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Hi,
Are there any commands available from the standard linux login prompt?
i.e. can you do any at all before logging in?
Specifically I'm thinking about "shutdown", but any others also ....
No...Text mode login prompt is just a login prompt. In many distros you can press ctrl+alt+del and reboot your system. If you use graphical login you can have a 'shutdown' button.
Login prompt, rather than boot prompt? About all you can do (if it's configured that way) is switch to another vt or hit 'ctrl-alt-del'. That usually executes a reboot rather than a shutdown. Why do you need to do anything without logging in?
To expand on Mara's points: under a text only system you have full access to all of the commands you have in a graphical system, but instead of hitting a button (as in shutting down, for example) you would have to type in the command.
Obviously, programs that need a graphical environment (such as Open Office or media players with guis) will not work in a text only scenario.
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