How to Make a Small Mainframe With a Computer
Large businesses and organizations use mainframes to secure, centralize and reduce the cost of computer resources. Though personal computer users might not possess the same technical know-how, hardware and software as these behemoths, they can still emulate the end results of using a mainframe. Microsoft gives system administrators -- or owners -- of its Windows operating system the ability to create several user accounts on one machine. Additionally, these established users can log into their personal Windows accounts one by one and have programs and applications running during simultaneous active logins, similar to how a mainframe operates.
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Instructions
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Log into Windows under an administrator's account. Click "Start." Type "User Accounts" in the search box at the bottom of the "Start" menu. Press "Enter." Click "Manage Another Account."
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Select the "Create a New Account" link. Type in the user's new account name in the text box. Fill in the "Standard User" radio button. Click "Create Account." Repeat this step until individual accounts are established for all computer users. Close the User Accounts window.
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Click "Start." Select the right arrow next to the "Shut Down" option on the "Start" menu, but don't shut down the PC. Choose "Switch User." The administrator's account will remain logged into Windows, with all programs running in an active or idle state.
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Give the users their account names. Instruct each user to click on their name on the Windows login screen. Once logged in, they will type "User Account" in the search box at the bottom of the "Start" menu and then press "Enter." They must then click the link to create a password.
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Instruct each user to click "Switch User" instead of "Shut Down" when they need to exit their own login so that another user can log in to use the computer.
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Tips & Warnings
Simultaneous activities that continue functioning while multiple users are logged on include downloading music and videos, and burning CDs and DVDs.
To see a visual verification that the Windows operating system is running many programs from several users simultaneously, start by right-clicking on the taskbar and select "Start Task Manager." Click the "Processes" tab. Select "Show Processes From All Users." Scroll over to show the "User Name" column heading and it will show the names of all logged-on users and active programs.
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- Photo Credit infinity laptop in the screen of a laptop image by Christophe Fouquin from Fotolia.com
