asked on

su - login times out but $ login does not - why?

I login using ssh as a regular user then su - to gain root access. after 5 minutes unattended the # exits to $ and I have to log in again. This also happens to users who su admin. How can I stop this?
I have set the TCP_keepalive = yes.

System is RedHat 4 ELsmp, no firewall, nothing fancy in the way.

Tintin

unset TMOUT

or check /etc/profile or .bash_profile to see where TMOUT is set.

sublifer

The timeout is a system default to protect itself. It is meant to logout a user that has stepped away from his terminal so others can not have root access to the system. While this can be changed, as Tintin instructed, I would not recommend it.

woolmilkporc

Hi,

check whether the TMOUT variable is set ( echo $TMOUT ) in the shell environment of 'root' (or 'admin').

wmp

woolmilkporc

I think I should click 'refresh' more often ...

Bstafford51

ASKER

thanks for the reply.

I could not unset TMOUT as it is read only.

/etc/profile and /root/.bash_profile do not have a TMOUT entry.

I seem to remember something about an idle time out command but cann't find it agian. Any more ideas.

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Tintin

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Bstafford51

ASKER

Thanks, that did it. THe odd thing is I have two systems that are supposed to be identical but the /etc/bash and bashrc are not.

Well it works thanks again