Why no multiple instances of Firefox on Linux as on Windows?

Posted by Jack on Super User See other posts from Super User or by Jack
Published on 2010-05-04T06:01:44Z Indexed on 2010/05/04 6:09 UTC
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Filed under:

firefox

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linux

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Windows

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process

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multiple-instances

On Windows If I run Firefox as user jack, and then try to start another instance of firefox I will be unable to, as one is already running.

If I choose to run firefox as administrator, then I can have two instances of firefox, separate from each other side by side, because they are under different user accounts.

This does not seem to be true on Linux.

As user jack if I start firefox, like on windows I am unable to start a new instance. If I open a terminal and change to root, set XAUTHORITY to jacks .Xauthority and try to start firefox as root....I get the error that firefox is already running.

Why is this? Please don't spare any technical details in your answers....thankyou.

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