Cached Logon Information

ID: Q172931

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Windows NT Workstation versions 3.51, 4.0
Microsoft Windows NT Server versions 3.51, 4.0

IMPORTANT: This article contains information about editing the registry. Before you edit the registry, make sure you understand how to restore it if a problem occurs. For information on how to do this, view the "Restoring the Registry" online Help topic in Regedit.exe or the "Restoring a Registry Key" online Help topic in Regedt32.exe.

SUMMARY

Microsoft Windows NT caches previous users' logon information locally so that they will be able to log on in the event that a logon server is unavailable during subsequent logon attempts.

If a domain controller is unavailable and a user's logon information is cached, the user will be prompted with a dialog that says:

A domain controller for your domain could not be contacted. You have been logged on using cached account information. Changes to your profile since you last logged on may not be available.

With caching disabled, the user is prompted with this message:

The system cannot log you on now because the domain <DOMAIN_NAME> is not available.

MORE INFORMATION

When you logon to Windows NT using cached logon information, if the domain controller is unavailable to validate you account, you are unable to access network resources that require domain validation. However, you are able to access network resources that do not require domain validation.

Through the registry and a resource kit utility (Regkey.exe), you are able to change the number of previous logon attempts that a server will cache. By default, Windows NT will remember the 10 most recent logon attempts. The valid range of values for this parameter is 0 to 50. A value of 0 disables logon caching and any value above 50 will only cache 50 logon attempts.

WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

For information about how to edit the registry, view the "Changing Keys And Values" online Help topic in Registry Editor (Regedit.exe) or the "Add and Delete Information in the Registry" and "Edit Registry Data" online Help topics in Regedt32.exe. Note that you should back up the registry before you edit it.

Cached logon information is controlled by the following key:


   HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\Current Version\Winlogon\ 

   ValueName: CachedLogonsCount
   Data Type: REG_SZ
   Values: 0 - 50

Any changes you make to this key require that you restart the computer for the changes to take effect.

Additional query words: reg ras

Keywords : ntdomain ntsecurity nthowto ntregistry ntreskit NTSrvWkst
Version : WinNT:4.0
Platform : winnt
Issue type : kbinfo