What is a Linux Virtual Console?

Remember that bit about multiple log-ins? Even though you may not have more than one physical console (a monitor plus a keyboard) connected to your PC, you can use virtual consoles to log in simultaneously to more than one account on your system.

Virtual consoles come in particularly handy if you have a long-running task to perform, like installing a big software package from a CD-ROM--you can pop over to another console and log in again to stay productive while your CD-ROM churns away.

Note: You don't have to use a different user account for each console. Linux lets you log in to an account multiple times simultaneously.

By default, your Linux system already has a bunch of virtual consoles waiting in the wings when you start your system, and pressing alt-Fn at any time will bring the nth one up on your screen. You can also cycle through the consoles with alt-left arrow or alt-right arrow.

Multitasking under Linux isn't really much different from having multiple windows active on a Windows or Macintosh system. The major difference is that if you've started multiple consoles, you can see only one at a time on the screen, though the others are still working away behind the scenes.

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Comments - most recent first (Please feel free to answer questions posted by others!) Seth     (17 Nov 2011, 16:15) @Wayne I'm guessing you have the answer by now, but if others experience this issue... Ubuntu's root user is disabled by default, you cannot log in as root. If you wish to use the root account, you must manually set a password by opening a shell and typing passwd root and setting the password. Once a password is set, you can begin using the account, however you should really read ubuntu's justification for disabling the root user in the first place before deciding if you want to go that route. Ben     (21 Oct 2011, 08:05) chintan you may find a solution embedded in the following command. $man visudo This should explain more about the sudo file. You will especially need to pay attention to how to limit user access to root in the sudo file. USERS sudo PASSWORD You can establish that anyone in the USERS group needs to input a PASSWORD prior to using sudo. This is helpful because of utilities like fam, acct which track and log goings on in the computer. As root you could set up a simple script to alert you of users attempting to hijack you. In fact, you could also set up the script to deny them further access, direct them to a honey pot or jail. If this all sounds kooky, try using Google a bit and you'll find out more. HTH. suniti mukherjee     (17 Aug 2011, 04:54) where do i find the Redhat Enterprise Linux version 6 video tutorial over internet?its urgent pls suniti mukherjee     (17 Aug 2011, 04:53) please tell me how to increase the number of virtual consoles in Redhat Linux system? tvicky     (19 Jul 2011, 09:04) Hello Bob, I was wondering if you would have a hint for my problem. I've ucLinux running on my board. After it boots my shell script are starting automatically in background with logged output. Is it actually possible to redirect its input and output streams to the telnet console, which can be create some time later? I hope you understand what I mean. Thank you in advance! Bob Rankin     (04 May 2011, 07:12) @Ram - Try WUBI. Ram     (04 May 2011, 01:57) Hi Bob, i am newbie to linux, can u please let me know how to install linux on windows 7 as other operating system? Regards Ram Wayne     (02 May 2011, 12:42) Thanks for the quick reply Bob. Problem is it didn't work. When the login box comes up I click other and type root for user name, hit enter and the box for password comes up but the user name still says other and pressing enter with the password box empty still gets me Authentication Failure. Bob Rankin     (02 May 2011, 12:19) @Wayne - just press ENTER. If there is no root paswword, that should work. Wayne     (02 May 2011, 12:06) Hi Doc, Love your newsletter and am enjoying this tutorial but I have a problem. When I installed Ubuntu on my Windows machine I set a password for my user name but not for ROOT. Now when I try to log on as ROOT I get authentication failed. I only set the one password and it doesn't work. tony     (07 Apr 2011, 20:58) To answer tb01: If you log in only to the shell, it IS true, but, if you log into a GUI (graphical user interface, such as gnome, openbox, kde, etc.), you can open terminals in a terminal emulator program, as many as you like, some with tabs (like a browser), but, alt+F# keybinding are likely to be assigned to other functions (for instance, alt+f2 opens a command prompt in many guis, like the "run command" thingy in windows). guus     (11 Mar 2011, 06:13) @Leswika - Every spammer would like that. But if you want to try, download a live cd (e.g. Ubuntu), burn it and try it out without installing anything. Leswika@SA     (16 Feb 2011, 05:15) is there a site where i can practice Linux online Bob Rankin     (21 Jan 2011, 11:25) @tb01 - See the comment by AmbDawn below. tb01     (20 Jan 2011, 09:04) ...quote "By default, your Linux system already has a bunch of virtual consoles waiting in the wings when you start your system, and pressing alt-Fn at any time will bring the nth one up on your screen. You can also cycle through the consoles with [em]alt-left arrow or alt-right arrow[/em]." Hey Bob, is this still correct in 2011? Same as 'back' and 'forward' in browsers? If so, is this function limited to terminal logins w/o an X-window manager? Just want to clarify... Thanks in advance! Thank you also for this wonderful resource! Finally, a place I can refer non-geeks for info on Linux! chintan     (08 Jan 2011, 17:51) hi, Firstly, I am really thankfull for the tutorials you provide us. I had a question, you say log in as root but I read somewhere that for ubuntu the root is locked permanently and if you want to have privileges of a root you just have to add sudo in front of the command. now here is my issue So in a ubuntu terminal I changed the root pw: $ sudo passwd So now I have a changed root pw, but when I do a: $ su I am prompted for a password, but when I do a: $ sudo su I gain access to root privileges without being prompted for a password. My concern here is that if someone pawns my machine (through my non-root user account) wouldn't they also be able to sudu su to root privileges without entering a password? mohmmad Samiullah Mir     (12 Dec 2010, 23:52) much knowkedge on relevent topic reeally good work and efferts AmbDawn     (12 Dec 2010, 13:13) @zedadex - in Ubuntu you need to use the combination ctrl+Alt+<F1-F6>. To return to GUI use ctrl+Alt+F7. Hope it helps. zedadex     (18 Nov 2010, 15:40) umm... my alt+function keys don't bring up any alternate virtual console log-in screens or anything. Do you have to press alt+f2 while logging in or something? Bob Rankin     (14 Oct 2010, 13:43) @Ron - Send me an Audi TT Coupe, and I'll get right on that for ya... Ron     (11 Oct 2010, 13:29) Please send me full Linux training with screen shots.........JJ....luv your site I welcome your comments. However... I am puzzled by many people who say "Please send me the Linux tutorial." This website *is* your Linux Tutorial! Read everything here, learn all you can, ask questions if you like. But don't ask me to send what you already have. :-) NO SPAM! If you post garbage, it will be deleted, and you will be banned. *Name: Email: Notify me about new comments on this page Hide my email *Text:

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