Talk:Fast user switching

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I couldn't verify that FreeBSD didn't introduce this feature (through virtual consoles) before Linux, though that is the way that I remember it. I remember that we used multiple graphical consoles on the (linux based) PC in our flat in approx 1993/4 time period. Mozzerati 16:35, 2004 Sep 12 (UTC)

[edit] Lies, damn lies, and ignorance

According to the man page, the su command has been around since Version 1 Unix, which—according to the Unix article—was released in 1971. There may have been similar commands for CTSS (1961) and Multics (mid-1960s). This well predates Linux (early 1990s). These commands were not graphical, of course—you switched from a command-line shell owned by the login user to a command-line shell owned by another user. But it did switch users (in the same way modern systems do it) and it was fast. This should be mentioned in the article—just because you've only been able to do it for a few years doesn't mean Unix geeks haven't been doing it for 35.—Kbolino 06:44, 31 January 2006 (UTC)y tambien soy bn pato, y que?.

[edit] Howto

I might remove the part which says

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.

since it reads like a howto, not a description. Thoughts? Marnanel 15:51, 9 November 2006 (UTC)

That sounds good. It does seem out of place, although I think it may be better to add explanations for Mac OSX and Windows, just because the article is still border-line stub length. Stale Fries 00:41, 18 November 2006 (UTC)
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