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Re: [LUG] Restricting logon times for normal users

 

John Palmer wrote:
>>> I assume "logout" is policed by mother?
>>>       
>
> An "automatic mother" is easy to set up :-)
>
> I guess the first thing is a cron job that logs /out/ user XXX (after a
> few minutes' warning) if she is still logged in at closing time.  I
> remember setting up such a thing about 1986 (on Berkeley Unix 4.2 or
> something like), because I had lots of users who kept forgetting to log
> out when they left the office.  It also ticked off the offending user, by
> e-mail.  (Shutting down the computer wouldn't do as there were important
> overnight jobs on cron.)  The job can be repeated several times during the
> night to catch those who log back in.  In my case it had to allow for
> people genuinely working late, so it only logged out those who had been
> inactive for a while, but I guess you don't want that feature.
>
>   
Thats kind of what I was thinking although rather than logout I'd go for 
the shutdown option as the PC is noisy and would keep her awake.
> Once that works, think how to disable logging in after closing time.  
> I think I need to read up pam ; but being old-fashioned I liked the idea
> of a cron job that swaps passwd files.  Someone will no doubt tell me how
> insecure that is !
>   
I must admit the multiple passwd files idea seems like an easier one to 
implement.  I can't get the pam_time authentication working properly.  
It either gives the choice of letting any user login when it's disabled 
or no users logging in when it's enabled.
> Far be it from me to tell other people how to relate to their children but
> a simple message on the screen, repeated every few minutes, might in the
> present case be as effective as a brutal log-out and perhaps make for a
> kinder breakfast-time
I doubt a message on screen would be effective.  She's 12 and likes to 
get away with as much as possible.  I was reluctant enough to let her 
have a PC considering her recent behavior.  My fiancée seems to think it 
might improve her behavior if she has a PC to use.

Anyway, I'll have a play with the passwd files and see if this works.

Rob

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