Something I find myself doing every once in a while is using Ctrl-Alt-F[x] to switch out to a virtual terminal, and the Alt-F7-ing back to X without logging out.
While I don't anticipate that too many people that might have access to my computer would know how to switch consoles, there is still some degree of security risk provided by a logged-in console session. I've found vlock, but that seems to lock the console immediately when called, rather than running as a daemon that locks inactive consoles. (Even it's -t option just gives a timeout before an optional (and separate) text-mode screensaver package activates, rather than an inactivity timeout).
Is there any vlock-like package out there that provides the timed locking services for text consoles that XScreenSaver provides for X? Either a lock on timeout or a lock on switchaway setup would be adequate.
Is there a way to lock out logins at the console? I ask this because I can not login at the console but can remotely login to the system via ssh. I'm guessing I blindly implemented a security option and didn't know what I was doing when I did it.
vlock works, however it requires that I return to the shell to run it. Is there a way to assign a key combination to run vlock, so the current program doesn't have to be ended?
ve read some stuff regarding problems with virtual consoles not appearing for some graphics settings, but I think this problem is different.Just a few days ago I had no problem using ctrl-alt-f6 (for example) to get to a virtual console outside of the normal X environment. That no longer works. Nothing happens, no distorted screen, I'm just stuck in the normal X session that comes up as if I did nothing. I didn't make any configuration changes, though I suppose some update could have caused it?I may have read that this is some problem in grub2? If so, is there a way I can get around it without trying to switch back to grub1? I'd rather not mess too much with the bootloaders if I don't have to
I'm currently having trouble getting a desktop to run Ubuntu.Booting up the Ubuntu Live disk delivers the error (There was an unresolvable error.Dropping you into a live environment).After the Live CD boots I'm able to partition/install from within Gnome.I proceeded to install 10.04 and update the system.After updating everything and the kernel I lose the ability to boot the system as it will totally freeze just as it auto-logs in.I'm unable to drop into a virtual console.
I tried the alternative CD thinking it would help and every install/test option besides MemTest86+ displays the crypic: Floppy Unknown Error(233)I don't use a floppy and this error doesn't show up anywhere, but in a dapper bug report.The bios is configured correctly.The HD (I've tried two) and memory are in good condition.
I am using Ubuntu 10.10 on a Dell Optiplex GX270, with the Intel video chip. I have a problem with my virtual consoles/terminals (<ctrl-alt>F1-F6). The default screen resolution was set to 1600x1200 at installation, which results in a nearly microscopic, unreadable font. I posted the problem on this thread on ubuntuforums.org, where they suggested adding GRUB_GFXMODE=640x480 and GRUB_GFXPAYLOAD_LINUX=640x480 to /etc/default/grub and /etc/grub.d/00_header. Still no joy--the console screen resolution still was 1600x1200.
I have noticed that the screen resolution changes three times during boot; it starts at standard VGA, 640x480, then switches to 1600x1200, then finally to 1024x768, which is my preferred resolution in X. But, if I switch to a virtual console, the resolution shoots up to 1600x1200 again. There are times when I like to use virtual terminals, and I would like to avoid eyestrain.
If I am logged out of GNOME and switch to tty1 and back, I get a stream of errors (which I can't copy...) on a black console. If I am logged in I am fine. This is very annoying because I would like to be able to log out of GNOME while I am running particularly memory-intensive scripts (they approach the limit of my 3.8 GBs of RAM).
How can I change the colour for each virtual console seperately?I.e. blue for console 1, green for console 2, etc. I'm using SuSE 11.4.It worked under SuSE 11.1 like a charm
I would like to be able to scroll (with shift up/down) in virtual console (ctr+alt+f1/f2) but I can't find how to do it with google :-( I have OpenSUSE 11.4, with nvidia ion, mingetty on virtual console. I have vga=0x362 on grub boot option.
I want to cycle between three directories, always in the same virtual console (VT). Just the case of 'cd -' but with three dirs instead of two dirs. Can this be done by simple means?
virtual console (run level 3,5) screen resolution. After installing fed12 the resolution is higher(which is good) then in previous versions. After upgrading from 11 -> 12 the resolution of the virtual consoles stays the same, to large. I already compared grub.conf,i18n which are the same. Where is the resolution configuration for fed 11,12?
I installed latest stable debian lenny. However when I want to switch to a virtual console by pressing Alt+Ctrl+F(1-6) the X server is restarted and I get the gdm login screen. When I kill gdm, virtual console switching works fine. How to switch a to a terminal and return to my X session by pressing Alt+Ctrl+F7?
After upgrading my Debian from Lenny to Squeeze a few things don't work properly. Most disturbing is that after one switch from graphic screen (x, Gnome) to the virtual consoles this can be observed:
1) The virtual consoles show only a small font. It doesn't change when I use 'dpkg-reconfigure console-setup'. Otherwise everything seems to function properly, but then
2) I return to x (with Alt+F7), and if I again want to reach the virtual consoles (with Alt+String+F3, this is a laptop) the screens are persistently black; nothing works, except Alt+F7, which allows me to go back to the x-screen. In this graphic screen it is possible to use the consoles without problem.
3) I have some trouble shutting-down the computer. The screen disappears, everything goes black, but the computer goes on and does not shut down until I press the power-button, forcing the shut-down process. If I press the keys which would bring the computer to a halt through the virtual consoles, I can bring it to stop allthough the screen remains black throughout the whole process. I press: Alt+Strg+F3 to reach the consoles, there 'root + password', Enter, halt, Enter. Nothing at all appears on the screen, but after a while the computer stops.
How to change the console login prompt settings in slackware 13.1 x64? I tried googling but couldnt find anything, maybe I dont know what it's called.. I mean when the system boot and boots into console asking login info, how to reset the console to new page/clear screen(clearing all the boot up info lines) before it prompts to login. Like for example if after logged into a tty I type exit, I want the screen to refresh(reset?) such that all screen info is cleared and only login prompt is shown on the top left of the screen, like in fedora shell prompt.
I've read so many howto's and threads but never managed to get a decent font size on my tty's. Before grub2 I used to use vga=795 (or something like that), but now that isn't working anymore. I have a 24" Samsung screen and the font size is HUGE. Has anyone with same hardware succeeded in setting a decent resolution? I've played around with gfxpayload and all that stuff. I'm using fglrx driver on an up-to-date system.
Since a few weeks I cannot open a console in vmware server 2.0.2 anymore. I don't know exactly when this started because I use vmware only occasionally (I have only 1 program (an old Ashlar DrawingBoard) which does not run properly in wine). VMware server and the console have been working before without problems, but now I get the message "Cannot connect virtual machine console." and it times out. This is on Opensuse 11.1 with VMware Server on the same pc, Firefox and the guest is Windows2000.
I have tried to disable all extensions in firefox 3.6, disabled the firewall, even created a new user (on the same pc) with a clean firefox, all without any result. However when I connect from a different computer which runs Internet Explorer under windowsXP, then I can get the console without problem.
So, somewhere there is something wrong between Firefox and VMware server.
I am having a problem getting my virtual console back after starting XWindows. The display goes blank when I press Ctrl-Alt-F1. If I press Ctrl-Alt-F7 I get the X session back. I have tried setting vga=x31A on the linux boot up. Also tried rdev -v /vmlinuz -1, and rebooted. I have tried two different monitors, same problem. One is a an LCD (Philips 170S6Fb/27, the other a Samsung Sync Master 750s. Originally the Samsung worked fine. I could switch between X and VC no problem. Now that I have the LCD monitor working after changing the XF86Config, I have this problem.
My kernel is 2.2.15-5.0, Redhat 6.2. Here is the output of lspci for the video card:
00:0c.0 VGA compatible controller: ATI Technologies Inc 3D Rage II+ 215GTB [Mach64 GTB] (rev 9a) (prog-if 00 [VGA]) Subsystem: ATI Technologies Inc: Unknown device 4755 Flags: bus master, stepping, medium devsel, latency 0 Memory at e2000000 (32-bit, prefetchable) I/O ports at b400 Memory at e0000000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) Expansion ROM at 000c0000 [disabled]
Hopefully there is someway to control how linux sets the video mode when switching consoles.
I've been using this howto to set up automatic logins to virtual console using "a C login program" method. In slackware64-current updated till january it prompted me to enter a password before logging in, while now after installing latest updates and kde 4.3.5 from current it logs in automatically without any prompting.
When i connect windows server 2003 from ubuntu these error displayed .When i installing the tsclient, by executing these following command from a Terminal window:
sudo apt-get install tsclient
When i run these command the following error displayed.
E: Could not get lock /var/lib/dpkg/lock - open (11 Resource temporarily unavailable)
E: Unable to lock the administration directory (/var/lib/dpkg/), is another process using it?
I have a HP Pavilion dv4 that is 4 months old. Yesterday it suddenly seemed to restart then once I logged in it turned off. When I tried to turn it on some of the lights came on and the caps lock and num lock started flashing. Since then I have not been able to get it to work correctly.It once seemed to turn on but died again after the login window.I tried to use my live cd but the same thing happened. It started loading once, but then shut down again. Every other time it stayed dead minus the lights
I recently installed Ubuntu 11.04 on an old Sony Vaio laptop. I was following some of the steps here..[url]
The step "Enable Full DVD Playback(Dual Layer DVD Support)" did not finish correctly doh and now I can't use 'sudo apt-get' for anything or the software center or using the 'Update Manager' does not work.
The update manger says it may be caused by an update not finishing correctly which sounds correct as explained above. The apt-get command gives me back the following....'Could not get lock /var/lib/dpkg/lock resource temporarily unavailable' 'unable to lock administration directory /var/lib/dpkg is another process using it?'
I tried the obvious restart but that hasn't worked.
E: Could not open lock file /var/lib/dpkg/lock - open (13: Permission denied) E: Unable to lock the administration directory (/var/lib/dpkg/) , are you root?
I have pidgin2.5.2. I want to install pidgin2.6.6.How can I do that?E: Could not get lock /var/lib/dpkg/lock - open (11 Resource temporarily unavailable)E: Unable to lock the administration directory (/var/lib/dpkg/), is another process using it?
There is a very strange problem I've been having. When I enable either Caps Lock or Num Lock the media controls on my keyboard cease to work. I have Googled this one to death but found nothing. This problem existed in Xubuntu 9.10 and now still exists in Xubuntu 10.04. The keyboard I use is a Logitech Elite Keyboard. I would love to be able to use the Caps Lock and Num Lock without the worry that I am disabling the media controls
I have just burned the latest CD using infraRecorder, as per the instructions on this site, however when I boot from this CD, it spends about 5 minutes moving the red balls across my screen, then all of the sudden it just freezes, and my caps and scroll lock lights start to blink. I've had a look in the forums already but there's nothing about this happening on Boot of the live CD.
I'm wondering why the num lock doesn't work in Ubuntu anymore? When you press the "num lock" key, you're supposed to be able to input the numbers along with + - * / and decimal point. When I press num lock and try typing numbers, nothing happens.
I've done a google search and this is a well known problem that nobody has fixed. In Windows it's never a problem.
Seems such a shame that the great Ubuntu and Linux are so good for stability and speed, but can't get a simple num lock working.
