1. NAME▲

openvt - start a program on a new virtual terminal (VT).

2. SYNOPSIS ▲

openvt [-c vtnumber] [-s] [-u] [-l] [-v] [--] command command_options

3. DESCRIPTION ▲

openvt will find the first available VT, and run on it the given

R command with the given

R 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.

3.1. OPTIONS ▲

  • "-c 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 opening a VT without checking whether it is already in use.
  • "-e"
        Directly execute the given command, without forking. This option is meant for use in /etc/inittab .
  • "-s"
        Switch to the new VT when starting the command. The VT of the new command will be made the new current VT.
  • "-u"
        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"
        Make the command a login shell. A - is prepended to the name of the command to be executed.
  • "-v"
        Be a bit more verbose.
  • "-w"
        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.

  • "--"
        end of options to

R openvt .

4. NOTE ▲

If

openvt is compiled with a POSIX (GNU) getopt() and you wish to set options to the command to be run, then you must supply the end of options -- flag before the command.

R

5. 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"
        .BR

6. HISTORY ▲

Earlier,

openvt was called

R open . It was written by Jon Tombs < or >. The -w idea is from "sam".

7. SEE ALSO ▲

R chvt (1),

R doshell (8),

R login (1)