What are /dev/tty<0-63> ? | Linux Mint Community🍵 | Page 1

broken frigate Aug 8, 2024, 2:55 PM

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ls /dev/tty* returns a number of entries such as /dev/tty0, /dev/tty1 ... /dev/tty63
What are these, what are they used for, what are they assigned to, and what are useful ways I can use them?

torn egret Aug 8, 2024, 4:18 PM

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not really files. nothing in /dev is.

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you can use TTY (black screen "real" terminal) by pressing ctrl-alt-F1 thru ctrl-alt-F6

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only ever bother with that if you can't reach a desktop, or if desktop is brutally messed and you want to issue reboot command. Ctrl-alt-F7 to go back to GUI

broken frigate Aug 8, 2024, 4:37 PM

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ctrl-alt-<F1-F6> lets us switch between linux's virtual consoles?

If we press ctrl-alt-F1, do we end up on /dev/tty1?
If we press ctrl-alt-F7, do we end up on /dev/tty7?
Is /dev/tty7 the virtual console that displays the GUI?

If /dev/tty<1-7> are the linux virtual consoles, what are tty0, and tty<8-63>?

...trying to learn about this and demystify it if possible : )

torn egret Aug 8, 2024, 4:46 PM

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yeah ctrl-alt-F7 is the GUI

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it is what the desktop and graphical login manager run in.

broken frigate Aug 8, 2024, 4:47 PM

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So the GUI runs on/in /dev/tty7?

torn egret Aug 8, 2024, 4:48 PM

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I guess. I would definitely NOT be messing in the /dev/ folder unless you have some serious need or skill to.

#What are /dev/tty<0-63> ?