Linux virtual terminals

As a system administrator you can use graphic user interface to perform routine networking task. But as a RCHE exam candidate you must have to perform same tasks on command line interface. In this article we would learn how to switch between virtual terminals and how to login in command line interface. Full installation of Linux provides seven virtual terminals.

Virtual Consoles

A virtual console is a command line interface.As RHEL is a multi terminal operating system, you can log into Linux, even with the same user ID, several times. It's easy to open a new virtual console. Just use the appropriate ALT-function key combination. For example, pressing ALT-F2 brings you to the second virtual console. You can switch between adjacent virtual consoles by pressing ALT-RIGHT ARROW or ALT-LEFT ARROW. For example, to move from virtual console 2 to virtual console 3, press ALT-RIGHT ARROW.

You can switch between virtual terminals by ALT+CTRL+Funcation key combinations.

ALT + CTRL + F1 for terminal 1
ALT + CTRL + F2 for terminal 2
ALT + CTRL + F3 for terminal 3
ALT + CTRL + F4 for terminal 4
ALT + CTRL + F5 for terminal 5
ALT + CTRL + F6 for terminal 6
ALT + CTRL + F7 for terminal 7

Terminal 7 is by default graphic mode beside it all six terminal are CLI based. To open terminial one press ALT+CTRL+F1 key combinations. root account is automatically created when we install Linux.

Type root on login name and press enter key, now give password ( no asterisk character like window to guess the password length) When you login from root account you will get # sign at command prompt , and when you login from normal user you will get $ prompt.

#clear

This command is used to clear the screen.

Press CTRL+D
 #exit
 #logout

You have three options to logout. All three commands used to logout. Use any one.

#pwd /root

Print working directory command will tell you about current location from / partition.

#ls

ls command will list the object in directory. All directory are listed in blue color while files are shown white color.

#ls –a

Normal ls command will not list the hidden files. If you want to list the hidden file use –a switch with ls command to list the hidden files.

#ls –l

Ls command with –l switch will list the objects in long formats . we will discuss more about –l switch in coming sections.

#ll

Same as ls –l . First and major task for any system administrator is user managements. For testing purpose you can perform all task with root account but in real life root account is used for administrative purpose only. Lest create a normal user account for further practical.

#useradd [user name ]

Useradd command is used to create user. Several advance options are used with useradd command but you will learn about them in coming article.

#passwd [user name]

In linux no user can be login without password. passwd command is used to assign password for any user. Do not execute this command without user name otherwise it will change root password.

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