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Time limits and idle timeouts

Learn how to configure track time limits and idle timeouts

Overview

Every Instruqt track has two parameters that cause a user's session to expire: a track time limit and an idle timeout. The track time limit is required and restricts how long a user can interact with your track. The idle timeout is optional and determines how long a user can be away from the track (in a different window, etc.) before their session expires.

Track time limits

There are two ways to configure a track time limit:
  • Within the Track details page (recommended method).
  • Using the Instruqt CLI and configuring the timelimit parameter.

Configuring a track time limit

You can configure a track time limit using the Instruqt web UI or CLI:
Web UI
Instruqt CLI
  1. 1.
    Select the track you wish to modify the time limit of.
  2. 2.
    In the Settings section, click Edit.
  3. 3.
    In the Time limit field, enter the desired value in minutes.
  4. 4.
    Click Save.
  1. 1.
    If you have not already done so, pull the track you wish to modify the time limit of:
    instruqt track pull <track-slug>
  2. 2.
    Open the track.yml file and add a timelimit parameter.
    timelimit: <value-in-seconds>
    As an example, the file might look like the following:
    slug: example-track
    id: xnlauwy2zewf
    title: Example Track
    teaser: Get started with Ubuntu!
    owner: instruqt-demos
    developers:
    checksum: "8581508520951790619"
    timelimit: 3600
  3. 3.
    From within the track directory, push the update to Instruqt:
    instruqt track push

Allowing users to extend the play time limit

You can allow users to increase their time limit themselves. When enabled, a prompt will appear when a track reaches its limit, allowing users to add more minutes. The maximum amount of extra time that users can add is customized for each track.
You can allow users to extend the time limit using the Instruqt web UI or CLI:
Web UI
Instruqt CLI
  1. 1.
    Select the track you wish to allow users to extend the time limit for.
  2. 2.
    In the Settings section, click Edit.
  3. 3.
    Click Additional settings.
  4. 4.
    Scroll down to Allow users to extend their session, toggle it on, and input the desired value in minutes.
  5. 5.
    Click Save.
  1. 1.
    If you have not already done so, pull the track you wish to modify the extend ttl of:
    instruqt track pull <track-slug>
  2. 2.
    Open the track.yml file and add an extend_ttl parameter.
    extend_ttl: <value-in-seconds>
    As an example, the file might look like the following:
    slug: example-track
    id: xnlauwy2zewf
    title: Example Track
    teaser: Get started with Ubuntu!
    owner: instruqt-demos
    developers:
    checksum: "8581508520951790619"
    timelimit: 3600
    extend_ttl: 600
    idle_timeout: 300
  3. 3.
    From within the track directory, push the update to Instruqt:
    instruqt track push

Idle timeouts

There are two ways to configure a track's idle timeout:
  • Within the Track details page.
  • Using the Instruqt CLI and configuring the idle_timeout parameter.

Configuring a track idle timeout

You can configure a track's idle timeout using the Instruqt web UI or CLI:
Web UI
Instruqt CLI
  1. 1.
    Select the track you wish to modify the idle timeout of.
  2. 2.
    In the Settings section, click Edit.
  3. 3.
    Click Additional settings.
  4. 4.
    Scroll down to Time out idle users, toggle it on, and input the desired value in minutes.
  5. 5.
    Click Save.
  1. 1.
    If you have not already done so, pull the track you wish to modify the idle timeout of:
    instruqt track pull <track-slug>
  2. 2.
    Open the track.yml file and add a idle_timeout parameter.
    idle_timeout: <value-in-seconds>
    As an example, the file might look like the following:
    slug: example-track
    id: xnlauwy2zewf
    title: Example Track
    teaser: Get started with Ubuntu!
    owner: instruqt-demos
    developers:
    checksum: "8581508520951790619"
    timelimit: 3600
    idle_timeout: 300
  3. 3.
    From within the track directory, push the update to Instruqt:
    instruqt track push