It is better to exit from all programs before you log out. Some programs, such as Firefox or Thunderbird, protest the type of shut down caused by you logging out.
When on a workstation with an X environment, to logout, select ``Log Out'' under the ``Actions'' menu. Click on OK to verify that you indeed want to log out. Please note that selecting ``Restart'' or ``Shut Down'' will merely give you an error and then log you out. Please only use ``Log out.''
For your own protection, it is important that you remember to logout. Typing exit or logout in all the windows will not log you out of your account. You know you have logged out of your account when the login screen reappears. If you don't logout, someone can sit down at the workstation you have abandoned and access all of your files. Be aware that if the system should crash while you are logged in, you will no longer be logged in when it comes back up. Consequently, there is no need for you to wait around for the workstation to restart so that you can logout.