This project is unmaintained and has been archived. Information on this page might be outdated and links below might not work anymore.

1. Research on relevant art for user switching

1.1. What is Fast User Switching?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fast_User_Switching

Simultaneously supporting multiple user desktop sessions and quickly and easily switching between them.

1.2. Relevant Art

1.2.1. GNU/Linux

Historically, this is fairly limited.

References:

Virtual console

1.2.2. GNU/Solaris

Historically, this is fairly limited. Virtual consoles are only supported on x86 from what I can tell.

References:

Virtual Console Project

1.2.3. GNU/FreeBSD

Historically, this is fairly limited.

References:

Virtual console

1.2.4. Darwin / OS X

The login screen does not play a central role. Once the first user is logged in, switching may be controlled from a menu on the bar at the top of the screen. Authentication occurs within the current desktop session.

References:

1.2.5. Windows XP

The login screen plays a central role. All user selection and authentication occurs at the login screen.

References:

1.2.6. Windows Vista

Same as XP?

2. More information

The Fedora Plans for fast user switching are described here.