Account lockouts
What causes Account Lockouts?
Account lockouts are caused by repeated failed attempts (10 within 30 minutes) to authenticate against Active Directory using your Murdoch Username and Murdoch Password.
What systems and services use Active Directory authentication?
1. Staff - systems and services used by staff
- Access to printers and networked file shares (eg. groupdata)
- Exchange email access (connected to via Mail clients such as Outlook or Entourage)
- Web-based application systems, eg.
- ECM
- Findit Advanced Search (Summon)
- LCS Staff Tool
- MyHR
- My Library
- Policy and Procedure Manager (PPM)
- OrgPlus
- Web Room Booking (WRB)
- Webmail
- Wireless access (Eduroam)
- Workstation login
2. Students - systems and services used by students
- Access to printers and networked file shares (eg. mydisk)
- Web-based application systems, eg.
- Findit Advanced Search (Summon)
- Murdoch Online Survey System (MOSS) - if accessed without an active MAIS Login session
- My Library
- PebblePad
- Policy and Procedure Manager (PPM)
- Student Placement Management System (Sonia)
- Webmail
- Wireless access (Eduroam)
- Workstation login in computer labs
A full list can be found here: Systems and Services Using AD Access Restriction.
NOTE: Account lockouts can occur due to failed authentication against MAIS if an incorrect Murdoch Username or Murdoch Password is entered too many times at a MAIS Login screen. If this happens, the message displayed will be 'Too Many Failed Login Attempts' and you will be advised to try again in a few minutes.
A list of Systems and Services Using MAIS Access Restriction is available.
How long does account lockout last?
The lockout period will last at least 30 minutes. However, if the fault is not found the lockout will continue to occur, sometimes immediately locking the account again after the 30 minute lockout period expires.
Can changing a Murdoch Password cause account lockout?
Changing your password can result in account lockout under the following conditions:
If you have NOT followed the recommended steps outlined in:
taking into consideration key points such as:
- Left a device connected to Eduroam whilst changing your password
- Stayed logged in to an AD authenticated system (refer to the list) whilst changing your password
When you try to authenticate against Active Directory, you will find that you are locked out and will continue to get locked out until the source of the failed authentication attempts is detected.
What to do if your account is getting locked out?
If your account is being locked out, there are many steps that can be taken to try and find the cause and prevent it from happening again.
- Murdoch laptop on campus:
- Login to your laptop whilst connected to a network port using your new password
- Change your wireless connection settings to use your new password (refer to instructions - http://goto.murdoch.edu.au/ConnectToEduroam) noting that this connection may not work until your account is unlocked
- Delete saved passwords and form data from your Web browsers
- Portable or mobile devices on campus:
- Change your wireless connection settings to use your new password (refer to instructions - http://goto.murdoch.edu.au/ConnectToEduroam) noting that this connection may not work until your account is unlocked
- Delete saved passwords and form data from your Web browsers
- Desktop computer on campus (Windows):
- If you have saved your password in your Web browsers, or in any other applications, then you will need to change it the next time you access web-based resources or your applications
- Logout from your desktop computer, allow 5 minutes, then log back in
- Desktop Macintosh on campus:
- If you have passwords saved in Keychain, ensure they are correct
- Revise your wireless network settings so that it connects to Eduroam using the correct password
Still need help?
If after trying these steps you find yourself still getting locked out, please contact the IT Service Desk on 9360 2000.