Question

How can i tell if a user is logged in?

Asked by: gilbar

Hi Experts!
I want to be able to find if a user is (or get a list of users that are) logged into our domain. I can use the command
net user gilbar /domain to find out the last time that gilbar logged in, and i can
manage my computer (and link to a server) to find if gilbar has a session or files open on that server.
But the first doesn't tell me if gilbar is still logged in, and the second only works if gilbar has files open  On That Server.  Is there something that would tell me that gilbar IS logged on, and where?
I have Active Directory and the Windows 2000 resource kit, as well as admin access so if there's a way, please let me know .
Thanx!

ps. since i AM gilbar, i don't actually need to know if I'M signed on, but need it for other user id's

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Asked On
2008-03-05 at 09:07:45ID23216658
Tags

Microsoft

,

Windows Server

,

2003

Topics

Windows 2003 Server

,

Windows 2000 Server

Participating Experts
2
Points
409
Comments
12

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Answers

 

by: PlaceboC6Posted on 2008-03-05 at 09:28:52ID: 21052373

There isn't a way to determine whether a user is currently logged in that I know of.  

The only thing you're going to be able to do is determine the "Last Logon Date" and time.  

This article may help you:

http://www.windowsitpro.com/windowssecurity/article/articleid/94141/querying-dcs-for-last-logon-date-and-time.html

 

by: gilbarPosted on 2008-03-05 at 10:38:38ID: 21053063

yeah, we use the net user command for that, it seems like there should be some way.  

 

by: PlaceboC6Posted on 2008-03-05 at 10:54:49ID: 21053221

There isn't.  All the DC knows is that it processed a logon event.  It will account for this in the security log.

There isn't a "persistent" network connection showing a logon because once the credentials are verified,  the DC isn't actively communicating with the client machine anymore.  Except for periodic credential checks when accessing a file/printer share or some other form of resource.

On a terminal server,  you can see who is actively logged in to the terminal server and for how long.......but that is only tracking RDP sessions to the terminal server.

There simply isn't any way to know whether the person who logged in at 12:15PM is still logged in or not.  The DC isn't monitoring for that sort of thing.

 

by: RobWillPosted on 2008-03-05 at 10:57:09ID: 21053240

Sysinternals/Microsoft has a free little tool called PSLoggedOn which can tell you on to which computer/s a given user is logged in, or what users are logged on to a particular PC, and all remotely.
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb897545.aspx

 

by: PlaceboC6Posted on 2008-03-05 at 11:06:35ID: 21053321

That's a handy dandy tool,  but I think he wants a way to know whether a user is actively logged in.

You can remotely use nbtstat (assuming netbios isn't disabled) and determine who is logged into a machine remotely also....

My understanding of his request is that he wants a way to see who is "actively logged into the server".

 

by: gilbarPosted on 2008-03-05 at 11:13:21ID: 21053384

placebo, tell me more about nbtstat, i'm not familar with that

 

by: RobWillPosted on 2008-03-05 at 11:13:39ID: 21053389

>>"I want to be able to find if a user is....... logged into our domain. "

"PsLoggedOn searches the computers in the network neighborhood and tells you if the user is currently logged on."

 

by: gilbarPosted on 2008-03-05 at 11:18:15ID: 21053427

what i'm really looking for is,
is the user logged in Somewhere on the network (apparently Can't Do),
has the user ran a login script that mapped a drive on a particular server .

the people don't actually log into the servers, so Rob's tool won't help (i don't think), but it does put him in the running for some points

 

by: gilbarPosted on 2008-03-05 at 11:18:59ID: 21053432

I'll have to do some more studing on PSLog

 

by: RobWillPosted on 2008-03-05 at 11:23:52ID: 21053472

>>"the people don't actually log into the servers"
No, but they log into the domain on a PC somewhere. This will list all users logged into any pc or server, i.e. the domain, so long as they are on the same subnet. Remote users such as VPN users will not be listed.

 

by: gilbarPosted on 2008-03-12 at 11:17:05ID: 21109073

Thanx both of you. I looked into nbtstat a little, and it seems that i don't have that. PSLogged on seems the best bet

 

by: RobWillPosted on 2008-03-12 at 11:19:18ID: 21109097

Thanks gilbar
Cheers !
--Rob

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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