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 command 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.

       -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.  If you want to use this feature
	      in another context, be aware that openvt has to be a session leader in order for -e to work.  See setsid(2) or setsid(1) on  how	to
	      achieve this.

       -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 com-
	      mand 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 <jon@gtex02.us.es or jon@robots.ox.ac.uk>.  The -w idea is from "sam".

SEE ALSO

       chvt(1), doshell(8), login(1)

19 Jul 1996							       V1.4								 OPENVT(1)