“People with experience in many PC operating systems (such
as DOS or Windows) sometimes have difficulty understanding what is
meant by the claim that Linux is a “multiuser” operating
system. Some people mistake the term for “multitasking” which
is the ability of the operating system to manage two or more
different tasks at one time. Others sometimes think that
“multiuser” refers to the operating system’s ability to validate
more than one login ID in order to differentiate between
users.”
“While both of these concepts play a role in a multiuser
operating system, neither of them actually describe what a true
multiuser operating system does. In short, a multiuser operating
system is one capable of fully supporting the diverse efforts of
two or more people to simultaneously use the system’s resources,
while maintaining the integrity and security of each user’s
efforts.”