OPENVT(1) Linux 1.x OPENVT(1)
NAME
openvt - start a program on a new virtual terminal (VT).
SYNOPSIS
openvt [-c vtnumber] [OPTIONS] [--] command
DESCRIPTION
openvt will find the first available VT, and run on it the given com-
mand with the given command options, standard input, output and error
are directed to that terminal. The current search path ($PATH) is used
to find the requested command. If no command is specified then the en-
vironment variable $SHELL is used.
OPTIONS
-c, --console=VTNUMBER
Use the given VT number and not the first available. Note you
must have write access to the supplied VT for this to work;
-f, --force
Force opening a VT without checking whether it is already in
use;
-e, --exec
Directly execute the given command, without forking. This op-
tion is meant for use in /etc/inittab. If you want to use this
feature in another context, be aware that openvt has to be a
session leader in order for -e to work. See setsid(2) or set-
sid(1) on how to achieve this.
-s, --switch
Switch to the new VT when starting the command. The VT of the
new command will be made the new current VT;
-u, --user
Figure out the owner of the current VT, and run login as that
user. Suitable to be called by init. Shouldn't be used with -c
or -l;
-l, --login
Make the command a login shell. A - is prepended to the name of
the command to be executed;
-v, --verbose
Be a bit more verbose;
-w, --wait
wait for command to complete. If -w and -s are used together
then openvt will switch back to the controlling terminal when
the command completes;
-V, --version
print program version and exit;
-h, --help
show this text and exit.
-- end of options to openvt.
NOTE
If openvt is compiled with a getopt_long() and you wish to set options
to the command to be run, then you must supply the end of options --
flag before the command.
EXAMPLES
openvt can be used to start a shell on the next free VT, by using the
command:
openvt bash
To start the shell as a login shell, use:
openvt -l bash
To get a long listing you must supply the -- separator:
openvt -- ls -l
HISTORY
Earlier, openvt was called open. It was written by Jon Tombs
<jon@gtex02.us.es or jon@robots.ox.ac.uk>. The -w idea is from "sam".
SEE ALSO
chvt(1), doshell(8), login(1)
19 Jul 1996 V1.4 OPENVT(1)