diff --git a/.gitmodules b/.gitmodules
index cad5101..d350a11 100644
--- a/.gitmodules
+++ b/.gitmodules
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 [submodule "kasmweb"]
 	path = kasmweb
 	url = https://github.com/kasmtech/noVNC.git
-	branch = release/1.2.3
+	branch = feature/VNC-196-shared-session-connect-msg
 [submodule "kasmvnc-functional-tests"]
 	path = kasmvnc-functional-tests
 	url = git@gitlab.com:kasm-technologies/internal/kasmvnc-functional-tests.git
diff --git a/common/network/GetAPI.h b/common/network/GetAPI.h
index 5b6c7ed..5a6a335 100644
--- a/common/network/GetAPI.h
+++ b/common/network/GetAPI.h
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@
 #include <map>
 #include <string>
 #include <vector>
+#include <mutex>
 
 namespace network {
 
@@ -49,6 +50,8 @@ namespace network {
                                     uint32_t ping);
     void mainUpdateUserInfo(const uint8_t ownerConn, const uint8_t numUsers);
 
+    void mainUpdateSessionsInfo(std::string newSessionsInfo);
+
     // from network threads
     uint8_t *netGetScreenshot(uint16_t w, uint16_t h,
                               const uint8_t q, const bool dedup,
@@ -61,6 +64,8 @@ namespace network {
                           const bool read, const bool write, const bool owner);
     uint8_t netAddOrUpdateUser(const struct kasmpasswd_entry_t *entry);
     void netGetUsers(const char **ptr);
+
+    const std::string_view netGetSessions();
     void netGetBottleneckStats(char *buf, uint32_t len);
     void netGetFrameStats(char *buf, uint32_t len);
     void netResetFrameStatsCall();
@@ -142,6 +147,8 @@ namespace network {
     uint8_t ownerConnected;
     uint8_t activeUsers;
     pthread_mutex_t userInfoMutex;
+    std::mutex sessionInfoMutex;
+    std::string sessionsInfo;
   };
 
 }
diff --git a/common/network/GetAPIMessager.cxx b/common/network/GetAPIMessager.cxx
index dfc739e..b11c878 100644
--- a/common/network/GetAPIMessager.cxx
+++ b/common/network/GetAPIMessager.cxx
@@ -28,6 +28,8 @@
 #include <rfb/xxhash.h>
 #include <stdio.h>
 #include <stdlib.h>
+#include <string>
+#include <utility>
 
 using namespace network;
 using namespace rfb;
@@ -55,7 +57,8 @@ static const struct TightJPEGConfiguration conf[10] = {
 GetAPIMessager::GetAPIMessager(const char *passwdfile_): passwdfile(passwdfile_),
 					screenW(0), screenH(0), screenHash(0),
 					cachedW(0), cachedH(0), cachedQ(0),
-					ownerConnected(0), activeUsers(0) {
+					ownerConnected(0), activeUsers(0),
+					sessionsInfo( "{\"users\":[]}"){
 
 	pthread_mutex_init(&screenMutex, NULL);
 	pthread_mutex_init(&userMutex, NULL);
@@ -171,6 +174,15 @@ void GetAPIMessager::mainUpdateUserInfo(const uint8_t ownerConn, const uint8_t n
 	pthread_mutex_unlock(&userInfoMutex);
 }
 
+void GetAPIMessager::mainUpdateSessionsInfo(std::string newSessionsInfo)
+{
+	 std::unique_lock<std::mutex> lock (sessionInfoMutex,std::defer_lock);
+	if (!lock.try_lock())
+		return;
+	sessionsInfo = std::move(newSessionsInfo);
+	lock.unlock();
+}
+
 // from network threads
 uint8_t *GetAPIMessager::netGetScreenshot(uint16_t w, uint16_t h,
 	const uint8_t q, const bool dedup,
@@ -514,6 +526,12 @@ void GetAPIMessager::netGetUsers(const char **outptr) {
 	*outptr = buf;
 }
 
+
+const std::string_view GetAPIMessager::netGetSessions()
+{
+	return sessionsInfo;
+}
+
 void GetAPIMessager::netGetBottleneckStats(char *buf, uint32_t len) {
 /*
 {
@@ -819,3 +837,4 @@ void GetAPIMessager::netClearClipboard() {
 
 	pthread_mutex_unlock(&userMutex);
 }
+
diff --git a/common/network/TcpSocket.cxx b/common/network/TcpSocket.cxx
index db13ec7..9663724 100644
--- a/common/network/TcpSocket.cxx
+++ b/common/network/TcpSocket.cxx
@@ -551,6 +551,18 @@ static void clearClipboardCb(void *messager)
   msgr->netClearClipboard();
 }
 
+static void getSessionsCb(void *messager,  char **ptr)
+{
+  GetAPIMessager *msgr =  (GetAPIMessager *) messager;
+  std::string_view sessionInfoView = msgr->netGetSessions();
+  //Since this data is being returned to a c function using char array
+  //memmoery needs to be freeded by calling function
+  char *sessionInfo = (char *) calloc(sessionInfoView.size() + 1, sizeof(char));
+  memcpy(sessionInfo, sessionInfoView.data(), sessionInfoView.size());
+  sessionInfo[sessionInfoView.size()] = '\0';
+  *ptr = sessionInfo;
+}
+
 #if OPENSSL_VERSION_NUMBER < 0x1010000f
 
 static pthread_mutex_t *sslmutex;
@@ -700,6 +712,7 @@ WebsocketListener::WebsocketListener(const struct sockaddr *listenaddr,
   settings.serverFrameStatsReadyCb = serverFrameStatsReadyCb;
 
   settings.clearClipboardCb = clearClipboardCb;
+  settings.getSessionsCb = getSessionsCb;
 
   openssl_threads();
 
diff --git a/common/network/websocket.c b/common/network/websocket.c
index fe3eb84..9140671 100644
--- a/common/network/websocket.c
+++ b/common/network/websocket.c
@@ -1511,7 +1511,8 @@ static uint8_t ownerapi(ws_ctx_t *ws_ctx, const char *in, const char * const use
 
         handler_msg("Sent bottleneck stats to API caller\n");
         ret = 1;
-    } else entry("/api/get_users") {
+    } else entry("/api/get_users")
+    {
         const char *ptr;
         settings.getUsersCb(settings.messager, &ptr);
 
@@ -1530,6 +1531,26 @@ static uint8_t ownerapi(ws_ctx_t *ws_ctx, const char *in, const char * const use
 
         handler_msg("Sent user list to API caller\n");
         ret = 1;
+    } else entry("/api/get_sessions") {
+
+        char *sessionData;
+        settings.getSessionsCb(settings.messager, &sessionData);
+
+        sprintf(buf, "HTTP/1.1 200 OK\r\n"
+                 "Server: KasmVNC/4.0\r\n"
+                 "Connection: close\r\n"
+                 "Content-type: text/plain\r\n"
+                 "Content-length: %lu\r\n"
+                 "%s"
+                 "\r\n", strlen(sessionData), extra_headers ? extra_headers : "");
+        ws_send(ws_ctx, buf, strlen(buf));
+        ws_send(ws_ctx, sessionData, strlen(sessionData));
+        weblog(200, wsthread_handler_id, 0, origip, ip, user, 1, origpath, strlen(buf) + strlen(sessionData));
+
+        free((char *) sessionData);
+
+        handler_msg("Sent session list to API caller\n");
+        ret = 1;
     } else entry("/api/get_frame_stats") {
         char statbuf[4096], decname[1024];
         unsigned waitfor;
diff --git a/common/network/websocket.h b/common/network/websocket.h
index e9e8153..b193a17 100644
--- a/common/network/websocket.h
+++ b/common/network/websocket.h
@@ -108,6 +108,8 @@ typedef struct {
     uint8_t (*serverFrameStatsReadyCb)(void *messager);
 
     void (*clearClipboardCb)(void *messager);
+
+    void (*getSessionsCb)(void *messager, char **buf);
 } settings_t;
 
 #ifdef __cplusplus
diff --git a/common/rfb/SMsgWriter.cxx b/common/rfb/SMsgWriter.cxx
index 11c59c7..eebb394 100644
--- a/common/rfb/SMsgWriter.cxx
+++ b/common/rfb/SMsgWriter.cxx
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
  * USA.
  */
 #include <stdio.h>
+#include <string>
 #include <rdr/OutStream.h>
 #include <rdr/MemOutStream.h>
 #include <rdr/ZlibOutStream.h>
@@ -776,3 +777,17 @@ void SMsgWriter::writeUnixRelay(const char *name, const rdr::U8 *buf, const unsi
 
   endMsg();
 }
+
+void SMsgWriter::writeUserJoinedSession(const std::string& username)
+{
+  startMsg(msgTypeUserAddedToSession);
+  os->writeString(username.c_str());
+  endMsg();
+}
+
+void SMsgWriter::writeUserLeftSession(const std::string& username)
+{
+  startMsg(msgTypeUserRemovedFromSession);
+  os->writeString(username.c_str());
+  endMsg();
+}
diff --git a/common/rfb/SMsgWriter.h b/common/rfb/SMsgWriter.h
index ba07c62..3a424bf 100644
--- a/common/rfb/SMsgWriter.h
+++ b/common/rfb/SMsgWriter.h
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@
 #ifndef __RFB_SMSGWRITER_H__
 #define __RFB_SMSGWRITER_H__
 
+#include <string>
 #include <rdr/types.h>
 #include <rfb/encodings.h>
 #include <rfb/ScreenSet.h>
@@ -132,6 +133,9 @@ namespace rfb {
     void writeSubscribeUnixRelay(const bool success, const char *msg);
     void writeUnixRelay(const char *name, const rdr::U8 *buf, const unsigned len);
 
+    void writeUserJoinedSession(const std::string& username);
+    void writeUserLeftSession(const std::string& username);
+
   protected:
     void startMsg(int type);
     void endMsg();
diff --git a/common/rfb/VNCSConnectionST.cxx b/common/rfb/VNCSConnectionST.cxx
index 96b0077..cf3af0b 100644
--- a/common/rfb/VNCSConnectionST.cxx
+++ b/common/rfb/VNCSConnectionST.cxx
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
  * Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place - Suite 330, Boston, MA  02111-1307,
  * USA.
  */
-
+ 
 #include <network/GetAPI.h>
 #include <network/TcpSocket.h>
 
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ VNCSConnectionST::VNCSConnectionST(VNCServerST* server_, network::Socket *s,
     needsPermCheck(false), pointerEventTime(0),
     clientHasCursor(false),
     accessRights(AccessDefault), startTime(time(0)), frameTracking(false),
-    udpFramesSinceFull(0), complainedAboutNoViewRights(false)
+    udpFramesSinceFull(0), complainedAboutNoViewRights(false), clientUsername("username_unavailable")
 {
   setStreams(&sock->inStream(), &sock->outStream());
   peerEndpoint.buf = sock->getPeerEndpoint();
@@ -177,6 +177,19 @@ void VNCSConnectionST::close(const char* reason)
 
   if (authenticated()) {
       server->lastDisconnectTime = time(0);
+
+      // First update the client state to CLOSING to ensure it's not included in user lists
+      setState(RFBSTATE_CLOSING);
+
+      // Notify other clients about the user leaving
+      server->notifyUserAction(this, clientUsername, VNCServerST::Leave);
+      vlog.info("Notifying other clients that user '%s' left: %s",
+                clientUsername.c_str(), reason ? reason : "connection closed");
+
+      if (server->apimessager)
+      {
+        server->updateSessionUsersList();
+      }
   }
 
   try {
@@ -190,11 +203,12 @@ void VNCSConnectionST::close(const char* reason)
     vlog.error("Failed to flush remaining socket data on close: %s", e.str());
   }
 
-  // Just shutdown the socket and mark our state as closing.  Eventually the
-  // calling code will call VNCServerST's removeSocket() method causing us to
-  // be deleted.
+  // Just shutdown the socket and mark our state as closing if not already done.
+  // Eventually the calling code will call VNCServerST's removeSocket() method
+  // causing us to be deleted.
   sock->shutdown();
-  setState(RFBSTATE_CLOSING);
+  if (state() != RFBSTATE_CLOSING)
+    setState(RFBSTATE_CLOSING);
 }
 
 
@@ -631,6 +645,8 @@ void VNCSConnectionST::approveConnectionOrClose(bool accept,
 void VNCSConnectionST::authSuccess()
 {
   lastEventTime = time(0);
+  connectionTime = time(0); // Record when the user connected
+  vlog.info("User %s connected at %ld", clientUsername.c_str(), connectionTime);
 
   server->startDesktop();
 
@@ -649,11 +665,27 @@ void VNCSConnectionST::authSuccess()
 
   // - Mark the entire display as "dirty"
   updates.add_changed(server->pb->getRect());
-  startTime = time(0);
+  startTime = time(nullptr);
+
+  if (clientUsername.empty())
+  {
+    setUsername(get_default_name(sock->getPeerAddress()));
+  }
+    vlog.info("Authentication successful for user: %s", clientUsername.c_str());
 }
 
 void VNCSConnectionST::queryConnection(const char* userName)
 {
+  if (userName && strlen(userName) > 0) {
+    setUsername(userName);
+    vlog.info("Setting username for connection: %s", userName);
+  } else {
+    // Generate a default username based on connection info
+    setUsername(get_default_name(sock->getPeerAddress()));
+
+    vlog.info("Generated username: %s", clientUsername.c_str());
+  }
+
   // - Authentication succeeded - clear from blacklist
   CharArray name; name.buf = sock->getPeerAddress();
   server->blHosts->clearBlackmark(name.buf);
@@ -708,6 +740,15 @@ void VNCSConnectionST::clientInit(bool shared)
     }
   }
   SConnection::clientInit(shared);
+  if (shared && authenticated()) {
+    server->notifyUserAction(this, clientUsername, VNCServerST::Join);
+    vlog.info("Notifying other clients that user '%s' joined the shared session",
+              clientUsername.c_str());
+  }
+
+  if (server->apimessager && authenticated()) {
+   server->updateSessionUsersList();
+  }
 }
 
 void VNCSConnectionST::setPixelFormat(const PixelFormat& pf)
diff --git a/common/rfb/VNCSConnectionST.h b/common/rfb/VNCSConnectionST.h
index 9416b2d..6d8068c 100644
--- a/common/rfb/VNCSConnectionST.h
+++ b/common/rfb/VNCSConnectionST.h
@@ -219,6 +219,16 @@ namespace rfb {
         return server->sendWatermark;
     }
 
+    const std::string& getUsername() const { return clientUsername; }
+    void setUsername(const std::string& username) {
+      clientUsername = username.empty() ? "" : username;
+    }
+
+    // Returns connection time
+    time_t getConnectionTime() const { return connectionTime; }
+
+    // Returns access rights
+    AccessRights getAccessRights() const { return accessRights; }
   private:
     // SConnection callbacks
 
@@ -226,6 +236,10 @@ namespace rfb {
     // none of these methods should call any of the above methods which may
     // delete the SConnectionST object.
 
+    // Connection timestamp when user was authenticated
+    time_t connectionTime;
+
+
     virtual void authSuccess();
     virtual void queryConnection(const char* userName);
     virtual void clientInit(bool shared);
@@ -348,6 +362,7 @@ namespace rfb {
 
     char unixRelaySubscriptions[MAX_UNIX_RELAYS][MAX_UNIX_RELAY_NAME_LEN];
     bool complainedAboutNoViewRights;
+    std::string clientUsername;
   };
 }
 #endif
diff --git a/common/rfb/VNCServerST.cxx b/common/rfb/VNCServerST.cxx
index b29997d..8ea70d7 100644
--- a/common/rfb/VNCServerST.cxx
+++ b/common/rfb/VNCServerST.cxx
@@ -65,6 +65,7 @@
 #include <rfb/Watermark.h>
 #include <rfb/util.h>
 #include <rfb/ledStates.h>
+#include <rfb/SMsgWriter.h>
 
 #include <rdr/types.h>
 
@@ -773,6 +774,27 @@ void VNCServerST::stopDesktop()
   }
 }
 
+std::vector<SessionInfo> VNCServerST::getSessionUsers() {
+  std::vector<SessionInfo> users;
+
+  for ( auto client :  clients) {
+    if (!client->authenticated()) {
+      continue;
+    }
+    users.push_back(SessionInfo(client->getUsername(),client->getConnectionTime()));
+  }
+  return users;
+}
+
+void VNCServerST::updateSessionUsersList()
+{
+  auto sessionUsers = getSessionUsers();
+  if (!sessionUsers.empty()) {
+    std::string sessionUsersJson = formatUsersToJson(sessionUsers);
+    apimessager->mainUpdateSessionsInfo(sessionUsersJson);
+  }
+}
+
 int VNCServerST::authClientCount() {
   int count = 0;
   std::list<VNCSConnectionST*>::iterator ci;
@@ -1158,9 +1180,6 @@ void VNCServerST::writeUpdate()
   }
 }
 
-// checkUpdate() is called by clients to see if it is safe to read from
-// the framebuffer at this time.
-
 Region VNCServerST::getPendingRegion()
 {
   UpdateInfo ui;
@@ -1232,6 +1251,15 @@ void VNCServerST::notifyScreenLayoutChange(VNCSConnectionST* requester)
   }
 }
 
+bool VNCServerST::checkClientOwnerships() {
+  std::list<VNCSConnectionST*>::iterator i;
+  for (i = clients.begin(); i != clients.end(); i++) {
+    if ((*i)->is_owner())
+      return true;
+  }
+  return false;
+}
+
 bool VNCServerST::getComparerState()
 {
   if (rfb::Server::compareFB == 0)
@@ -1290,3 +1318,40 @@ void VNCServerST::sendUnixRelayData(const char name[],
     }
   }
 }
+
+void VNCServerST::notifyUserAction(const VNCSConnectionST* newConnection, std::string& username, const UserActionType actionType)
+{
+  if (username.empty()) {
+    username = "username_unavailable";
+  }
+
+  std::string actionTypeStr = actionType == Join ? "joined" : "left";
+  int notificationsSent = 0;
+
+  std::string msgNotification = "Sent user " +  actionTypeStr +  "   notification to client";
+  std::string errNotification = "Failed to send user " +  actionTypeStr +  "  notification to client: ";
+  std::string logNotification = "User " + username + " " + actionTypeStr + "  - sent notifications to ";
+
+  for (auto client : clients ) {
+    // Don't notify the connection that just joined, and only notify authenticated connections
+    if (client != newConnection && client->authenticated() &&
+        client->state() == SConnection::RFBSTATE_NORMAL) {
+      try {
+        if (actionType == Join) {
+          client->writer()->writeUserJoinedSession(username);
+        }
+        else {
+          client->writer()->writeUserLeftSession(username);
+        }
+        notificationsSent++;
+
+        slog.debug(msgNotification.c_str());
+      } catch (rdr::Exception& e) {
+         errNotification.append( e.str());
+        slog.error(errNotification.c_str());
+      }
+        }
+  }
+  logNotification.append( std::to_string(notificationsSent) + " clients");
+  slog.info(logNotification.c_str());
+}
diff --git a/common/rfb/VNCServerST.h b/common/rfb/VNCServerST.h
index fee2517..2df210b 100644
--- a/common/rfb/VNCServerST.h
+++ b/common/rfb/VNCServerST.h
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@
 #include <rfb/Timer.h>
 #include <network/Socket.h>
 #include <rfb/ScreenSet.h>
+#include <string>
 
 namespace rfb {
 
@@ -200,6 +201,9 @@ namespace rfb {
     void refreshClients();
     void sendUnixRelayData(const char name[], const unsigned char *buf, const unsigned len);
 
+    enum UserActionType {Join, Leave};
+    void notifyUserAction(const VNCSConnectionST* newConnection, std::string& user_name, const UserActionType action_type);
+
   protected:
 
     friend class VNCSConnectionST;
@@ -253,9 +257,13 @@ namespace rfb {
     Region getPendingRegion();
     const RenderedCursor* getRenderedCursor();
 
+    std::vector<SessionInfo>  getSessionUsers();
+    void updateSessionUsersList();
+
     void notifyScreenLayoutChange(VNCSConnectionST *requester);
 
     bool getComparerState();
+    bool checkClientOwnerships();
 
     void updateWatermark();
 
diff --git a/common/rfb/msgTypes.h b/common/rfb/msgTypes.h
index 836e4d8..9098b33 100644
--- a/common/rfb/msgTypes.h
+++ b/common/rfb/msgTypes.h
@@ -37,6 +37,9 @@ namespace rfb {
   const int msgTypeUnixRelay = 183;
 
   const int msgTypeServerFence = 248;
+  const int msgTypeUserAddedToSession = 253;
+  const int msgTypeUserRemovedFromSession = 254;
+
 
   // client to server
 
diff --git a/common/rfb/util.cxx b/common/rfb/util.cxx
index a0f5cac..5a21962 100644
--- a/common/rfb/util.cxx
+++ b/common/rfb/util.cxx
@@ -630,4 +630,57 @@ namespace rfb {
                     sizeof(iecPrefixes)/sizeof(*iecPrefixes),
                     precision);
   }
+
+  std::string get_default_name(const std::string& str) {
+    std::string default_name =str;
+    //Remove IP and other network info since only username needed
+    auto atPos = default_name.find('@');
+    if (atPos != std::string::npos) {
+      default_name.erase(atPos);
+    }
+
+    if (default_name.empty()) {
+      default_name = "username_unavailable";
+    }
+    else {
+      // Replace special characters
+      for (size_t i = 0; i < default_name.length(); i++) {
+        if (default_name[i] == '.' || default_name[i] == ':') {
+          default_name[i] = '_';
+        }
+      }
+    }
+
+    return default_name;
+
+  }
+  std::string formatUsersToJson(const std::vector<SessionInfo> & users)
+  {
+    std::string usersList = "[";
+    bool firstUser = true;
+    for (const auto&[userName, connectionTime] : users)
+    {
+      std::string username =userName;
+      time_t connTime = connectionTime;
+      char timeStr[32];
+      strftime(timeStr, sizeof(timeStr), "%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S", gmtime(&connTime));
+
+      if (!firstUser) {
+        usersList.append( ",");
+      }
+      firstUser = false;
+
+      std::string userEntry = "{\"username\":\"";
+      userEntry.append(username);
+      userEntry.append( "\", \"connected_since\":\"");
+      userEntry.append(timeStr);
+      userEntry.append("\"}");
+
+      usersList.append(userEntry);
+    }
+    usersList += "]";
+    usersList = "{\"users\": " + usersList + "} ";
+    return usersList;
+  }
 };
+
diff --git a/common/rfb/util.h b/common/rfb/util.h
index 18d38ac..9687da9 100644
--- a/common/rfb/util.h
+++ b/common/rfb/util.h
@@ -31,6 +31,8 @@
 #include <climits>
 #include <cstring>
 #include <chrono>
+#include <string>
+#include <vector>
 
 struct timeval;
 
@@ -67,6 +69,17 @@ namespace rfb {
     CharArray& operator=(const CharArray&);
   };
 
+  struct SessionInfo {
+    std::string userName;
+    time_t connectionTime;
+    SessionInfo(const std::string& name, const time_t& time)
+    {
+      userName = name;
+      connectionTime = time;
+    }
+
+    };
+
   char* strDup(const char* s);
   void strFree(char* s);
   void strFree(wchar_t* s);
@@ -145,6 +158,10 @@ namespace rfb {
                   char *buffer, size_t maxlen, int precision=6);
   size_t iecPrefix(long long value, const char *unit,
                    char *buffer, size_t maxlen, int precision=6);
+
+  std::string get_default_name(const std::string& str);
+  std::string formatUsersToJson(const std::vector<SessionInfo> & users);
+
 }
 
 // Some platforms (e.g. Windows) include max() and min() macros in their
diff --git a/kasmweb b/kasmweb
index 5c46b2e..df061dc 160000
--- a/kasmweb
+++ b/kasmweb
@@ -1 +1 @@
-Subproject commit 5c46b2e13ab1dd7232b28f017fd7e49ca740f5a4
+Subproject commit df061dc3d5c1f492108822cf569e7b42f087850a