Configuring idle timeout for shell

Configuring idle timeout for shell

We can configure idle timeout for bash by following steps:

1. Create file named '/etc/profile.d/autologout.sh'
2. Add following contents to file:

   TMOUT=300
   readonly TMOUT
   export TMOUT

3. chmod +x /etc/profile.d/autologout.sh'

Note: Do not make mistakes in this file like adding 'exit 0'. All /etc/profile.d scripts are run directly from new shell which is getting spawned. Making mistakes in profile.d scripts may make shell inaccessible. Hence never experiment with new profile.d scripts on servers on which you have only remote access, like hosting services, cloud, etc. In case some mistake is already done you can refer to Deleting shell start-up scripts remotely without executing them, to make system work again.

Technique has been learned from http://www.cyberciti.biz/faq/linux-unix-login-bash-shell-force-time-outs/