VLOCK-MAIN(8) Linux Programmer's Manual VLOCK-MAIN(8)NAME
vlock-main - lock current virtual console
SYNOPSIS
vlock-main [plugins...]
DESCRIPTION
vlock-main is part of vlock(1), the Virtual Console locking program for Linux. It locks the current session and will only exit if the cur-
rent user can authenticate themselves. The root user will also be able to unlock the session, unless disabled at compile time. The com-
mand line arguments specify plugins that should be loaded by vlock-main. See vlock-plugins(5) for more information.
If plugin support is disabled at compile time, the only supported argument is "all".
ENVIRONMENT VARIABLES
The following environment variables can be used to change the behavior of vlock-main:
USER
If this variable is when vlock-main is run as root (uid 0) vlock locks the screen as this user instead of root. The root password
will still be able to unlock the session, unless disabled at compile time.
VLOCK_ALL_MESSAGE
If this variable is set and all consoles are locked its contents will be used as the locking message instead of the default message.
VLOCK_CURRENT_MESSAGE
If this variable is set and only the current consoles is locked its contents will be used as the locking message instead of the
default message.
VLOCK_MESSAGE
If this variable is set its contents will be used as the locking message instead of the default. This overrides the former two
variables.
VLOCK_TIMEOUT
Set this variable to specify the timeout (in seconds) after which the screen saver plugins (if any) will be invoked. If this vari-
able is unset or set to an invalid value or 0 no timeout is used. See vlock-plugins(5) for more information about plugins.
VLOCK_PROMPT_TIMEOUT
Set this variable to specify the amount of time (in seconds) you will have to enter your password at the password prompt. If this
variable is unset or set to an invalid value or 0 no timeout is used. Warning: If this value is too low, you may not be able to
unlock your session.
SIGNALS
Several signals are ignored. vlock-main will try to exit cleanly if SIGTERM is received.
SEE ALSO vlock(1), vlock-plugins(5)AUTHORS
Frank Benkstein <frank-vlock@benkstein.net>
Linux 28 July 2007 VLOCK-MAIN(8)
Check Out this Related Man Page
VLOCK(1) General Commands Manual VLOCK(1)NAME
vlock - Virtual Console lock program
SYNOPSIS
vlock
vlock [ -a,--all ] [ -c,--current ] [ -h,--help ] [ -v,--version ]
DESCRIPTION
vlock is a program to lock one or more sessions on the Linux console. This is especially useful for Linux machines which have multiple
users with access to the console. One user may lock his or her session(s) while still allowing other users to use the system on other vir-
tual consoles. If desired, the entire console may be locked and virtual console switching disabled.
By default, only the current VC (virtual console) is locked. With the -a,-all option all VCs are locked. The locked VCs cannot be
unlocked without the invoker's password or the root password. The root password will always be able to unlock any or all sessions. And,
for the paranoid, vlock makes it a trying experience for those attempting to guess the password, so unauthorized access to session(s) is
highly unlikely.
Please note that it is entirely possible to completely lock yourself out of the console with the -a,--all option if you cannot remember
your password! Unless you are able to kill vlock by logging in remotely via a serial terminal or network, a hard reset is the only method
of ``unlocking'' the display.
vlock works for console sessions primarily. However, there is support for trying to lock non-console sessions as well, but that support
has not been well tested.
OPTIONS -a,--all
Lock all console sessions and disable VC switching.
-c,--current
Lock the current session (this is the default).
-h,--help
Print a brief help message.
-v,--version
Print the version number of vlock.
AUTHOR
Michael K. Johnson <johnsonm@redhat.com>
Linux User's Manual 16 May 1996 VLOCK(1)