Logging Out

When you finish your work session and wish to leave the UNIX system, type exit (or CTRL-D) to log out. After a few seconds, your UNIX system will display the “login:” prompt:

 $ exit login:

This shows that you have logged out, and that the system is ready for another user to log in using your terminal.

Always log out when you finish your work session or when leaving your computer. An unattended session allows a passing stranger to access your work and possibly the work of others.

If you have a single-user system, it is important to remember that logging out is not the same as turning off your computer. To avoid problems, run the shutdown command (or on some systems, poweroff) before logging out in order to make it safe to turn off the machine. If you just turn the computer off without running shutdown, you run a real risk of damaging files or loosing data. Shutting down the system is described in Chapter 13.