OPENVT(1)		      Linux Users Manual		    OPENVT(1)



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

SYNOPSIS
       openvt  [-c  vtnumber]  [-f]  [-s]  [-u]  [-l]  [-v]  [--] command com
       mand_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.

       -f     Force  opening  a  VT:  dont try to check if a VT is already in
	      use.

       -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. Shouldnt 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.

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


SEE ALSO
       chvt(1), login(1).


AUTHOR
       Jon Tombs 


HISTORY
       Earlier,  openvt  was  called  open.   It  was  written	by  Jon  Tombs
       . The
       -w idea from "sam".



Console tools			  19 Jul 1996			     OPENVT(1)