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Multi-user software iscomputer software that allows access by multipleusers of acomputer.[1]Time-sharing systems are multi-user systems. Mostbatch processing systems formainframe computers may also be considered "multi-user", to avoid leaving theCPU idle while it waits forI/O operations to complete. However, the term "multitasking" is more common in this context.
An example is aUnix orUnix-like system where multiple remote users have access (such as via aserial port orSecure Shell) to theUnix shell prompt at the same time. Another example uses multipleX Window sessions 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-32 andVM/386.
Some multi-user operating systems such asWindows versions from theWindows NT family 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 systems are implicitly designed to be used by multiple users, typically onesystem administrator or more and anend-user community.
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 mode orrunlevel available for emergency maintenance. Examples of single-user operating systems includeMS-DOS,OS/2 andClassic Mac OS.