Hi list, and sorry for bringing up this topic again, but I'm another user who has difficulties with PA's multi-user policy. You see, currently I'm the only person with access to my desktop pc, but I have several user accounts on it[1]. And I use them all. Simultaneously. As in: several consoles open, often more than 1 xserver running, xterms ssh'd to otheruser at localhost . *** Now is your chance to say "that's insane, and we don't support it" So, I want sound. For all of my accounts. Concurrently - I'm logged in concurrently, and e.g. email/IM notifications need to work especially when the email-account is not "active". And my xmms2d needs to run as one (arbitrary, but fixed) user too, me switching between different windows/consoles/xservers mustn't prevent it from playing continuously. So, how does PA fit in here? 1) Currently, I run it in system mode. Only system mode has grown pretty scary warning signs. And you could reasonably break it altogether, say "we told you so", and I'd get to keep the pieces. Not my favourite prospect. 2) per-user-pulseaudio on top of dmix. "causes global warming", mixes sound twice, also not a nice solution. 3) per-user-pulseaudio, one with access to the hw, other users send to that one via network/localhost. Also mixes twice, and (almost) every sound data is pushed through lo. Unless PA recognzes lo and optimizes for that case? Also needs that one user to be logged in always (that's easily done, however).[2] 4) Your suggestion? 5) Ok, you get another chance to say "Jan, that usage scenario is insane" I'm seriously trying to find the proper way to use PA, and would love to be able to add accounts for other persons and have security against them eavesdropping etc.. But my impression is PA is designed for multiple seats per computer and for multiple persions per seat (i.e. fast user switching). And it's not designed for multiple accounts per person. So, do you think my scenario is valid? Do you (plan to) support it? Do you recommend one of the above solutions over the others? thanks and regards, Jan [1] One for email, IM etc. One for hobby programming/sysadmin stuff. One for work. One for games. [2] Plus I feel I'm recreating system mode here.. name the user with access to the hw "pulse" and optimize the local pa deamons away, and we're there. -- () ascii ribbon campaign - against html e-mail /\ www.asciiribbon.org - against proprietary attachments -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: application/pgp-signature Size: 198 bytes Desc: Digital signature URL: <http://lists.freedesktop.org/archives/pulseaudio-discuss/attachments/20100416/9f8e038f/attachment.pgp>