KB158909 - How to keep RAS connections active after logging off

Article ID: 158909

Article Last Modified on 10/11/2007

Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional Edition
Microsoft Windows 2000 Datacenter Server
Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 Developer Edition
Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Standard Edition
Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition (32-bit x86)
Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition
Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Standard x64 Edition
Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise x64 Edition
Microsoft Windows XP Professional
Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition

This article was previously published under Q158909

IMPORTANT: This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry

SUMMARY

When you log off from a Windows Remote Access Service (RAS) client, any RAS connections will be disconnected automatically. To remain connected after logging off, you may enable the KeepRasConnections key in the registry on the RAS client.

Note: This behavior is different from versions of Windows NT RAS earlier than Windows NT 4.0; earlier version of Windows NT remain connected when logging off from the local computer.

MORE INFORMATION

WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

To modify the behavior of RAS when logging off, change the value of the following registry key:

HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon

KeepRasConnections REG_SZ
Range: 0 or 1
Default: 0 (disabled)

You should restart the computer after making this change.

By default, when logging off, Windows closes all RAS connections opened during the session. If this registry key value is added and set to 1, the system will not close RAS connections when logging off. This registry key value does not appear in the registry unless you add it.

Note Changing the KeepRasConnections registry key to remain connected after you log off from a RAS client is not supported in Windows Vista."

Additional query words: prodnt logoff disconnect logon log persistent

Keywords: kbhowto kbnetwork KB158909