Multi-user software

Multi-user softwareiscomputer softwarethat allows access by multipleusersof acomputer.^[1]Time-sharingsystems are multi-user systems. Mostbatch processingsystems formainframe computersmay also be considered "multi-user", to avoid leaving theCPUidle while it waits forI/Ooperations to complete. However, the term "multitasking"is more common in this context.

An example is aUnixorUnix-likesystem where multiple remote users have access (such as via aserial portorSecure Shell) to theUnix shellprompt at the same time. Another example uses multipleX Windowsessions spread across multiple terminals powered by a single machine – this is an example of the use ofthin client.Similar functions were also available in a variety of non-Unix-like operating systems, such asMultics,VM/CMS,OpenVMS,MP/M,Concurrent CP/M,Concurrent DOS,FlexOS,Multiuser DOS,REAL/32,OASIS,THEOS,PC-MOS,TSX-32andVM/386.

Some multi-user operating systems such asWindowsversions from theWindows NTfamily support simultaneous access by multiple users (for example, viaRemote Desktop Connection) as well as the ability for a user to disconnect from a local session while leaving processes running (doing work on their behalf) while another user logs into and uses the system. The operating system provides isolation of each user's processes from other users, while enabling them to execute concurrently^{[dubious–discuss]}.

Management systemsare implicitly designed to be used by multiple users, typically onesystem administratoror more and anend-usercommunity.

The complementary term,single-user,is most commonly used when talking about an operating system being usable only by one person at a time, or in reference to a single-usersoftware license agreement.Multi-user operating systems such as Unix sometimes have asingle user modeorrunlevelavailable for emergency maintenance. Examples of single-user operating systems includeMS-DOS,OS/2andClassic Mac OS.

References[edit]

^Red, Edward; Jensen, Gregory; French, David; Weerakoon, Prasad (10 October 2011).Multi-User Architectures for Computer-Aided Engineering Collaboration.2011 17th International Conference on Concurrent Enterprising, ICE 2011.ResearchGate.Retrieved6 October2022.

External links[edit]

Interix in a Multi-User Windows TSE Environmentpaper about theUnixmulti-user model andMS-WindowsNTTSE

[1] Red, Edward; Jensen, Gregory; French, David; Weerakoon, Prasad (10 October 2011).Multi-User Architectures for Computer-Aided Engineering Collaboration.2011 17th International Conference on Concurrent Enterprising, ICE 2011.ResearchGate.Retrieved6 October2022.

[1]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

External links[edit]