Share via


<UserAccount> Properties: Sessions Tab

Applies To: Windows Server 2008

The Sessions tab allows you to configure the timeout and reconnection settings for Terminal Services sessions.

Item Details

End a disconnected session

Specify the maximum amount of time that a disconnected user session is kept active on the terminal server. If you specify "Never," the user's disconnected session is maintained for an unlimited time.

When a session is in a disconnected state, running programs are kept active even though the user is no longer actively connected.

Active session limit

Specify the maximum amount of time that the user's Terminal Services session can be active before the session is automatically disconnected or ended.

The user receives a warning two minutes before the Terminal Services session is disconnected or ended, which allows the user to save open files and close programs.

Idle session limit

Specify the maximum amount of time that an active Terminal Services session can be idle (without user input) before the session is automatically disconnected or ended.

The user receives a warning two minutes before the session is disconnected or ended, which allows the user to press a key or move the mouse to keep the session active.

When a session limit is reached or connection is broken

Specify whether to disconnect or end the user's Terminal Services session when an active session limit or an idle session limit is reached.

If the user's session is disconnected, the programs that the user is running are kept active even though the user is no longer actively connected.

If the user's session is ended, the user will need to establish a new Terminal Services session with a terminal server.

Allow reconnection

Specify whether the user can reconnect from any computer to a disconnected session on a terminal server.

The From originating client only option currently is not used by Windows Server Terminal Services.

Additional considerations

  • Membership in Administrators, or equivalent, is the minimum required to configure the properties of a local user account.

  • Membership in Account Operators, or equivalent, is the minimum required to configure the properties of most domain user accounts. In some cases, membership in Domain Admins, or equivalent, is the minimum required.

  • Review details about using the appropriate accounts and group memberships at Local and Domain Default Groups (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=83477).

  • You can use Terminal Services Configuration to configure session timeout settings on a per-connection basis on a terminal server. Session timeout settings configured by using Terminal Services Configuration will take precedence over the session timeout settings that have been configured for a specific user account.

  • For information about configuring timeout and reconnection settings on a per-connection basis on a terminal server by using Terminal Services Configuration, see the topic "Configuring Terminal Services Connections" in the Windows Server 2008 Terminal Services Configuration Help.

  • For information about configuring timeout and reconnection settings by using Group Policy settings, see Using Group Policy Settings.

Additional references