Guest session and user management on Linux Mint 11

A common system management-type question I usually get from new users pertains to creating and managing user accounts on Linux. On Linux Mint 11, as on all other Linux distributions, it is a very easy task, made possible by a simple graphical application. If you are running Linux Mint 11 now (or a previous release), the user account you logged in with is likely that created during the installation process. That account is a Custom account, one of three user account types on Linux Mint. Administrator and “Desktop user” round up the list.

Aside from these main account types, there is also a guest account, the same one available on Ubuntu. This guest account, officially called a Guest Session, is not an account that you can log into the system with, but one that can only be activated from an active session. You typically use it when you want to give a friend or a family member temporary access to your computer.