What Is a Multi-User Operating System?

According to the number of computer users at the same time, operating systems can be divided into single-user operating systems and multi-user operating systems. A single-user operating system refers to a computer that can only be used by one user at a time. A user can enjoy all the hardware and software resources of the system alone. If multiple users are allowed to use the computer at the same time, it is called multi-user operation. system.

According to the number of computer users at the same time, operating systems can be divided into single-user operating systems and multi-user operating systems. A single-user operating system refers to a computer that can only be used by one user at a time. A user can enjoy all the hardware and software resources of the system alone. If multiple users are allowed to use the computer at the same time, it is called multi-user operation. system.

Chinese name

Multi-user operating system

Foreign name

Multi-user operating system

Points for

Single-user operating system

Meaning

Each application is called a task

System

Windows XP

Introduction to multi-user operating systems

In addition, if a user can run multiple applications at the same time (each application is called a task), such an operating system is called a multitasking operating system. If a user can only run one application at a time, the corresponding operating system is called a single-tasking operating system.

Modern operating systems generally belong to a multi-user operating system, that is, the same machine can establish their own accounts for multiple users, and users with these accounts are also allowed to log in to this computer at the same time. This involves the management of computer users and resources. Simply put, multiple users can create multiple users on one computer, and if a computer can only use one user, it is called a single user.

Multiple users can access and use the same computer at the same time. One of them has the right to manage all these user accounts and the resources of the entire computer. On Windows, this user with the management of other users and computer resources is generally called administrator.

The personal computer operating system is a single-user operating system whose main feature is to serve a single user at a certain time.

The early DOS operating system was a single-user single-tasking operating system, Windows XP was a multi-user multi-tasking operating system, and Linux and UNIX were multi-user multi-tasking operating systems.

The commonly used Windows operating systems are multi-user operating systems. The early DOS operating system was a single-user single-tasking operating system. The most widely used win7 is a multi-user operating system, followed by UNIX and Linux operating systems. User multitasking operating system. Single-user operating systems include Microsoft's early MS DOS, Windows 9X (95, 98, ME). Windows operating systems since Windows NT and Windows 2000 are multi-user operating systems.

Multi-user operating system applications

For example, UNIX and Linux operating systems are multi-user and multi-tasking operating systems. The early Windows series were single-user operating systems and single-user single-tasking operating systems.

Currently the most widely used win7 is a multi-user operating system, Windows Server 2003 and Windows Server 2008 are multi-tasking multi-user operating systems.

Linux is a multi-user, multi-tasking operating system. Multi-user means that multiple users can use the computer system at the same time; multi-tasking means that Linux can perform several tasks at the same time, and it can perform another task before one task is completed.
The operating system manages multiple user requests and multiple tasks. Most systems have only one CPU and one main memory, but a system may have multiple secondary storage disks and multiple input / output devices. The operating system manages these resources and shares them among multiple users. When you make a request, it creates the illusion that the system is only occupied by you alone. In fact, the operating system monitors a queue of tasks waiting to be executed. These tasks include user jobs, operating system tasks, mail, and print jobs. The operating system assigns each task a suitable time slice based on the priority of each task. Each time slice has a fraction of a second. Although it looks short, it is actually enough for a computer to complete thousands of instruction sets. . Each task will be run by the system for a period of time, and then suspended, and the system will switch to other tasks; after a period of time, come back to process this task until a task is completed and removed from the task queue.

Windows XP Multi-User Switching

In the Windows XP Control Panel, there is a "User Account" option. Open the "User Account" dialog box and select "Create a new account". You can name the newly created new user and set the type of user. There are two types of users: "computer administrator" and "restriction". The difference is mainly different permissions. You can set office members as administrators and visitors as restricted users. After the new account is successfully created, a new user name will appear in the window where the registered user icon is located, and this user will also appear on the login interface. If you need to modify your account, you can click "Change Account", after clicking all existing accounts, select the account you want to modify, you can modify its name, image, account type, password, etc .; If you no longer need this account, you can even delete it. There are generally two ways for users to log in, using the welcome screen and using fast user switching. Using the welcome screen, you can click the account name to log in, the disadvantage is that it is not very secure. Fast user switching allows you to quickly switch to another account without closing all programs. This way, when other users are done, you can quickly switch to your own account.

After inspection, the current Win7 operating system is also a multi-user operating system.

References: "Computer Culture Foundation" China University of Petroleum Press

Multi-user refers to a multi-user, multi-tasking working mode that is connected to several terminal devices through specific hardware on one host and supports multiple users at the same time.