in the next release of Red Hat Enterprise Linux.
RHEL-5.10 (the next RHEL-5 minor release) is going to be the first production phase 2 [1] release of RHEL-5. Since phase 2 we'll be addressing only security and critical issues. [1] https://access.redhat.com/support/policy/updates/errata/