OPENVT(1)			  Linux 1.x			    OPENVT(1)



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

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

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 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.

       -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 openvt.

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.

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)

UNIX/Linux commands referenced on this page:

1. find
2. write
3. login
4. more
5. free
6. as
7. ls