Scheduling desktop logoff - can this be done?

We have a new legal requirement to make sure system users logoff their
PC's daily (most just leave their user accounts signed in.)

Is there a way to have a group policy or script that will, say, call
something like:
Shutdown -l -f -t 5
(i.e. force a logoff of a user account on their domain member
workstation) at a given time each day? We would like to run this at
6:30PM each evening of the week.

Any ideas are appreciated.

Hello ISDPCMAN,

You can add a aschedueldd task that contains the logoff or shutdown time
create a startup script like logoff.bat:

------------------------------------
;Create the scheduled task on remote workstation's
if not exist %systemroot%\tasks\at1.job at 05:00 /every:m,t,w,th,f,s,su shutdown.exe
/l /t 600 /c "You will be logged of in 5 minutes, please save all your data.
Your Administrator." /f

:Copy the shutdown.exe to remote workstation
if not exist %systemroot%\system32\shutdown.exe copy "\\domainname\netlogon\shutdown.exe"
"%systemroot%\system32\shutdown.exe"
------------------------------------

BUT keep in mind if users have programs open or unsaved data they loose it,
so INFORM them about the running task BEFORE adding it.

Best regards

Meinolf Weber
Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers
no rights.
** Please do NOT email, only reply to Newsgroups
** HELP us help YOU!!! http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm


> We have a new legal requirement to make sure system users logoff their
> PC's daily (most just leave their user accounts signed in.)
>
> Is there a way to have a group policy or script that will, say, call
> something like:
> Shutdown -l -f -t 5
> (i.e. force a logoff of a user account on their domain member
> workstation) at a given time each day? We would like to run this at
> 6:30PM each evening of the week.
>
> Any ideas are appreciated.
>

I think it's better to have something that will put the computers in
standby.

Andrei.

"Meinolf Weber [MVP-DS]" <meiweb@(nospam)gmx.de> wrote in message
news: .com...
> Hello ISDPCMAN,
>
> You can add a aschedueldd task that contains the logoff or shutdown time
> create a startup script like logoff.bat:
>
> ------------------------------------
> ;Create the scheduled task on remote workstation's
> if not exist %systemroot%\tasks\at1.job at 05:00 /every:m,t,w,th,f,s,su
> shutdown.exe /l /t 600 /c "You will be logged of in 5 minutes, please save
> all your data. Your Administrator." /f
>
> :Copy the shutdown.exe to remote workstation
> if not exist %systemroot%\system32\shutdown.exe copy
> "\\domainname\netlogon\shutdown.exe" "%systemroot%\system32\shutdown.exe"
> ------------------------------------
>
> BUT keep in mind if users have programs open or unsaved data they loose
> it, so INFORM them about the running task BEFORE adding it.
>
> Best regards
>
> Meinolf Weber
> Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and
> confers no rights.
> ** Please do NOT email, only reply to Newsgroups
> ** HELP us help YOU!!! http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm
>
>> We have a new legal requirement to make sure system users logoff their
>> PC's daily (most just leave their user accounts signed in.)
>>
>> Is there a way to have a group policy or script that will, say, call
>> something like:
>> Shutdown -l -f -t 5
>> (i.e. force a logoff of a user account on their domain member
>> workstation) at a given time each day? We would like to run this at
>> 6:30PM each evening of the week.
>>
>> Any ideas are appreciated.
>>
>
>

I beleieve you will need to insert a /f (Force) in the event there are open
tasks.

--
Paul Bergson
MVP - Directory Services
MCITP - Enterprise Administrator
MCTS, MCT, MCSE, MCSA, MCP, Security +, BS CSci
2008, Vista, 2003, 2000 (Early Achiever), NT4
Microsoft's Thrive IT Pro of the Month - June 2009

http://www.pbbergs.com

Please no e-mails, any questions should be posted in the NewGroups. This
posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties and confers no rights.
"Meinolf Weber [MVP-DS]" <meiweb@(nospam)gmx.de> wrote in message
news: .com...
> Hello ISDPCMAN,
>
> You can add a aschedueldd task that contains the logoff or shutdown time
> create a startup script like logoff.bat:
>
> ------------------------------------
> ;Create the scheduled task on remote workstation's
> if not exist %systemroot%\tasks\at1.job at 05:00 /every:m,t,w,th,f,s,su
> shutdown.exe /l /t 600 /c "You will be logged of in 5 minutes, please save
> all your data. Your Administrator." /f
>
> :Copy the shutdown.exe to remote workstation
> if not exist %systemroot%\system32\shutdown.exe copy
> "\\domainname\netlogon\shutdown.exe" "%systemroot%\system32\shutdown.exe"
> ------------------------------------
>
> BUT keep in mind if users have programs open or unsaved data they loose
> it, so INFORM them about the running task BEFORE adding it.
>
> Best regards
>
> Meinolf Weber
> Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and
> confers no rights.
> ** Please do NOT email, only reply to Newsgroups
> ** HELP us help YOU!!! http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm
>
>> We have a new legal requirement to make sure system users logoff their
>> PC's daily (most just leave their user accounts signed in.)
>>
>> Is there a way to have a group policy or script that will, say, call
>> something like:
>> Shutdown -l -f -t 5
>> (i.e. force a logoff of a user account on their domain member
>> workstation) at a given time each day? We would like to run this at
>> 6:30PM each evening of the week.
>>
>> Any ideas are appreciated.
>>
>
>

Definitely not STANDBY. We need to log users off for a number of
reasons but primarily so we can update settings and software on the
system as well as making sure licenses to software that might be in
use are released (this happens when the user is logged off.)

We also would like to add a comment to the shutdown that shows that
the user did not logoff themselves but the system logged them off.
Management will want a report on this. All Logins are audited on these
networks.

On Mon, 3 May 2010 11:29:50 +0300, "Andrei Ungureanu"
<> wrote:

>I think it's better to have something that will put the computers in
>standby.
>
>Andrei.
>
>"Meinolf Weber [MVP-DS]" <meiweb@(nospam)gmx.de> wrote in message
>news: t.com...
>> Hello ISDPCMAN,
>>
>> You can add a aschedueldd task that contains the logoff or shutdown time
>> create a startup script like logoff.bat:
>>
>> ------------------------------------
>> ;Create the scheduled task on remote workstation's
>> if not exist %systemroot%\tasks\at1.job at 05:00 /every:m,t,w,th,f,s,su
>> shutdown.exe /l /t 600 /c "You will be logged of in 5 minutes, please save
>> all your data. Your Administrator." /f
>>
>> :Copy the shutdown.exe to remote workstation
>> if not exist %systemroot%\system32\shutdown.exe copy
>> "\\domainname\netlogon\shutdown.exe" "%systemroot%\system32\shutdown.exe"
>> ------------------------------------
>>
>> BUT keep in mind if users have programs open or unsaved data they loose
>> it, so INFORM them about the running task BEFORE adding it.
>>
>> Best regards
>>
>> Meinolf Weber
>> Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and
>> confers no rights.
>> ** Please do NOT email, only reply to Newsgroups
>> ** HELP us help YOU!!! http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm
>>
>>> We have a new legal requirement to make sure system users logoff their
>>> PC's daily (most just leave their user accounts signed in.)
>>>
>>> Is there a way to have a group policy or script that will, say, call
>>> something like:
>>> Shutdown -l -f -t 5
>>> (i.e. force a logoff of a user account on their domain member
>>> workstation) at a given time each day? We would like to run this at
>>> 6:30PM each evening of the week.
>>>
>>> Any ideas are appreciated.
>>>
>>
>>

There is one there...at the end of the statement (last argument in the
SHUTDOWN.exe line)

On Mon, 3 May 2010 07:12:23 -0500, "Paul Bergson [MVP-DS]"
<> wrote:

>I beleieve you will need to insert a /f (Force) in the event there are open
>tasks.

Thanks, Meinolf. Is there a way to add a comment (e.g. "User
Automatically/Forced Logged Off.")



On Sat, 1 May 2010 05:40:19 +0000 (UTC), Meinolf Weber [MVP-DS]
<meiweb@(nospam)gmx.de> wrote:

>Hello ISDPCMAN,
>
>You can add a aschedueldd task that contains the logoff or shutdown time
>create a startup script like logoff.bat:
>
>------------------------------------
>;Create the scheduled task on remote workstation's
>if not exist %systemroot%\tasks\at1.job at 05:00 /every:m,t,w,th,f,s,su shutdown.exe
>/l /t 600 /c "You will be logged of in 5 minutes, please save all your data.
>Your Administrator." /f
>
>:Copy the shutdown.exe to remote workstation
>if not exist %systemroot%\system32\shutdown.exe copy "\\domainname\netlogon\shutdown.exe"
>"%systemroot%\system32\shutdown.exe"
>------------------------------------
>
>BUT keep in mind if users have programs open or unsaved data they loose it,
>so INFORM them about the running task BEFORE adding it.
>
>Best regards
>
>Meinolf Weber
>Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers
>no rights.
>** Please do NOT email, only reply to Newsgroups
>** HELP us help YOU!!! http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm
>
>
>> We have a new legal requirement to make sure system users logoff their
>> PC's daily (most just leave their user accounts signed in.)
>>
>> Is there a way to have a group policy or script that will, say, call
>> something like:
>> Shutdown -l -f -t 5
>> (i.e. force a logoff of a user account on their domain member
>> workstation) at a given time each day? We would like to run this at
>> 6:30PM each evening of the week.
>>
>> Any ideas are appreciated.
>>
>

Hello ISDPCMAN,

It is included in my example or what kind of comment do you mean?

Best regards

Meinolf Weber
Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers
no rights.
** Please do NOT email, only reply to Newsgroups
** HELP us help YOU!!! http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm


> Thanks, Meinolf. Is there a way to add a comment (e.g. "User
> Automatically/Forced Logged Off.")
>
> On Sat, 1 May 2010 05:40:19 +0000 (UTC), Meinolf Weber [MVP-DS]
> <meiweb@(nospam)gmx.de> wrote:
>
>> Hello ISDPCMAN,
>>
>> You can add a aschedueldd task that contains the logoff or shutdown
>> time create a startup script like logoff.bat:
>>
>> ------------------------------------
>> ;Create the scheduled task on remote workstation's
>> if not exist %systemroot%\tasks\at1.job at 05:00
>> /every:m,t,w,th,f,s,su shutdown.exe
>> /l /t 600 /c "You will be logged of in 5 minutes, please save all
>> your data.
>> Your Administrator." /f
>> :Copy the shutdown.exe to remote workstation
>> if not exist %systemroot%\system32\shutdown.exe copy
>> "\\domainname\netlogon\shutdown.exe"
>> "%systemroot%\system32\shutdown.exe"
>> ------------------------------------
>> BUT keep in mind if users have programs open or unsaved data they
>> loose it, so INFORM them about the running task BEFORE adding it.
>>
>> Best regards
>>
>> Meinolf Weber
>> Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and
>> confers
>> no rights.
>> ** Please do NOT email, only reply to Newsgroups
>> ** HELP us help YOU!!! http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm
>>> We have a new legal requirement to make sure system users logoff
>>> their PC's daily (most just leave their user accounts signed in.)
>>>
>>> Is there a way to have a group policy or script that will, say, call
>>> something like:
>>> Shutdown -l -f -t 5
>>> (i.e. force a logoff of a user account on their domain member
>>> workstation) at a given time each day? We would like to run this at
>>> 6:30PM each evening of the week.
>>> Any ideas are appreciated.
>>>

Oh yeah you are correct, my mistake.

--
Paul Bergson
MVP - Directory Services
MCITP - Enterprise Administrator
MCTS, MCT, MCSE, MCSA, MCP, Security +, BS CSci
2008, Vista, 2003, 2000 (Early Achiever), NT4
Microsoft's Thrive IT Pro of the Month - June 2009

http://www.pbbergs.com

Please no e-mails, any questions should be posted in the NewGroups. This
posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties and confers no rights.
"ISDPCMAN" <> wrote in message
news:...
> There is one there...at the end of the statement (last argument in the
> SHUTDOWN.exe line)
>
> On Mon, 3 May 2010 07:12:23 -0500, "Paul Bergson [MVP-DS]"
> <> wrote:
>
>>I beleieve you will need to insert a /f (Force) in the event there are
>>open
>>tasks.

I presume that there is some type of log entry written isn't there? A
comment (like that which is supported with the SHUTDOWN.EXE command)
would write to the system log that the user was forced logged off.
Having this kind of entry (with an error ID code, too) would let us as
the IT support staff, audit and report on the number of instances
where users were not logging off as they're instructed (in some
companies this can be a policy violation)

That's all.

On Tue, 4 May 2010 05:36:00 +0000 (UTC), Meinolf Weber [MVP-DS]
<meiweb@(nospam)gmx.de> wrote:

>Hello ISDPCMAN,
>
>It is included in my example or what kind of comment do you mean?
>
>Best regards
>
>Meinolf Weber
>Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers
>no rights.
>** Please do NOT email, only reply to Newsgroups
>** HELP us help YOU!!! http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm
>
>
>> Thanks, Meinolf. Is there a way to add a comment (e.g. "User
>> Automatically/Forced Logged Off.")
>>
>> On Sat, 1 May 2010 05:40:19 +0000 (UTC), Meinolf Weber [MVP-DS]
>> <meiweb@(nospam)gmx.de> wrote:
>>
>>> Hello ISDPCMAN,
>>>
>>> You can add a aschedueldd task that contains the logoff or shutdown
>>> time create a startup script like logoff.bat:
>>>
>>> ------------------------------------
>>> ;Create the scheduled task on remote workstation's
>>> if not exist %systemroot%\tasks\at1.job at 05:00
>>> /every:m,t,w,th,f,s,su shutdown.exe
>>> /l /t 600 /c "You will be logged of in 5 minutes, please save all
>>> your data.
>>> Your Administrator." /f
>>> :Copy the shutdown.exe to remote workstation
>>> if not exist %systemroot%\system32\shutdown.exe copy
>>> "\\domainname\netlogon\shutdown.exe"
>>> "%systemroot%\system32\shutdown.exe"
>>> ------------------------------------
>>> BUT keep in mind if users have programs open or unsaved data they
>>> loose it, so INFORM them about the running task BEFORE adding it.
>>>
>>> Best regards
>>>
>>> Meinolf Weber
>>> Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and
>>> confers
>>> no rights.
>>> ** Please do NOT email, only reply to Newsgroups
>>> ** HELP us help YOU!!! http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm
>>>> We have a new legal requirement to make sure system users logoff
>>>> their PC's daily (most just leave their user accounts signed in.)
>>>>
>>>> Is there a way to have a group policy or script that will, say, call
>>>> something like:
>>>> Shutdown -l -f -t 5
>>>> (i.e. force a logoff of a user account on their domain member
>>>> workstation) at a given time each day? We would like to run this at
>>>> 6:30PM each evening of the week.
>>>> Any ideas are appreciated.
>>>>
>