What is below the status line, and how to configure it?

In the final line of my terminal window in VIM I have a line that
serves several purposes:
1) When I first open a file, it shows the filename and some
attributes. The line also displays my current line number and column.
2) When I scroll, the filename disappears but the line number and
column remain (and are updated in real time).
3) When I search or start : commands (what are these commands called?)
then the line only shows the command or search term.

How is this line called, and how is it configured? I tried to
configure the status line, but adding laststatus=2 to .vimrc makes
_another_ line appear above it.

Thanks.

--
Dotan Cohen

http://gibberish.co.il
http://what-is-what.com

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