Is there a way to open an actual TTY remotely?

[left bolt]

I have a remote server where I need to test something on it in an offline state. I have someone on-site who can help with this, but need a way to get them access to the headless server.

Is there some way for me to actually unlock a real TTY on their remote computer on a headless server via ssh? Or, could I redirect command output to a TTY without a user logged into it? Could screen help? I don't have much experience with screen but I've seen some similar topics where it was useful to this.

Thanks!

[dark raven]

Redirect output to a TTY. You can write to any TTY device even if no one is logged in yet.
echo "System ready for testing" > /dev/tty1 Or run a whole program on it yourCommand > /dev/tty1 2>&1
If you want input from that TTY yourCommand < /dev/tty1 > /dev/tty1 2>&1

[left bolt]

I know I can redirect output to the TTY, but that doesn't let the tty log in with the output printed to the screen does it?

[dark raven]

If you want them to log in and then see prepared output
echo 'cat /var/tmp/onsite-message.txt' >> /home/onsite/.bash_profile write output to /var/tmp/onsite-message.txt they log in, It prints automatically.

[left bolt]

No, perhaps I'm not explaining well. I want to log in the TTY myself, from SSH. Instructions for them would be explained via chat messages and/or a call.

Changing the password is a bit tedious and the valid password is too long and complicated to reliably give.

The issue is that the ssh connection is on a virtual terminal, while I want to actually log into a real TTY so that the physical user can get immediate access to the OS

[abstract nova]

install byobu on the given system
run byobu on the tty
run byobu on the ssh

the tty's shell and the ssh's shell now look identical

is this what you are looking for?

im confused on what you're trying to do with a tty tbh

[high jackal]

https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Getty#Automatic_login_to_virtual_console

[lunar burrow]

Its been a while but I had to do these a few times in the past, typing this on my phone but should be something like this

ssh USER@IP

# get active ttyX and run login prompt
sudo openvt -c $(cat /sys/class/tty/tty0/active | tr -d tty) -f -- /bin/login

# add these to the end of the above command if u want to login as user without prompt and immediately launch a command
-f $USER -c "$COMMAND"

After all that if u want to do some interactive sessions with them use tmux

Use tmate a fork of tmux if u want to dynamically allow them to input to ur tmux sessions