How to prevent session timeouts in SAS Viya

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To prevent session timeouts in SAS Viya, administrators can adjust settings, or users can apply techniques to keep sessions active. Some effective methods include:

• Adjusting session timeout settings via Environment Manager or the SAS Viya CLI.
• Using keep-alive signals by periodically submitting code or using a separate thread to maintain activity.
• Understanding timeout behavior—sessions terminate when no activity or connections occur unless a new connection is established in time.

Since the June 2021 release of SAS Viya 4, users have been able to run SAS Viya as a Progressive Web Application (PWA), creating a smoother and more efficient experience. Installing SAS Viya as a PWA offers several key advantages: sessions stay active despite inactivity, service worker caching speeds up initialization (independent of the browser cache), and users can easily manage different environments such as development, testing, and production. This guide explains how to install and manage SAS Viya as a PWA using a Chromium-based web browser.

• Ensure TLS and HTTPS are enabled:

Make sure your SAS Viya endpoint is deployed with TLS (Transport Layer Security) and HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) enabled.

• Open SAS Viya in a Chromium-based browser:

Use a Chromium-based web browser, such as Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge, to launch SAS Viya.

• Access the installation option:
  • In the same browser, open a SAS Viya application that supports PWA installation (e.g., SASLanding).
  • Once open, locate the “Install SAS” option. Some browsers list it under "Apps", while others place it in the “More” menu (typically represented by three dots).
    
    
• Install the PWA:

  Click “Install SAS” and follow the on-screen prompts to complete the installation of SAS Studio as a PWA.

  To uninstall the SAS Viya PWA, open the “…” menu at the top-right of the PWA window bar, choose “App settings,” and click the “Uninstall” button.

Example of SAS Viya running as Progressive Web App (PWA)

Conclusion

Managing session timeouts in SAS Viya plays a key role in maintaining productivity and reducing disruptions. Whether you adjust configuration settings, implement keep-alive techniques, or use the SAS Viya Progressive Web Application (PWA), you have flexible tools to ensure a stable and efficient working environment. By following the practices and installation steps in this guide, your organization can optimize the SAS Viya experience and minimize the risk of session interruptions caused by inactivity.