From Userful Support

How to Switch Between Dual-Monitor and Dual-User

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(Updated 2010.2.18)

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Introduction

Did you know that with Userful Multiplier™ installed, you can easily switch between sharing your dual-monitor PC (for example with a family member) and using both monitors for yourself? Read on to find out how.

This article describes how you can toggle your computer between dual-monitor and dual-user (multistation) functionality. This assumes that you already have your Linux PC set up for dual-monitor (single-station or single-seat) use.

Being able to easily switch between dual-monitor and dual-user is helpful if you, for example, occasionally have need for an extra PC around the house, but want to be able to take advantage of the larger dual-monitor desktop workspace as a single user.

Background

Linux desktops use a program called X (pronounced 'ex') that supports the use of a graphical interface, e.g. a windows-based desktop environment like Gnome. The X server is an application that implements X for particular software/hardware combinations.

Userful Multiplier includes a virtualized X server on a single PC that allows multiple monitors, USB keyboards and mice to function simultaneously for independent users. Because this virtualized X server is installed alongside your traditional X server and has its own independent X configuration file, you can easily switch between your traditional X server (that has been configured for dual-monitor) and the Userful Multiplier X server (multi-seat/multistation).

The Userful Control Panel provides a simple way to switch between dual-monitor and dual-user modes.

How To

This software comes with a graphical interface tool, Userful Control Panel, to control various aspects of Userful Multiplier.

The Control Panel can be launched from the menu item labeled “Userful Multiplier”. This can be found in the System > Administration menu of most distributions.

• Note: For Multiplier v.325 and earlier, the location of the menu entry varies depending on your distribution.

• Userful Desktop/Fedora/Redhat/Ubuntu: Applications > System Tools > Userful
• Suse: Applications > Utilities > More Programs > Userful
• NLD: Applications > Accessories > More > Userful

• Note: If Userful Multiplier does not appear as a graphical menu entry in the locations listed above, Userful Control Panel can also be launched from the command line, when logged in as root, using:

  $ /usr/share/umx-utils/userful-control.py 

To switch from dual-monitor to dual-user, simply check the Enable Multi-Station checkbox and then reboot your computer. To switch back, uncheck Enable Multi-Station and reboot.

If you wish to do this from a Linux terminal:

1. Open a terminal.
2. Use this command to switch to dual-user:

   userful multistation -enable

3. Reboot.

To switch back to dual-monitor, replace the command above with:

userful multistation -disable