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
       environment 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
              option is meant for use in /etc/inittab;

       -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 getoptlong() 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
       .  The -w idea is from "sam".


SEE ALSO
       chvt(1), doshell(8), login(1)



19 Jul 1996                          V1.4                            OPENVT(1)