Apple Workgroup Server 95: Autologin File

    * Last Modified on: August 08, 2000

    * Article: 17627

Regarding the Autologin file on the Apple Workgroup Server (AWS) 95, what is the
 purpose of the file and can I set up the computer to automatically login when 
turned on? Also, why does the computer automatically login as root when turned 
on?

When the AWS 95 is first powered on it will immediately launch A/UX through an 
alias in Startup Items of the Macintosh partition. A/UX 3.x.x will usually go 
straight to the Finder, logging in as root if (and only if) there is no 
password on the root account, which is the default installation. If the 
administrator chooses to add a password to the root account, A/UX 3.x.x will 
stop at the standard A/UX Login screen and wait for a password. In the default 
File/Print server configuration there is a text file called "Autologin", in the
 Preferences Folder of the Login System Folder, which contains the name of the 
account for the system to automatically login to. By default it is set to root.
 If this file does not exist, here is how to recreate one.


      1. Open any text editor in the Mac OS or in the CommandShell.

      2. Create a new file and name it "Autologin".

      3. The first line should only contain the word "root".

      4. Save this file in /mac/sys/Login System Folder/Preferences.

      5. Quit the text editor.


With this file present, the next time the server starts up, it will automatically 
log in and (if the proper alias is in the default System Folder) launch 
AppleShare File or Print services. For security reasons, many administrators 
may NOT want the file server to automatically log in as root. To prevent this 
from happening, remove this file from the /mac/sys/Login System Folder/Preferences 
folder.

Note: This file is not usually present in default database configurations.