Need a memory refresh

[Linux for blind general discussion]

Tim here.

Depending on the way you're switching, there are at least three
different ways that occur to me:

1) use control+alt+F1 through F6 or so. These switch between the
virtual consoles.   The actual number of them are assigned in
your /etc/inittab where you'll see lines like

  1:2345:respawn:/sbin/getty 38400 tty1
  2:23:respawn:/sbin/getty 38400 tty2
  3:23:respawn:/sbin/getty 38400 tty3
  4:23:respawn:/sbin/getty 38400 tty4
  5:23:respawn:/sbin/getty 38400 tty5
  6:23:respawn:/sbin/getty 38400 tty6

that instruct /sbin/getty to listen on the various virtual consoles.

2) use su(1) to switch to the given user 

  john at linux$ su - otheruser
  password: ********
  otheruser at linux$ whoami
  otheruser

3) use a terminal multiplexer like tmux or GNU screen in conjunction
with #2 to use your one terminal, but then switch between various
virtual terminals.

I used to use method #1 but once I learned about and became adept at
using GNU screen and later tmux, I use method #3.  This also works
particularly well with terminal screen-readers like yasr.  I can
start yasr, then start tmux within it, and then have it read the
virtual terminals regardless of who I log in as.  If I use method #1,
with yasr inside it, only that virtual terminal gets read.

#3 also has the advantage that if you SSH into your machine from some
other box, you can connect to your already-running session and pick
up right as if you were sitting there.

So I think that, while you're asking for #1 (control+alt+Fn), you
might come to appreciate #3 more like I have. (grins)

-tim

On July  5, 2019, Linux for blind general discussion wrote:
> I am using Debian Buster, CLI  only. I have three users on the
> machine, besides the superuser. I can't remember the keystroke to
> switch from one user to another. ssh isn't really satisfactory,
> since it doesn't set up an independent user. Where can I find
> information like this?
> 
> Thanks,
> John
> 
> -- 
> John J. Boyer
> Email: john.boyer at abilitiessoft.org
> website: http://www.abilitiessoft.org
> Status: Company dissolved but website and email addresses  live.
> Location: Madison, Wisconsin, USA
> Mission: developing assistive technology software and providing
> STEM services that are available at no cost
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Blinux-list mailing list
> Blinux-list at redhat.com
> https://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/blinux-list