AKICIF -- Is Leopard supposed to work like this?

[bohemiancoast]

OK. So I am an administrator on this machine (a G5 iMac). I was using it. Steven switched user and logged in additionally. The computer then went to sleep and runs the screen saver.

I return to the computer, and it shows log-in for Steven and a Switch User Button. Instead of hitting switch user, I type my name in the name field and my password in the password field. It then logs me in...

... to Steven's account.

This seems highly strange to me; but I did it a second time to check. Is this how Mac OS X has always worked? Is this how it's meant to work? Does it work that way for other people?

Comments

[erikvolson.livejournal.com]

Is this how Mac OS X has always worked?

Yes.

Is this how it's meant to work?

Yes. What you did wasn't switch user, you unlocked the console that was running as Steven. If you'd done this under Windows, it would have forcibly killed any running applications and logged Steven out. This way, you can save off whatever, or have Steven change his password, etc., without destroying his session. Some might argue that this gives you access to his files, but as the Admin, you'd have that regardless.

This has been true as of 10.2, and might be true earlier.

I think what you wanted to do is hit Switch User, which would allow you to connect to your session (if present) or start one (if not.) The logon/password boxes aren't connected to FUS, they're connected to the screensaver.

This should be documented better, methinks.

[bohemiancoast.livejournal.com]

I worked that out eventually by testing the theory using an account that didn't have admin privileges (Marianne's).

Yes, I know I should theoretically have a separate administrative account to the one I use for me. But honestly I just can't be arsed.

[johncoxon.livejournal.com]

See, to me, if that wasn't the way it worked, I'd be confused and bewildered. I'd expect it to work like that.