Fast user switching is a feature on some modern multi-user operating systems such as Windows XP, Windows Vista, Mac OS X, OpenSUSE (linux), Ubuntu (linux) and Fedora (linux)^[1]. It allows users to switch between user accounts on a single PC without quitting applications and logging out. Analogous functionality was first developed on consumer level hardware by the Xenix operating system which supported multiple virtual consoles. Linux, BSD, and most other PC Unixes adopted virtual terminals and further developed the user interfaces, including allowing users to optionally run separate graphical X Window System sessions. Multi-user is a term that defines an operating system that allows concurrent access by multiple users of a computer. ... // An operating system (OS) is the software that manages the sharing of the resources of a computer. ... Windows XP is a line of operating systems developed by Microsoft for use on general-purpose computer systems, including home and business desktops, notebook computers, and media centers. ... Windows Vista is a line of graphical operating systems used on personal computers, including home and business desktops, notebook computers, Tablet PCs, and media centers. ... Mac OS X (IPA: ) is a line of graphical operating systems developed, marketed, and sold by Apple Inc. ... openSUSE is a community project, sponsored by Novell, to develop and maintain a general purpose Linux distribution. ... Ubuntu (official IPA pronunciation (oo-BOON-too[5])) is a predominantly desktop-oriented Linux distribution, based on Debian GNU/Linux but with a stronger focus on usability, regular releases, and ease of installation. ... Fedora (previously called Fedora Core) is a yum and RPM-based GNU/Linux distribution, developed by the community-supported Fedora Project and sponsored by Red Hat. ... A personal computer (PC) is a computer whose price, size, and capabilities make it useful for individuals. ... Xenix was a version of the Unix operating system, licensed by Microsoft from AT&T in the late 1970s. ... First virtual console showing Knoppix boot messages In some operating systems such as Linux and FreeBSD, a virtual console (VC, sometimes virtual terminal, VT) is a conceptual combination of the keyboard and the display for a user interface. ... This article is about operating systems that use the Linux kernel. ... BSD redirects here; for other uses see BSD (disambiguation). ... “X11” redirects here. ...

Many free software environments, such as GNOME or KDE, support fast user switching with a drop menu, in a way analogous to OS X. For installations with older environments, the functionality must be enabled in the configuration file of the X display manager (for example GDM) then a hot key sequence such as CTRL-ALT-F8 is pressed. A separate login window will now appear and the second user can login (or even the first user again). Alternatively, in the default install, new X sessions can be started at will by using different display parameters to have them run in different virtual terminals (e.g. "startx -- :1" or "X :1 -query localhost"). Again, hot key sequences allow the user switching to take place. This article is about free software as used in the sociopolitical free software movement; for non-free software distributed without charge, see freeware. ... This article is about the mythical creature. ... KDE (K Desktop Environment) (IPA: ) is a free software project which aims to be a powerful system for an easy-to-use desktop environment. ... In the X Window System, an X display manager runs as a program, allowing starting a session on an X server from the same or another computer. ... GDM (the GNOME Display Manager) provides an alternate display manager for the X Window System. ... A keyboard shortcut (also known as an accelerator key, shortcut key, or hotkey) is a set of keyboard keys that when pressed simultaneously, perform a predefined task. ... The xinit program allows a user to manually start an X server. ...

Fast user switching has various security implications and the handling in different operating systems varies, with each possible choice having advantages and disadvantages. One possibility is that only the first user gets ownership of resources. This is a simple and secure option; the first user is in control of resources; subsequent users cannot use them, but thereby know that the other user has control. A second option, similar in benefits and drawbacks to the first, is to grant ownership of resources to each new user. In this way the last one to log in takes ownership. A third option is to allow all users access to shared resources; this is more intuitive and easy, but would allow one user to record another user's conversation, for example. In Windows, shared resources such as sound are available to each session. In Red Hat Linux, the default is that the first session connected gets ownership of the "console resources". Red Hat Linux can be relatively easily reconfigured, however, to provide shared resources instead, either through a dedicated group of console users or by altering the way console ownership is changed. Red Hat Linux was a popular Linux distribution assembled by Red Hat until the early 2000s, when it was discontinued. ...

In Windows XP, fast user switching is unavailable if the computer is on a domain network, thus not a consideration if looking to switch users in a hurry. However, it is available for domain computers starting with Windows Vista. It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Active Directory. ... Windows Vista is a line of graphical operating systems used on personal computers, including home and business desktops, notebook computers, Tablet PCs, and media centers. ...

References

1. ^ Desktop/FastUserSwitching. Retrieved on 2007-05-13.