Number of previous logons to cache (in case domain controller is not available)

Computer Configuration\Windows Settings\Security Settings\Local Policies\Security Options

Description

Determines the number of user logons to a Windows domain that are cached.

Windows 2000 caches previous users' logon information locally so that they will be able to log on in the event that a domain controller is unavailable during subsequent logon attempts. If a domain controller is unavailable and a user's logon information is cached, the user will be prompted with a dialog that reads:

A domain controller for your domain could not be contacted. You have been logged on using cached account information. Changes to your profile since you last logged on may not be available.

If a domain controller is unavailable and a user's logon information is not cached, the user is prompted with this message:

The system cannot log you on now because the domain <DOMAIN_NAME> is not available.

In this policy setting, a value of 0 disables logon caching. Any value above 50 will only cache 50 logon attempts. For servers, this policy is defined by default in Local Computer Policy and the default value is 10 logons.