Automated logout and alert solution.

I’m in the process of deploying openSuSE computers in a local library. I have the profile the patrons will be using setup and locked down as desired. I have a login script that also extracts a tarball of the original settings in case they delete icons or change the Firefox homepage or whatever.

My problem is that there are supposed to be time limits on how long the patrons can use the machines for during a single session. One hour.

I need to know if there is a way that will auto-logoff the user after an hour ideally with a kind of “5-minutes left in your session” message being displayed before forced log out.

Also, is there a way to make it auto login? I have it set up now where it auto logs in on boot but if they log out it just sits at the login screen. I know in Ubuntu you can have a timed log in, is there anything like that in openSuSE? If not I can just have the machines reboot after an hour instead of logout as it will accomplish the same thing.

Any ideas/help?

This may be a bit in another direction then you have allready chosen, but if you use KDE (you do not mention what you use) look at the posibilities of Kiosk. This product is all about users locking in an environnment.

Under GNOME I have been truely impressed at the lockdown features over Ubuntu but the problem is the auto-logoff. The lockdown is exactly what I want and need it to be. This is just so the Librarians don’t have to worry about keeping manual logs of how long people have been on the computers and don’t have to physically make them get off. If all esle fails I may set up remote desktop and have them remote in and terminate sessions but that still requires input of the librarians and they would much prefer to set them and forget them.

On Mon, 21 Jul 2008 18:36:03 GMT
Crix Maydine <Crix_Maydine@no-mx.forums.opensuse.org> wrote:

>
> Under GNOME I have been truely impressed at the lockdown features over
> Ubuntu but the problem is the auto-logoff. The lockdown is exactly
> what I want and need it to be. This is just so the Librarians don’t
> have to worry about keeping manual logs of how long people have been
> on the computers and don’t have to physically make them get off. If
> all esle fails I may set up remote desktop and have them remote in and
> terminate sessions but that still requires input of the librarians and
> they would much prefer to set them and forget them.
>
>
Hi
Just a question, how do you trigger the start of the users session?

Now if your restart gdm this will log the user out and then as you have
set the autologin to yes, the session will restart.

I can think of using SEC (but it may be an overkill), which would just
need the trigger.


Cheers Malcolm °¿° (Linux Counter #276890)
SLED 10 SP2 i586 Kernel 2.6.16.60-0.25-default
up 1 day 1:30, 1 user, load average: 1.04, 0.27, 0.33
GPU GeForce Go 6600 TE/6200 TE Version: 173.14.09

As of right now the sessions stay open on the desktop for multiple users. The public profile auto-logs in on reboot but not if a user logs out, as I don’t know how to enable this.

If you think SEC might be the way to go do you have any resources for learning about it because I’m not familiar with what it is and normal searches bring back lots of info about seconds.

On Tue, 22 Jul 2008 13:26:03 GMT
Crix Maydine <Crix_Maydine@no-mx.forums.opensuse.org> wrote:

>
> As of right now the sessions stay open on the desktop for multiple
> users. The public profile auto-logs in on reboot but not if a user
> logs out, as I don’t know how to enable this.
>
> If you think SEC might be the way to go do you have any resources for
> learning about it because I’m not familiar with what it is and normal
> searches bring back lots of info about seconds.
>
>
Hi
Why not just disable the ability for the public user to logout, remove
the logout button?

SEC is Simple Event Correlator ( http://kodu.neti.ee/~risto/sec/ )


Cheers Malcolm °¿° (Linux Counter #276890)
SLED 10 SP2 i586 Kernel 2.6.16.60-0.25-default
up 2:24, 1 user, load average: 0.19, 0.20, 0.51
GPU GeForce Go 6600 TE/6200 TE Version: 173.14.09

This is my problem. Not so much getting them into the session but out of it automatically.

On Tue, 22 Jul 2008 14:36:03 GMT
Crix Maydine <Crix_Maydine@no-mx.forums.opensuse.org> wrote:

>
> Crix_Maydine;1843044 Wrote:
> >
> > My problem is that there are supposed to be time limits on how long
> > the patrons can use the machines for during a single session. One
> > hour.
> >
> > I need to know if there is a way that will auto-logoff the user
> > after an hour ideally with a kind of “5-minutes left in your
> > session” message being displayed before forced log out.
> >
>
> This is my problem. Not so much getting them into the session but out
> of it automatically.
>
>
Hi
What i think you may have to do is setup a passwordless login for the
‘public’ user and set the system to goto the logon screen (gdm/kdm3
etc) then they press the button to login. At this point you could start
a script to countdown the time with a popup at say 5 minutes, then at
perhaps at one minute, then issue a restart of the GUI which should put
them back at the login screen.

Would that work?

Of course this assumes the current user leaves the machine and doesn’t
hit the login button again…


Cheers Malcolm °¿° (Linux Counter #276890)
SLED 10 SP2 i586 Kernel 2.6.16.60-0.25-default
up 4:19, 1 user, load average: 0.63, 0.57, 0.71
GPU GeForce Go 6600 TE/6200 TE Version: 173.14.09

That would! Two questions about it though. How do I enable a passwordless login for just a single user? Also, How do I set the login screen to they can just see the users instead of actually typing the user in? The library patrons can be elderly and typed and verbal instruction around the machines usually still escape them.

Bonus points if we can hide the other users.

Thanks for all your help so far!

On Tue, 22 Jul 2008 19:16:04 GMT
Crix Maydine <Crix_Maydine@no-mx.forums.opensuse.org> wrote:

>
> malcolmlewis;1843632 Wrote:
> >
> > Hi
> > What i think you may have to do is setup a passwordless login for
> > the ‘public’ user and set the system to goto the logon screen
> > (gdm/kdm3 etc) then they press the button to login. At this point
> > you could start
> > a script to countdown the time with a popup at say 5 minutes, then
> > at perhaps at one minute, then issue a restart of the GUI which
> > should put
> > them back at the login screen.
> >
> > Would that work?
> >
> > Of course this assumes the current user leaves the machine and
> > doesn’t hit the login button again…
> >
>
> That would! Two questions about it though. How do I enable a
> passwordless login for just a single user? Also, How do I set the
> login screen to they can just see the users instead of actually typing
> the user in? The library patrons can be elderly and typed and verbal
> instruction around the machines usually still escape them.
>
> Bonus points if we can hide the other users.
>
> Thanks for all your help so far!
>
>
Hi
So what Desktop are you using? I can have a play around on a virtual
machine here.


Cheers Malcolm °¿° (Linux Counter #276890)
SLED 10 SP2 i586 Kernel 2.6.16.60-0.25-default
up 8:40, 2 users, load average: 0.22, 0.18, 0.53
GPU GeForce Go 6600 TE/6200 TE Version: 173.14.09

I’m using gnome. I can do password less logins but it applies to all users. This of course a problem. A graphic login(like with icons) would be awesome as well if it’s possible. I’ve been digging through the control panel but haven’t found anything. Thanks again.

On Wed, 23 Jul 2008 13:16:03 GMT
Crix Maydine <Crix_Maydine@no-mx.forums.opensuse.org> wrote:

>
> I’m using gnome. I can do password less logins but it applies to all
> users. This of course a problem. A graphic login(like with icons)
> would be awesome as well if it’s possible. I’ve been digging through
> the control panel but haven’t found anything. Thanks again.
>
>
Hi
OK, will have a play around with it, give me a few days though…


Cheers Malcolm °¿° (Linux Counter #276890)
SLED 10 SP2 i586 Kernel 2.6.16.60-0.25-default
up 8:30, 2 users, load average: 0.50, 0.32, 0.54
GPU GeForce Go 6600 TE/6200 TE Version: 173.14.09