[Solved] Virtual Console (tty 1-6 ) unavailable

Alarming_Thing · 2024-03-14 07:39:48

Using standard procedures installed arch (base, linuux, firmware, base devell and a few others ). No desktop environment. Kernel version is : 6.7.9-arch1-1.
The system boots correctly, and I can do everything I need to in multi-user target space.
At this point, though, none of virtual consoles are working. Control + Alt + F2-F6 do not work.
I did some search, and figured I needed key NAutoVTs set to 6 (or any number of your choice ) in /etc/systemd/logind.conf and in /etc/vconsole.conf (as fallback).
I set those and restarted several times,but things don't work.

This also prevents me from installing any DE as any desktop manager / DE seems to need virtual cconsoles working.

This is an old laptop ( Lenovo R61 ) The VGA compatible controller is GM965/GL960 if that has anyy bearing.

Any help to get vconsole is appreciated. TIA

Last edited by Alarming_Thing (2024-03-15 09:49:45)

seth · 2024-03-14 09:38:21

I needed key NAutoVTs set to 6 (or any number of your choice )

No, this is the default and the getty's will spawned automatically when you switch there.
What does actually happen and can you change the VT using eg. "sudo chvt 3"?

Alarming_Thing · 2024-03-14 12:47:58

Thanks Seth for the reply. I reinstalled minimal arch again, and the problem persists if I am using keyboard, but not when using chvt ( chvt works ). Problem installing a DE is that, once lightdm fires up, it just hangs, and there is no way to provide keyboard input.

Just so I have a graphical env, I installed debian 12 on the next partition where both ctrl + alt + F2-6 and chvt work. I am unsure as to why the issue manifests only in Arch.

Any ideas?

seth · 2024-03-14 15:24:47

once lightdm fires up, it just hangs, and there is no way to provide keyboard input

For clarification, the keyboard works in console (leaving the VT switches aside) but _entirely_ not in lightdm?
(Or can you there also just not switch the VT or fail to login etc. but typing into the user/password fileds actually works)?

Do you have an external keyboard?
https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php … 9#p2150329

Alarming_Thing · 2024-03-14 21:03:11

Let me clarify. Steps outlined below. ( no external keyboard ). I also noticed that there is a problem with keyboard ( left ctrl + alt doesn't work. I use right keys ).

1. Minimal Arch install : keyboard switch does not work. Only chvt works. Machine is in multi user mode - everything else works as intended.
2. Install xfce / lightdm : Restart, boot messages appear until lightdm starts and the message '[FAIL ] lightdm.service failed' appears. At this point machine hanges. it's probably tryinng to start xfce, but doesn't go anywhere. Keyboard switch doesn't work. No way to enter chvt. At this point, machine is useless. ( I havn't tried set it back to multi-user target. Should probably try. )
----
3. Install debian 12 with gnome on next partition. In GNOME I can use keyboard to switch other terminals. chvt works too.
4. Set debian to multi-user mode, restart. Keyboard swith works. chvt does too. This configuration mimics arch minimal install.
----
5. I use exact same arch iso on another machine, and keyboard switch works just fine there ( both in arch & debian ).

So my suspecion is on the drivers arch uses for this particular machine. For some reason it's not making vconsoles available.

For me this is not a showstopper issue, I am just learning my way towards resolving it. Thanks for your replies.

Last edited by Alarming_Thing (2024-03-14 21:08:35)

seth · 2024-03-14 22:13:34

It would probably good to test the behavior of an external keyboard, if you have one.
Otherwise see the linked thread and try the "pnpacpi=off" parameter, though I don't even think that's it (the keyboard would not work at all)

Does your keyboard have dual-use F-keys (toggled w/ then Fn key)?
Maybe it's just the Fn-lock?

I also don't think the lightdm situation is related to this.
A journal of suh boot might shed more light onto that problem.

Alarming_Thing · 2024-03-15 09:48:58

Thanks Seth. It didn't occur to me to try an external keyboard first, before posting on the forum.
With external keyboard, everythng works as intended, and the fault is with keyboard's left ctrl button. I am sorry I wasted your and everyone else's time.
_/\_

Last edited by Alarming_Thing (2024-03-15 09:49:28)

Arch Linux

#1 2024-03-14 07:39:48

[Solved] Virtual Console (tty 1-6 ) unavailable

#2 2024-03-14 09:38:21

Re: [Solved] Virtual Console (tty 1-6 ) unavailable

#3 2024-03-14 12:47:58

Re: [Solved] Virtual Console (tty 1-6 ) unavailable

#4 2024-03-14 15:24:47

Re: [Solved] Virtual Console (tty 1-6 ) unavailable

#5 2024-03-14 21:03:11

Re: [Solved] Virtual Console (tty 1-6 ) unavailable

#6 2024-03-14 22:13:34

Re: [Solved] Virtual Console (tty 1-6 ) unavailable

#7 2024-03-15 09:48:58

Re: [Solved] Virtual Console (tty 1-6 ) unavailable

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