Login session

In computing, a login session is the period of activity between a user logging in and logging out of a (multi-user) system.

On Unix and Unix-like operating systems, a login session takes one of two main forms:

• When a textual user interface is used, a login session is represented as a kernel session — a collection of process groups with the logout action managed by a session leader.

• Where an X display manager is employed, a login session is considered to be the lifetime of a designated user process that the display manager invokes.

On Windows NT-based systems, login sessions are maintained by the kernel and control of them is overseen by the Local Security Authority Subsystem Service (LSA). <code>winlogon</code> responds to the secure attention key, it requests the LSA to create login sessions on login, and terminates all of the processes belonging to a login session on logout.

See also

• Booting process of Windows NT
• Architecture of Windows NT
• Booting
• Master boot record
• Power-on self-test
• BootVis

Further reading