Once you start working on a server, you may begin to wonder, how do I properly logoff or should I disconnect from the server? What is the difference between logging off and disconnecting? Does this have anything to do with why my account locks out? How do I unlock my account? What if I need to stop my program from running, how can I do this? See the sections below to answer these and other session related questions.
Note: All running programs and sessions are stopped during system downtimes, and are NOT automatically restarted when a downtime is over.
Closing Remote Desktop
Sign Out |
Disconnect |
| Your Windows session ends. | Your Windows session keeps running. |
| You stop running programs and using the system, so you free resources for other users | Your programs keep running, which is useful for calculations that require long processing time. However, you consume unnecessary resources and do not free up licenses for others if you’re not processing any jobs. |
| You help avoid account lockouts | If you try to change your password on one research server while having a disconnected session in another, this may result in lockouts. |
| When you reconnect, you start a new Windows session. | When you reconnect, you can return to your previous Windows session, including programs and documents you left open. |
How Do I Close My Session?
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How Do I Disconnect?Two methods… Locking your Session will leave the remote desktop window open on your local computer:
Closing your session will disconnect and close the Remote Desktop window:
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Account Lockouts
- When you mistype your password consecutively 3 times while trying to log on to a server, you will create an account lockout.
- When you change your password on one server while having a disconnected session on another server, you may create an account lockout situation. Learn how to manage your sessions.
- During the monthly maintenance window, you cannot log on to your account because the servers are being patched and restarted. Check computing news to see if it is a maintenance window.
How can I unlock my CISER Research computing account?
Option 1. Research account lockouts automatically clear in 30 minutes. You can wait for the lockout to clear and then attempt to log back in to the system.
Option 2. If you cannot wait 30 minutes for the automatic reset, you can use the password-reset application. Resetting your password will then unlock your account.
To avoid account lockouts in the future, remember to log completely off the research servers when you’re not working (see Log off vs. Disconnect) before changing your password.
How can I unlock my CRADC computing account?
Option 1. CRADC account lockouts automatically clear in 30 minutes. You can wait for the lockout to clear and then attempt to log back in to the system.
Option 2. CRADC account lockouts can also be cleared by CRADC Data Custodian upon request.
To avoid account lockouts in the future remember to log completely off the CRADC servers when you’re not working (see Log off vs. Disconnect).
How can I unlock my Secure Standalone Enclave computing account?
Account lockouts on the Secure Standalone Enclave can only be cleared by CISER Secure Data Services staff upon request.
To avoid account lockouts, remember to select Log Off on the Secure Standalone Enclave computer Start Menu when you’re not working.
Sessions and Processes
Each server runs independently and therefore applications on one server are not associated with another server. This means that if you are running a program on a research server and disconnect, you will need to log into the same exact server and session to return to your running program. [NOTE: This option is not valid if you left a disconnected session prior to downtime, as all sessions are stopped and servers rebooted.]
Identify Open Sessions
Use Task Manager to find out what processes you have running on the server currently logged into. more...less...
- Right-click on an empty space on the taskbar and choose Task Manager.
- Select the Users tab and click on the User column heading to put it into alphabetical order. Scroll down to your username.
- Select the Processes tab and you will see your current tasks and their status (i.e. “running”, “not responding”, etc).
- You can end tasks that are “not responding” by clicking on the relevant task and choosing End Task.
- Options available under the Processes tab will also allow you to see a list of your current processes, monitor CPU usage, and end processes if you choose.
- By choosing the Performance tab you can see how much total memory and CPU are being used on that server (by all users).
Directing program output
Be sure to direct your program output to your own work space, which is the U:\ drive. NEVER save anything on a research server’s C:\ drive, as it WILL BE DELETED during the next downtime.
Using files in the CISER Data Archive for input
The data archive’s files are located on the V:\ drive. You may use files located there as input to your programs, but your output must be directed to your U:\ drive.
Each server runs independently and therefore applications on one server are not associated with another server. This means that if you are running a program on a server and disconnect, you will need to log into the same exact server and session to return to your running program. [NOTE: This option is not valid if you left a disconnected session prior to downtime, as all sessions are stopped and servers rebooted.]
Identify Open Sessions
Use Task Manager to find out what you have running on the CRADC server which you are currently using. more...less...
- Right-click on an empty space on the taskbar and choose Task Manager.
- Select the Users tab and click on the User column heading to put it into alphabetical order. Scroll down to your username.
- Select the Processes tab and you will see your current tasks and their status (i.e. “running”, “not responding”, etc).
- You can end tasks that are “not responding” by clicking on the relevant task and choosing End Task.
- Options available under the Processes tab will also allow you to see a list of your current processes, monitor CPU usage, and end processes if you choose.
- By choosing the Performance tab you can see how much total memory and CPU are being used on that server (by all users).
Directing program output
Be sure to direct your program output to your own work space, which is the S:\ drive. NEVER save anything on a server’s C:\ drive, as it WILL BE DELETED during the next downtime.