Virtual consoles in Arch

Virtual consoles in Arch

[Chuck Hallenbeck]

Hi people,

How does one increase the number of virtual consoles in archlinux, now that
it has adopted systemd?  I can't seem to find any information about that.

Chuck


-- 

Chuck in Hudson, i.e., Hudson on the Hudson.

Re: Virtual consoles in Arch

[Kyle]

Systemd allocates virtual consoles as needed, so simply switching to one 
will automatically create it. There should no longer be any need to 
statically allocate more, as you start now with only one. Hope this helps.
~Kyle
http://kyle.tk/
-- 
"Kyle? ... She calls her cake, Kyle?"
Out of This World, season 2 episode 21 - "The Amazing Evie"

Re: Virtual consoles in Arch

[Chuck Hallenbeck]

Hi Kyle,

> Systemd allocates virtual consoles as needed, so simply switching to one will
> automatically create it. There should no longer be any need to statically
> allocate more, as you start now with only one. Hope this helps.

That only seems to work for the first six colnsoles for me, there seems to
be no way to switch to console 7, or 8, etc. I normally move from one
console to another with alt+right-arrow, or alt+left-arrow,  and when I am
in console 6 and press alt+right-arrow, I am back in console 1. Likewise,
alt+F7 doesn't do it for me either.

Chuck

-- 

Chuck in Hudson, i.e., Hudson on the Hudson.

Re: Virtual consoles in Arch

[acollins]

Hello Chuck!  Well, I use Debian, instead of arch, but if you look in
/etc/inittab, you should find several lines like this.

6:23:respawn:/sbin/getty 38400 tty6
if you duplicate this line, and then change the sixes to sevens, and
then do an init 2, the system should allocate another console.  If you
add more lines, with eights, nines, etc. you can have up to 64 virtual
consoles pre-allocated at system startup.  You can also look at your
distro for a package called openvt, which will let you allocate more
consoles on the fly.  Hope this helps.

Gene


>Hi Kyle,
>
>> Systemd allocates virtual consoles as needed, so simply switching to one wil
l
>> automatically create it. There should no longer be any need to statically
>> allocate more, as you start now with only one. Hope this helps.
>
>That only seems to work for the first six colnsoles for me, there seems to
>be no way to switch to console 7, or 8, etc. I normally move from one
>console to another with alt+right-arrow, or alt+left-arrow,  and when I am
>in console 6 and press alt+right-arrow, I am back in console 1. Likewise,
>alt+F7 doesn't do it for me either.
>
>Chuck
>
>-- 
>
>Chuck in Hudson, i.e., Hudson on the Hudson.
>_______________________________________________
>Speakup mailing list
>Speakup@linux-speakup.org
>http://linux-speakup.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/speakup

Re: Virtual consoles in Arch

[Chuck Hallenbeck]

Hi Gene,

The new systed infrastructure for archlinux no longer uses  some of those
familiar  and convenient files that other distros still use. Thanks anyway,
but I'd rather tighten my belt and stick with six VC's than move away from
archlinux again.

Chuck

On Mon, 24 Dec 2012, acollins@icsmail.net wrote:

> Hello Chuck!  Well, I use Debian, instead of arch, but if you look in
> /etc/inittab, you should find several lines like this.
>
> 6:23:respawn:/sbin/getty 38400 tty6
> if you duplicate this line, and then change the sixes to sevens, and
> then do an init 2, the system should allocate another console.  If you
> add more lines, with eights, nines, etc. you can have up to 64 virtual
> consoles pre-allocated at system startup.  You can also look at your
> distro for a package called openvt, which will let you allocate more
> consoles on the fly.  Hope this helps.
>
> Gene
>
>
> >Hi Kyle,
> >
> >> Systemd allocates virtual consoles as needed, so simply switching to one wil
> l
> >> automatically create it. There should no longer be any need to statically
> >> allocate more, as you start now with only one. Hope this helps.
> >
> >That only seems to work for the first six colnsoles for me, there seems to
> >be no way to switch to console 7, or 8, etc. I normally move from one
> >console to another with alt+right-arrow, or alt+left-arrow,  and when I am
> >in console 6 and press alt+right-arrow, I am back in console 1. Likewise,
> >alt+F7 doesn't do it for me either.
> >
> >Chuck
> >
> >--
> >
> >Chuck in Hudson, i.e., Hudson on the Hudson.
> >_______________________________________________
> >Speakup mailing list
> >Speakup@linux-speakup.org
> >http://linux-speakup.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/speakup
> _______________________________________________
> Speakup mailing list
> Speakup@linux-speakup.org
> http://linux-speakup.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/speakup
>

-- 

Chuck in Hudson, i.e., Hudson on the Hudson.

Re: Virtual consoles in Arch

[Terry D. Cudney]

Hi Chuck, Kyle, et al,

   This looks very interesting. Does archlinux provide a method for increasing the max number of VC's? If not yet, I'd assume that it will... Many of us feel claustrophobic with only 6 consoles... <grin>

   --terry

-- 
Name:	Terry D. Cudney
Phone:	289-488-4882
E-mail:	terry.cudney@gmail.com

Re: Virtual consoles in Arch

[acollins]

Hi Terry!  Which distro are you using?

>Hi Chuck, Kyle, et al,
>
>   This looks very interesting. Does archlinux provide a method for increasing
 the max number of VC's? If not yet, I'd assume that it will... Many of us feel
 claustrophobic with only 6 consoles... <grin>
>
>   --terry
>
>-- 
>Name:	Terry D. Cudney
>Phone:	289-488-4882
>E-mail:	terry.cudney@gmail.com
>_______________________________________________
>Speakup mailing list
>Speakup@linux-speakup.org
>http://linux-speakup.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/speakup

Re: Virtual consoles in Arch

[Terry D. Cudney]

Hi Gene,

   I'm still using Debian, but watching other distros with interest as they progressin different directions. I tried Ubuntu for a wile but found that their packages were a little too blleding edge/ untested for my liking, so I'm back with Debian. How 'bout you?

   --terry

On Mon, Dec 24, 2012 at 11:02:02AM -0600, acollins@icsmail.net wrote:
> Hi Terry!  Which distro are you using?
> 
> >Hi Chuck, Kyle, et al,
> >
> >   This looks very interesting. Does archlinux provide a method for increasing
>  the max number of VC's? If not yet, I'd assume that it will... Many of us feel
>  claustrophobic with only 6 consoles... <grin>
> >
> >   --terry
> >
> >-- 
> >Name:	Terry D. Cudney
> >Phone:	289-488-4882
> >E-mail:	terry.cudney@gmail.com
> >_______________________________________________
> >Speakup mailing list
> >Speakup@linux-speakup.org
> >http://linux-speakup.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/speakup
> _______________________________________________
> Speakup mailing list
> Speakup@linux-speakup.org
> http://linux-speakup.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/speakup

-- 
Name:	Terry D. Cudney
Phone:	289-488-4882
E-mail:	terry.cudney@gmail.com

Re: Virtual consoles in Arch

[acollins]

Hi Terry!  I'm running Debian Squeeze, so if you want more virtual
conxoles, what I wrote to Chuck earlier will work for you.

Gene

>Hi Gene,
>
>   I'm still using Debian, but watching other distros with interest as they pr
ogressin different directions. I tried Ubuntu for a wile but found that their p
ackages were a little too blleding edge/ untested for my liking, so I'm back wi
th Debian. How 'bout you?
>
>   --terry
>
>On Mon, Dec 24, 2012 at 11:02:02AM -0600, acollins@icsmail.net wrote:
>> Hi Terry!  Which distro are you using?
>> 
>> >Hi Chuck, Kyle, et al,
>> >
>> >   This looks very interesting. Does archlinux provide a method for increas
ing
>>  the max number of VC's? If not yet, I'd assume that it will... Many of us f
eel
>>  claustrophobic with only 6 consoles... <grin>
>> >
>> >   --terry
>> >
>> >-- 
>> >Name:	Terry D. Cudney
>> >Phone:	289-488-4882
>> >E-mail:	terry.cudney@gmail.com
>> >_______________________________________________
>> >Speakup mailing list
>> >Speakup@linux-speakup.org
>> >http://linux-speakup.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/speakup
>> _______________________________________________
>> Speakup mailing list
>> Speakup@linux-speakup.org
>> http://linux-speakup.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/speakup
>
>-- 
>Name:	Terry D. Cudney
>Phone:	289-488-4882
>E-mail:	terry.cudney@gmail.com
>_______________________________________________
>Speakup mailing list
>Speakup@linux-speakup.org
>http://linux-speakup.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/speakup

Re: Virtual consoles in Arch

[Terry D. Cudney]

Hi Gene,

   Thanks for the suggestions... I've already been running with 12 VC's for several years. I find, for me, 12 is enough and more easily accessed with the  alt-arrow-keys and ctrl-alt-function keeys. More than 12 seem a little more difficult to switch to them.

   It is nice to see new development though. If Archlinux is going to support more than 6 dynamically allocated VC's and have them easily switchable I'm all for it!

   Take care Gene,

   --terry

On Mon, Dec 24, 2012 at 01:13:34PM -0600, acollins@icsmail.net wrote:
> Hi Terry!  I'm running Debian Squeeze, so if you want more virtual
> conxoles, what I wrote to Chuck earlier will work for you.
> 
> Gene
> 
> >Hi Gene,
> >
> >   I'm still using Debian, but watching other distros with interest as they pr
> ogressin different directions. I tried Ubuntu for a wile but found that their p
> ackages were a little too blleding edge/ untested for my liking, so I'm back wi
> th Debian. How 'bout you?
> >
> >   --terry
> >
> >On Mon, Dec 24, 2012 at 11:02:02AM -0600, acollins@icsmail.net wrote:
> >> Hi Terry!  Which distro are you using?
> >> 
> >> >Hi Chuck, Kyle, et al,
> >> >
> >> >   This looks very interesting. Does archlinux provide a method for increas
> ing
> >>  the max number of VC's? If not yet, I'd assume that it will... Many of us f
> eel
> >>  claustrophobic with only 6 consoles... <grin>
> >> >
> >> >   --terry
> >> >
> >> >-- 
> >> >Name:	Terry D. Cudney
> >> >Phone:	289-488-4882
> >> >E-mail:	terry.cudney@gmail.com
> >> >_______________________________________________
> >> >Speakup mailing list
> >> >Speakup@linux-speakup.org
> >> >http://linux-speakup.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/speakup
> >> _______________________________________________
> >> Speakup mailing list
> >> Speakup@linux-speakup.org
> >> http://linux-speakup.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/speakup
> >
> >-- 
> >Name:	Terry D. Cudney
> >Phone:	289-488-4882
> >E-mail:	terry.cudney@gmail.com
> >_______________________________________________
> >Speakup mailing list
> >Speakup@linux-speakup.org
> >http://linux-speakup.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/speakup
> _______________________________________________
> Speakup mailing list
> Speakup@linux-speakup.org
> http://linux-speakup.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/speakup

-- 
Name:	Terry D. Cudney
Phone:	289-488-4882
E-mail:	terry.cudney@gmail.com

Re: Virtual consoles in Arch

[Robert Spangler]

One can also use screen for multiple terminals if the console limitation 
becomes an issue.

Thanks,
Robert Spangler, B.A. in Urban Studies and Spanish
spangler.robert@gmail.com

On 12/24/2012 3:40 PM, Terry D. Cudney wrote:
> Hi Gene,
>
>     Thanks for the suggestions... I've already been running with 12 VC's for several years. I find, for me, 12 is enough and more easily accessed with the  alt-arrow-keys and ctrl-alt-function keeys. More than 12 seem a little more difficult to switch to them.
>
>     It is nice to see new development though. If Archlinux is going to support more than 6 dynamically allocated VC's and have them easily switchable I'm all for it!
>
>     Take care Gene,
>
>     --terry
>
> On Mon, Dec 24, 2012 at 01:13:34PM -0600, acollins@icsmail.net wrote:
>> Hi Terry!  I'm running Debian Squeeze, so if you want more virtual
>> conxoles, what I wrote to Chuck earlier will work for you.
>>
>> Gene
>>
>>> Hi Gene,
>>>
>>>    I'm still using Debian, but watching other distros with interest as they pr
>> ogressin different directions. I tried Ubuntu for a wile but found that their p
>> ackages were a little too blleding edge/ untested for my liking, so I'm back wi
>> th Debian. How 'bout you?
>>>
>>>    --terry
>>>
>>> On Mon, Dec 24, 2012 at 11:02:02AM -0600, acollins@icsmail.net wrote:
>>>> Hi Terry!  Which distro are you using?
>>>>
>>>>> Hi Chuck, Kyle, et al,
>>>>>
>>>>>    This looks very interesting. Does archlinux provide a method for increas
>> ing
>>>>   the max number of VC's? If not yet, I'd assume that it will... Many of us f
>> eel
>>>>   claustrophobic with only 6 consoles... <grin>
>>>>>
>>>>>    --terry
>>>>>
>>>>> --
>>>>> Name:	Terry D. Cudney
>>>>> Phone:	289-488-4882
>>>>> E-mail:	terry.cudney@gmail.com
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> Speakup mailing list
>>>>> Speakup@linux-speakup.org
>>>>> http://linux-speakup.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/speakup
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> Speakup mailing list
>>>> Speakup@linux-speakup.org
>>>> http://linux-speakup.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/speakup
>>>
>>> --
>>> Name:	Terry D. Cudney
>>> Phone:	289-488-4882
>>> E-mail:	terry.cudney@gmail.com
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Speakup mailing list
>>> Speakup@linux-speakup.org
>>> http://linux-speakup.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/speakup
>> _______________________________________________
>> Speakup mailing list
>> Speakup@linux-speakup.org
>> http://linux-speakup.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/speakup
>

dynamic TTY allocation was: Re: Virtual consoles in Arch

[Garrett Klein]

All,
    I'm having an interesting issue. On one of my arch installs that was 
upgraded to systemd, dynamic vc allocation doesn't work, whereas on a new 
install it's working fine. Has anyone else experienced this issue and/or 
managed to fix it?

-----Original Message----- 
From: Robert Spangler
Sent: Monday, December 24, 2012 4:28 PM
To: Speakup is a screen review system for Linux.
Subject: Re: Virtual consoles in Arch

One can also use screen for multiple terminals if the console limitation
becomes an issue.

Thanks,
Robert Spangler, B.A. in Urban Studies and Spanish
spangler.robert@gmail.com

On 12/24/2012 3:40 PM, Terry D. Cudney wrote:
> Hi Gene,
>
>     Thanks for the suggestions... I've already been running with 12 VC's 
> for several years. I find, for me, 12 is enough and more easily accessed 
> with the  alt-arrow-keys and ctrl-alt-function keeys. More than 12 seem a 
> little more difficult to switch to them.
>
>     It is nice to see new development though. If Archlinux is going to 
> support more than 6 dynamically allocated VC's and have them easily 
> switchable I'm all for it!
>
>     Take care Gene,
>
>     --terry
>
> On Mon, Dec 24, 2012 at 01:13:34PM -0600, acollins@icsmail.net wrote:
>> Hi Terry!  I'm running Debian Squeeze, so if you want more virtual
>> conxoles, what I wrote to Chuck earlier will work for you.
>>
>> Gene
>>
>>> Hi Gene,
>>>
>>>    I'm still using Debian, but watching other distros with interest as 
>>> they pr
>> ogressin different directions. I tried Ubuntu for a wile but found that 
>> their p
>> ackages were a little too blleding edge/ untested for my liking, so I'm 
>> back wi
>> th Debian. How 'bout you?
>>>
>>>    --terry
>>>
>>> On Mon, Dec 24, 2012 at 11:02:02AM -0600, acollins@icsmail.net wrote:
>>>> Hi Terry!  Which distro are you using?
>>>>
>>>>> Hi Chuck, Kyle, et al,
>>>>>
>>>>>    This looks very interesting. Does archlinux provide a method for 
>>>>> increas
>> ing
>>>>   the max number of VC's? If not yet, I'd assume that it will... Many 
>>>> of us f
>> eel
>>>>   claustrophobic with only 6 consoles... <grin>
>>>>>
>>>>>    --terry
>>>>>
>>>>> --
>>>>> Name: Terry D. Cudney
>>>>> Phone: 289-488-4882
>>>>> E-mail: terry.cudney@gmail.com
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> Speakup mailing list
>>>>> Speakup@linux-speakup.org
>>>>> http://linux-speakup.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/speakup
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> Speakup mailing list
>>>> Speakup@linux-speakup.org
>>>> http://linux-speakup.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/speakup
>>>
>>> --
>>> Name: Terry D. Cudney
>>> Phone: 289-488-4882
>>> E-mail: terry.cudney@gmail.com
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Speakup mailing list
>>> Speakup@linux-speakup.org
>>> http://linux-speakup.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/speakup
>> _______________________________________________
>> Speakup mailing list
>> Speakup@linux-speakup.org
>> http://linux-speakup.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/speakup
>
_______________________________________________
Speakup mailing list
Speakup@linux-speakup.org
http://linux-speakup.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/speakup 

Re: dynamic TTY allocation was: Re: Virtual consoles in Arch

[Chuck Hallenbeck]

Hi Garrett,
On Mon, 24 Dec 2012, Garrett Klein wrote:

> All,
>    I'm having an interesting issue. On one of my arch installs that was
> upgraded to systemd, dynamic vc allocation doesn't work, whereas on a new
> install it's working fine. Has anyone else experienced this issue and/or
> managed to fix it?
>

I have two systems here with new installs of archlinux,  and the problem I
described is found on both of them. Dynamic allocation of VC's works fine
up to console 6, but not for consoles 7 and higher. One system is a Lenovo
ThinkPad, and the other an Acer desktop with an AMD A6-3620 processor. Both
machines are 64 bit.

What I'm wondering is, how can I get more than 6 virtual consoles, with or
without dynamic allocation? I would prefer _WITH_ of course, but _WITHOUT_
would be okay too.


Chuck

-- 

Chuck in Hudson, i.e., Hudson on the Hudson.

Re: dynamic TTY allocation was: Re: Virtual consoles in Arch

[Kyle]

In /etc/systemd/logind.conf, uncomment the following lines near the top 
of the file, and change the 6 to the number you want.

#NAutoVTs=6
#ReserveVT=6

This will dynamically allocate more or less virtual consoles, depending 
on your preferences.
~Kyle
http://kyle.tk/
-- 
"Kyle? ... She calls her cake, Kyle?"
Out of This World, season 2 episode 21 - "The Amazing Evie"

Re: dynamic TTY allocation was: Re: Virtual consoles in Arch

[Chuck Hallenbeck]

Kyle,

Fabulous. Just what I wanted. Sorry I didn't think to look there.

Many thanks,
Chuck

On Mon, 24 Dec 2012, Kyle wrote:

> In /etc/systemd/logind.conf, uncomment the following lines near the top of the
> file, and change the 6 to the number you want.
>
> #NAutoVTs=6
> #ReserveVT=6
>
> This will dynamically allocate more or less virtual consoles, depending on
> your preferences.
> ~Kyle
> http://kyle.tk/
>

-- 

Chuck in Hudson, i.e., Hudson on the Hudson.

Re: Virtual consoles in Arch

[Jason White]

Robert Spangler  <speakup@linux-speakup.org> wrote:
>One can also use screen for multiple terminals if the console limitation 
>becomes an issue.

Alternatively, you can run openvt to execute whatever command you wish on any
virtual console.

It is possible to spawn getty processes on additional virtual consoles from
Systemd by editing the appropriate service file or creating a new one. I don't
know the details, but from a quick inspection of a machine running systemd,
it's clear that the name of the tty is parameterized and that
/lib/systemd/system/getty@.service is used to create them.

What I haven't found is where the actual TTYs, e.g., 1-6, are specified in the
configuration, which is what you need to change.

Re: dynamic TTY allocation was: Re: Virtual consoles in Arch

[Kyle]

No problem at all. I just found this, since Arch is now using logind, so 
figured there must be a logind.conf somewhere. It turned out to be right 
where I expected it to be, and editing it was much easier than I 
expected. The same may not yet be true for Fedora or OpenSUSE, which 
both use systemd, but it works on Arch, and should work on Fedora and 
OpenSUSE in their next releases if it doesn't already.
~Kyle
http://kyle.tk/
-- 
"Kyle? ... She calls her cake, Kyle?"
Out of This World, season 2 episode 21 - "The Amazing Evie"