Why this change to /etc/limits does not work

Question

I have made below changes to /etc/limits file for limiting the number of logins for a particular user from ssh.

rajan L2

rajan is username here.

After making these changes I logged out from session and logged in again so that effect of change should take place.

But can still log in through more 2 than shell using ssh protocol.

I also has tried setting maxsession 2 in /etc/ssh/sshd_config but didn't work out.

Can any body tell me what I am doing wrong?

Edit: I want maximum number of simultaneous SSH sessions to 5.

What do you want to do? Can you edit your Question and explain it? — kockiren, Dec 10 '13 at 10:20
@kockiren I want maximum number of simultaneous SSH sessions to 5 — Rajan Pathak, Dec 10 '13 at 10:29
Not sure I can copy my sshd_config but I can tell you if any parameter is set or not .I am using linux kernel 3.4.2 — Rajan Pathak, Dec 10 '13 at 10:40
What operating system are you using? If Linux, which distro? (And the `MaxSessions` option in sshd_config is not what you want.) — Jenny D, Dec 10 '13 at 10:40
@JennyD I tried setting up MaxSessoins 5 in my sshd_config file but still can open from more than 5 ssh connection from different terminal.Is it the right way to test? — Rajan Pathak, Dec 10 '13 at 10:42

score 2 · Answer 1 · answered Dec 10 '13 at 10:42

2

The MaxSession option in sshd_config is for the number of simultaneous sessions per connection, not the total number of connections.

I'd recommend using the PAM module pam_limits instead. On the CentOS server I happen to have handy, you would edit /etc/security/limits.conf to contain the line

rajan - maxlogins 2

to limit Rajan to two simultaneous logins. There's more information in man limits.conf.

answered Dec 10 '13 at 10:42

Jenny D

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I don't have pam.d installed on my machine and can't see /etc/security/limits.conf on my box.I have /etc/securetty on my box. – Rajan Pathak Dec 10 '13 at 10:46

Why this change to /etc/limits does not work

1 Answers1