I am a new Linux sysadmin. I am using Linux on HP server. How do I logout users from my systems? How can I forcefully logoff any user using bash shell on Linux?
A root user can logout and kill any user session forcefully using the following commands:
a) pkill command – Kill processes by name.
b) kill command – terminate or signal a process.
c) logout command – Logout of a login shell. This command can be used by normal users to end their own session.
logout command syntax and example
If you are logged in as nixcraft user and just wanted to exit a login shell type the following command or hit CTRL+D:
$ logout
You will be logout of a login shell session or secure shell session.
Task: Linux logout all other users
If you would like to logout other users, you must login as root user. Next you need to use the pkill command.
pkill command syntax
The syntax is:
pkill -KILL -u {username} |
pkill -KILL -u {username}
Warning: Do not kill root user or other system level user process. The following example, will kill all process on your server. Do not run the pkill for root user:
pkill -KILL -u root
To see list of logged in user type who or w command:
# who
OR
# w
To logout a user called raj, enter:
# pkill -KILL -u raj
OR
$ sudo pkill -KILL -u raj
See also
- For more information read our previous “Linux kill and logout users” tutorial.
- Man pages: pgrep(1)
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