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Problem switching to a VT from X

Hello all

I am using Sllackware 13 64, with fluxbox. I do not have KDE installed. I start X, and I am unable to switch to vt6. I looked at the default inittab, and I should indeed be able to switch to vt6.

using ctrl + alt + F6 does nothing. How would I find out why this is and repair it?

Also, in the default inittab file, can someone explain the message about the problem with runlevel 4 and the loadavg?

Cheers

Quote:

using ctrl + alt + F6 does nothing. How would I find out why this is and repair it?

The only thing I know that can stop Ctrl+Alt+Fn from switching out of X to a console (regardless of whether an actual 'agetty' is running there) is 'Option "DontVTSwitch" "On"' in /etc/X11/xorg.conf

Quote:

Also, in the default inittab file, can someone explain the message about the problem with runlevel 4 and the loadavg?

I think that message has been there forever, and I don't know if it is still true (that running xdm with no console windows available will put the init process into a CPU-bound loop). Regardless, it costs nothing and is very handy to have one or more console logins available while running X.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ljb643 (Post 3717055)

The only thing I know that can stop Ctrl+Alt+Fn from switching out of X to a console (regardless of whether an actual 'agetty' is running there) is 'Option "DontVTSwitch" "On"' in /etc/X11/xorg.conf

I should have mentioned, I tried without an xorg.conf and it did not work, and I tried with an xorg. conf from the xorg-skel package, and that option was explicitly set to off, and still no luck.

It is really confusing me...

Can anyone suggest something I could try? This seems like a rather serious bug...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Josh000 (Post 3716994)

I looked at the default inittab, and I should indeed be able to switch to vt6.

Would you like to share /etc/inittab's agetty lines with us?

Quote:

Originally Posted by catkin (Post 3718667)

Would you like to share /etc/inittab's agetty lines with us?

It is exactly the same as the default slackware13 64 install. I have not editied that file not installed any programs, and upon viewing with less I can see that vt 6 should indeed be enabled when X is started.

Do your function keys work at all for anything else?

Adam

Quote:

Originally Posted by adamk75 (Post 3718685)

Do your function keys work at all for anything else?

Adam

Dang, I can't test that at the moment, as I am away from home. ctrl + alt keys are both working perfectly.

If my function keys were for some reason not working, what would the cause be?

I a brittish keyboard, and I note that my alt gr key does nto work, to use euro symbol for example. However, this should not affect the function keys, as they are the same on every keyboard.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Josh000 (Post 3718684)

How does /etc/inittab show that vt 6 should be enabled when X is started? Or do you mean when runlevel 4 is started?

The default Slackware 13.0 32-bit /etc/inittab disables all the virtual terminals in runlevel 4 while enabling them in runlevels 1, 2, 3 and 5.

Quote:

Originally Posted by catkin (Post 3718696)

The default Slackware 13.0 32-bit /etc/inittab disables all the virtual terminals in runlevel 4 while enabling them in runlevels 1, 2, 3 and 5.

No it doesn't. The default Slackware 13 /etc/inittab enables vt6 in runlevel 4.

Adam

Quote:

Originally Posted by adamk75 (Post 3718703)

No it doesn't. The default Slackware 13 /etc/inittab enables vt6 in runlevel 4.

It may be a difference between 32-bit and 64-bit. Here are the relevant lines from the 32-bit default inittab

Code:

c1:1235:respawn:/sbin/agetty 38400 tty1 linux

c2:1235:respawn:/sbin/agetty 38400 tty2 linux

c3:1235:respawn:/sbin/agetty 38400 tty3 linux

c4:1235:respawn:/sbin/agetty 38400 tty4 linux

c5:1235:respawn:/sbin/agetty 38400 tty5 linux

This LQ thread may be useful.

From Slackware64's inittab:

Code:

# These are the standard console login getties in multiuser mode:

c1:1235:respawn:/sbin/agetty 38400 tty1 linux

c2:1235:respawn:/sbin/agetty 38400 tty2 linux

c3:1235:respawn:/sbin/agetty 38400 tty3 linux

c4:1235:respawn:/sbin/agetty 38400 tty4 linux

c5:1235:respawn:/sbin/agetty 38400 tty5 linux

c6:12345:respawn:/sbin/agetty 38400 tty6 linux

Quote:

Originally Posted by catkin (Post 3718706)

It may be a difference between 32-bit and 64-bit. Here are the relevant lines from the 32-bit default inittab

Code:

c1:1235:respawn:/sbin/agetty 38400 tty1 linux

c2:1235:respawn:/sbin/agetty 38400 tty2 linux

c3:1235:respawn:/sbin/agetty 38400 tty3 linux

c4:1235:respawn:/sbin/agetty 38400 tty4 linux

c5:1235:respawn:/sbin/agetty 38400 tty5 linux

This LQ thread may be useful.

I just pulled sysvinit-scripts-1.2-noarch-30.txz off my 32 bit slackware 13 DVD:

Code:

[adamk@camaris ~]$ xz -d sysvinit-scripts-1.2-noarch-30.txz

[adamk@camaris ~]$ tar xvf sysvinit-scripts-1.2-noarch-30.tar etc/inittab.new

etc/inittab.new

[adamk@camaris ~]$ grep agetty etc/inittab.new

c1:1235:respawn:/sbin/agetty 38400 tty1 linux

c2:1235:respawn:/sbin/agetty 38400 tty2 linux

c3:1235:respawn:/sbin/agetty 38400 tty3 linux

c4:1235:respawn:/sbin/agetty 38400 tty4 linux

c5:1235:respawn:/sbin/agetty 38400 tty5 linux

c6:12345:respawn:/sbin/agetty 38400 tty6 linux

#s1:12345:respawn:/sbin/agetty -L ttyS0 9600 vt100

#s2:12345:respawn:/sbin/agetty -L ttyS1 9600 vt100

#d1:12345:respawn:/sbin/agetty -mt60 38400,19200,9600,2400,1200 ttyS0 vt100

#d2:12345:respawn:/sbin/agetty -mt60 38400,19200,9600,2400,1200 ttyS1 vt100

In any case, this part of the discussion is irrelevant. Even if there is no getty process running on vt6 for the OP, hitting control+alt+f6 should at least switch him out of X, but even that isn't happening according to his description:

Quote:

using ctrl + alt + F6 does nothing.

Adam

How odd.

So according to catkins inittab, 32bit slackware does not have vt6 by default, while slackware 64 does? I am using slackware 64, and while I cannot say for 100%, I do recall checking my inittab and seeing it exactly as BrianL's looks.

edit: nevermind

Adam, that is correct.

I originally tried switching to vt'S 1, 2 or 3,, which did nothing. Upon learning that vt6 was the only vt enabled by default, i tried switching to this, which also did nothing. holding ctrl + alt + any one of the function key is completley eventless.

Maybe a silly question, but...

Did you use the left ctrl and left alt keys while pressing F6?

I have an international (pt_BR) keyboard and pressing right-alt/right-ctrl/F6 doesn't work, I need to use the left-side-keys.