# phpman > man > OPENVT(1)

[OPENVT(1)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/OPENVT/1/markdown)                              General Commands Manual                             [OPENVT(1)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/OPENVT/1/markdown)



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

## SYNOPSIS
       **openvt** [-c vtnumber] [OPTIONS] [--] command

## DESCRIPTION
       **openvt**  will find the first available VT, and run on it the given **command** with the given **com**‐‐
       **mand** **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,_ _--console=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_
              Force opening a VT without checking whether it is already in use.

       _-e,_ _--exec_
              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)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/setsid/2/markdown) or [**setsid**(1)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/setsid/1/markdown)
              on how to achieve this.

       _-s,_ _--switch_
              Switch to the new VT when starting the command. The VT of the new command will be made
              the new current VT.

       _-u,_ _--user_
              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,_ _--login_
              Make the command a login shell. A - is prepended to the name of the command to be exe‐
              cuted.

       _-v,_ _--verbose_
              Be a bit more verbose.

       _-w,_ _--wait_
              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.

       _-V,_ _--version_
              print program version and exit.

       _-h,_ _--help_
              show this text and exit.

       _--_     end of options to **openvt**.

## NOTE
       If **openvt** is compiled with a getopt_long() 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@ro‐
       bots.ox.ac.uk>.  The _-w_ idea is from "sam".


## SEE ALSO
       [**chvt**(1)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/chvt/1/markdown), [**doshell**(8)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/doshell/8/markdown), [**login**(1)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/login/1/markdown)



kbd                                          19 Jul 1996                                   [OPENVT(1)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/OPENVT/1/markdown)