[plug] Multiple Users Simutainus

[Russell Keith-Magee]

> I have heard that with linux you can switch between users with out having
> to log out and that the programs still keep running. Is this possible and
> if so how can i do it?

Depends on what you mean.

If you using your computer as a text terminal, pressing ALT-F1 through
ALT-F6 will give you a series of virtual terminals. Each one can be logged
in as a different user. Switch between them at will.

You can also do magic things with putting processes in the background; look
for the job control section in the bash man page ("man bash", search for JOB
CONTROL).

If you are using X-Windows, the short answer is no with an if, long answer
yes with a but. You can't set up multiple users, each with their own X
windows login. (Actually, I tell a lie - you can, but it takes a bit of
doing; it involves running two X servers, but in my experience, it's more
trouble than it's worth). You can, however, pop up as many xterminals as you
like, and log in as whatever user you like. Run a graphical program from
within that xterminal, and it will run with the permissions of the user who
was logged into that xterminal.

You can also get access to the text mode virtual terminals from within X
Windows; press CTRL-ALT-F[1-6] to get to the text mode. Pressing ALT-F7 (or
F8 on some systems) will take you back to the graphical X window terminal.

>   Linux is the Best      =\_T_/=
>   It Will rule the world! /   \

Just out of interest: You seem to be a bit of a newbie (not that that is a
bad thing), who is still figuring out the basics (also not a bad thing) - on
what do you base this assertion? Or are you just jumping on a bandwagon that
looks like fun? :-)

It's not that I disagree; it just seems like a bold assertion.

Russ %-)

********************************************
Russell Keith-Magee
Software Engineer
Calytrix Technologies
Unit 9, EIR Building, Technology Park
PO Box 1173, BENTLEY 6982, Western Australia