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VLOCK(1)                                       General Commands Manual                                       VLOCK(1)



NAME
       vlock - Virtual Console lock program

SYNOPSIS
       vlock

       vlock [ -a,--all ] [ -c,--current ] [ -h,--help ] [ -v,--version ]

DESCRIPTION
       vlock  is  a  program  to lock one or more sessions on the Linux console.  This is especially useful for Linux
       machines which have multiple users with access to the console.  One user may lock his or her session(s)  while
       still allowing other users to use the system on other virtual consoles.  If desired, the entire console may be
       locked and virtual console switching disabled.

       By default, only the current VC (virtual console) is locked.  With the -a,-all option all VCs are locked.  The
       locked  VCs cannot be unlocked without the invoker's password.  And, for the paranoid, vlock makes it a trying
       experience for those attempting to guess  the  password,  so  unauthorized  access  to  session(s)  is  highly
       unlikely.

       Please  note  that  it  is  entirely possible to completely lock yourself out of the console with the -a,--all
       option if you cannot remember your password!  Unless you are able to kill vlock by logging in remotely  via  a
       serial terminal or network, a hard reset is the only method of ``unlocking'' the display.

       vlock works for console sessions primarily.  However, there is support for trying to lock non-console sessions
       as well, but that support has not been well tested.

OPTIONS
       -a,--all

              Lock all console sessions and disable VC switching.

       -c,--current

              Lock the current session (this is the default).

       -h,--help

              Print a brief help message.

       -v,--version

              Print the version number of vlock.

AUTHOR
       Michael K. Johnson <[email protected]>



Linux User's Manual                                  16 May 1996                                             VLOCK(1)