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lock the console after 5 minutes of inactivity.

 
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Top Forums UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers lock the console after 5 minutes of inactivity.
# 1  
Old 09-16-2010
lock the console after 5 minutes of inactivity.
How would i force The server console to be locked automatically after 5 minutes ?

I want it to happen for X as well as terminal session of the machine.

My Linux distribution details.
Code:
LSB Version:    :core-3.1-ia32:core-3.1-noarch:graphics-3.1-ia32:graphics-3.1-noarch
Distributor ID: OracleVMserver
Description:    Oracle VM server release 2.2.0
Release:        2.2.0
Codename:       n/a

Moderator's Comments:
Mod Comment Noticed you posted this exact same question in the LQ forums.
# 2  
Old 09-16-2010
You are talking about two different processes. "Lock" is generally referred to in a graphical user interface. For a console, we generally call this "log out".

So you should approach each problem one-at-a-time, because they are two different problems.

Which one do you want to solve first?
# 3  
Old 09-16-2010
Ok i will go with logout from the terminal in case of inactivity.
# 4  
Old 09-16-2010
The first thing that comes to mind is to use the w command to get the user id and idle time and then kill the login shell if the idle time exceeds your time limit. Sample w output:

Code:
server:~ jones$ w
13:13  up 20:10, 3 users, load averages: 1.09 1.19 1.27
USER     TTY      FROM              LOGIN@  IDLE WHAT
jones     console  -                Wed17   20:09 -
jones     p1       -                Wed20       3 -bash
jones     p2       -                Wed22       - w


This is a pretty straight forward script that you would run in the crontab file.

How about giving it a try and posting back the results and we will help you finish it.
# 5  
Old 09-16-2010
Code:
# w
 17:15:21 up 23 min,  1 user,  load average: 0.00, 0.04, 0.21
USER     TTY      FROM              LOGIN@   IDLE   JCPU   PCPU WHAT
root     pts/1    iflmud6dlcd1n.i- 17:12    0.00s  0.13s  0.01s w

This is what i got when i fired w on the terminal it seems that it will always display 0.00 second when executed for a single user. also if there are scripts running in background using crontab at interval of 3 second. does this mean system will never show idle time greater than 5 minute.

Whats the use of export TMOUT=300?(This i have got from some other forum).
# 6  
Old 09-16-2010
That is because the same user id that issued the w command is doing the check of the users. You cannot do that. You have to have a unique user id run the command from crontab.

Moderator's Comments:
Mod Comment Think! (Don't just post in forums and have others think for you!)
This User Gave Thanks to Neo For This Post:
pinga123
# 7  
Old 09-16-2010
Quote:
Originally Posted by Neo
That is because the same user id that issued the w command is doing the check of the users. You cannot do that. You have to have a unique user id run the command from crontab.

Think! (Don't just post in forums and have others think for you!)
Does this mean i will have to create a separate user for running the crontab?
Also if i schedule it for every 5 minute it will again create a separate thread. Is there any inbuilt function to accomplish this?
 
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