Score:0

What is a 'Linux Text Console', really?

es flag

What dev or resource in Linux actually constitutes being a 'console'?

I have a little, home, Linux box server that I usually SSH into. I connected a TV to an HDMI output and wanted to 'startx' on it. It complained that I was not a 'console' user. (I did get X started by sudoing to root (/etc/X11/Xwrapper.conf contains: allowed_users=console) I connected a USB wireless keyboard and mouse and it worked)

But, programmatically what does it mean to be a 'linux text console'? Is it a /dev/tty, some /dev/hdmi? Being in /etc/groups 'console'? Is it connecting to some Xserver TCP port?

I have 2 HDMI output ports and can have various real, wired, wireless or software 'keyboards' and 'mouse' HID devices. How does Linux know or imagine what a 'console' is?

(After further research...) It seems different implementations/configurations can use different devices, some might use a serial port, some may use a screen (with hardware character display support (ie old glass teletype)) some may use a pixel oriented frame buffer. How would I know what device to connect to to access my console?

Doug Smythies avatar
gn flag
I think it just means a ttyN user.
Ribo avatar
es flag
Ubuntu 9.4.0-1ubuntu1~20.04.1 I would think this is a very basic matter, not dependent on distro version.
Ribo avatar
es flag
@Doug Smyhies It can't be related to a /dev/ttyX because there are lots of ttys and they have no specific relation to an HDMI / VGA device.
mondotofu avatar
cn flag
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linux_console
David avatar
cn flag
How many times do we get replies like oh it Pop OS or Zorin OS?
vidarlo avatar
om flag
Why are you asking this? What do you want to achieve?
Ribo avatar
es flag
@vidarlo I did 'startx' (from my SSH session) it complained I was not a console user. This got me to wonder what being a 'console' user was, It is not being in a 'console' group in /etc/groups. So I wanted to know what device I may need to send command to/from to be a console user. (I later found that being 'su' worked, but want to know what they meant by 'console' user.
vidarlo avatar
om flag
@Ribo I would suggest [edit]ing your question to match the comment :)
Ribo avatar
es flag
@vidarlo. I don't see how the question doesn't match the comment The HDMI stuff is what lead to the question of what it means to be a linux text console
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