Tech

Force system logoff with Windows 2000's WinExit screen saver

Users are not always very good about logging off of their computers when they leave for the day.

However, it might be necessary for all users to be logged off for security reasons or to ensure that processes such as backup can complete successfully. You can force logoff with a screensaver included with the Windows 2000 Resource Kit.

The WinExit (Winexit.scr) screen saver logs off the current user after a specified amount of idle time. When WinExit engages, it displays a dialog box containing a countdown timer and user-defined message. When the timer reaches zero, the screen saver initiates a logoff process.

WinExit requires a registry permissions change to enable non-administrators to use the screen saver. See the Windows 2000 Resource Kit documentation for Winexit.scr to learn which registry setting to change.

Windows 2000 Server

If your network includes systems that run UNIX or Linux, it's likely that you need to allow these clients to print to printers hosted by Windows 2000 Server. With these clients, an application can use the Line Printer Remote (LPR) service to send a document to a print spooler.

While Windows 2000 and Windows XP clients don't need the LPR service to print to a TCP/IP-based printer, UNIX and Linux clients still require the service. The first step in enabling these clients to print to a printer hosted by Windows 2000 Server is to add Print Services for UNIX, which is included with Windows 2000 Server.

You can add this service via the Add/Remove Programs applet in Control Panel. Follow these steps:

1. Go to Control Panel, and open the Add/Remove Programs applet.
2. Click the Add/Remove Windows Components button, and select the Other Network File And Print Services group.
3. Click Details, choose Print Services For UNIX, click OK, and click Next to follow through the rest of the wizard.

Then, verify that you've configured the service to start automatically. Open the Services console, locate the TCP/IP Print Server service, and configure it for automatic startup. Start the service if it hasn't already done so.

Next, configure the target printer for LPR. Open the properties for an existing printer in the Printers folder, or add a new printer. If you're adding a new printer, choose the Create A New Port option in the Add Printer wizard, and add the LPR port type. If you're modifying an existing printer, add the LPR port from the Ports tab of the printer's properties.

After you add the LPR service to the printer, UNIX and Linux hosts will be able to print to it across the network.

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