Force User logoff - Server 2008

Fri, 04 Apr 2008 05:50:09 Z

Has Microsoft added the ability to force user logoff after a specified amount of time with Group Policy on Server 2008? I've been browsing through Group Policy and can't seem to find it. (Assuming it's there.) I rather not use the logoff screen saver for Windows XP if I can help it.

If it's not there MS needs to get its act together and fix simple things like this.

Force User logoff - Server 2008

Fri, 04 Apr 2008 08:13:43 Z

Hi there,

Unfortunately this functionality is still not there - you'll still have to use the old "winexit.scr" sreeensaver workaround for doing this... I'll make sure to bring it up next time I meet the GP guys in MS - have heard a lot of other people wanting this functionality.

Best regards

Jakob H. Heidelberg
MVP:Enterprise Security

Force User logoff - Server 2008

Fri, 04 Apr 2008 18:56:42 Z

Thanks for the quick reply.

I find it truely amazing that MS hasn't found it important to include this functionality in GP. The fact that "winexit.src" exists shows that there is a desire by customers.

I guess it's back to using 'winexit.src' for now.

Thanks again!

Force User logoff - Server 2008

Mon, 07 Apr 2008 06:56:15 Z

Howdie!

HIPAA-POTAMUS wrote:

Zilent's right - there currently is no such thing.

What you could try - as an additional approach - is to use the "Network Security: Force logoff when logon user hours expire" in CompConf\Windows Settings\SecSettings\Local Policies\Security Options. That essentially cuts off SMB connections to file servers and such and prevents the user from re-connecting if I remember that right.

cheers,

Florian

Force User logoff - Server 2008

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 12:16:56 Z

I'd just like to register my interest in this feature.

Force User logoff - Server 2008

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 06:34:55 Z

Have you considered a Preference.. Scheduled Task.. (on logon).. X minutes inactivity as the timer.. then execute logoff.exe with all the relevent command line arguments..

Force User logoff - Server 2008

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 07:16:18 Z

Hi,

Regarding Scheduled tasks there's a slight problem with the use of that particular inactivity timer - as it uses CPU utilization (and maybe a few other parameters) as its tracking method over a certain period of time, not "user inactivity" (like mouse or keyboard clicks) as you might expect... However I haven't been able to confirm that with a KB article or another source at this point, so you just gotta trust me on this ;-)

Best regards

Jakob H. Heidelberg

MVP:Enterprise Security

Force User logoff - Server 2008

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 13:31:49 Z

how about setting something that we know works for user innactivity.. power management or Away Mode.. then trigger a logoff based on that activity?