On the console Alt-F2 doesn't switch to tty2

[wynnmc]

I have just installed Gentoo but I have found, after logging in as root, that I can't get to another console/workspace by Alt-F2 (for example). I have been doing this to login as a different user on this (old) machine for a long time. Has something changed and, if it has, how do I switch now?

[Hu]

This works for me. What happens when you press Alt+F2? Are you taken to a blank screen or does the system ignore your key press completely? If the former, what did you expect would be running on tty2? Do you have a getty or similar configured to run there?

[wynnmc]

I'm not sure if I have stated the problem clearly enough: I am not in a GUI, I prefer to login to (whatever it's called) and start a GUI from there if I want to.
To answer your question: pressing Alt-F2 just shows "~", pressing Alt-F3 then just adds another "~" to it.

I would expect this function to be installed with the stage file -- I last installed Gentoo several years ago so I can no longer remember anything I may have done which wasn't in the Handbook.

[CaptainBlood]

For whatever reason, Ctrl+Alt+Fn required here for TTY switch.

Thks 4 ur attention, interest & support.

[Hu]

OP: yes, I understood this to be a Linux text console. I was originally unclear on what was happening beyond that it was not what you wanted. I understand now. The kernel is not recognizing your request for a vt-switch. That ~ might be the result of your shell receiving the component bytes sent by Alt+F2. Are you sure your Alt key is recognized? Pressing a plain F2 might produce the reported result.

For whatever reason, Ctrl+Alt+Fn required for TTY switch.

If you are in Xorg, then yes, you need Ctrl+Alt because that is how Xorg implements it. Wayland may or may not have a similar rule. For the Linux text console the OP is asking about, Alt+Fn works fine.

[CaptainBlood]

Yeap indeed,
Alt+Fn is enough here for TTYi to TTYj.
Ctrl+Alt+Fn also works but overkilling when not from X11.
Ctrl+Alt+Fn required here from Wayland (pure here).

Thks 4 ur attention, interest & support.

[Zucca]

Some machines (keyboards in case of desktop PCs), indeed, need Fn to be pressed to have F-keys to actually send F-key. If Fn is not pressed the F-key might send, say, "brightness up" -key.

[CaptainBlood]

By Fn I meant F1 to F11 for example, sorry.

@Zucca,
I don't recall having ever seen Fn on desktop keyboard, but laptop's rather....

Thks 4 ur attention, interest & support.

[wynnmc]

Spiffing! Alt-Fn works ... on this machine, Gentoo installed in October 2018, just Alt-F2 is enough

Thank you all very much for your help,

wynnmc

[Hu]

To be clear, do you mean that Zucca's suggestion was correct, that there is a key literally labeled Fn, which needs to be pressed in addition to the Alt key and the specific F<number> key? It's common to write Fn as a generic placeholder to refer to the F1-F12 keys as an interchangeable group.

[wynnmc]

Hu: yes, this machine and the new one are both Lenovo ThinkPads and the 4 keys on the bottom row starting from the left are:

Code: Select all

Fn Ctrl Windows Alt

. "Windows" is a key marked with a picture of 4 glass (?) panes.

[Hu]

Many laptops that use an Fn key to skimp on providing actual keys have a firmware setting where you can choose either:

• Key Fn + the F1 key produces F1, and plain F1 key produces some "magic" key, like audio volume up. Look at the other labeling on the F1 key to see what it does when it is not treated as F1.
• Key Fn + the F1 key produces the magic key, and plain F1 key produces the F1 scancode.

You may have one machine configured such that Fn enables the magic mode (so you should press only F1 to get the F1 result), and the other machine is configured such that Fn disables the magic mode (so you should press both Fn and F1 to get the F1 result). In all cases, adding Alt will get you the Alt modifier on top of the magic scancode / F1 scancode.

[wynnmc]

Thank you very much, Hu, I had no idea it worked like that

[CaptainBlood]

You may have one machine configured such that Fn enables the magic mode (so you should press only F1 to get the F1 result),
and the other machine is configured such that Fn disables the magic mode (so you should press both Fn and F1 to get the F1 result).

By 'configured' do you hardcoded level (Hardware+Bios) or software level (Os, aka gentoo flavored linux)?

If it happens to be the latter, could it be similar behaviour on both machine could be achievable through a general setting, i.e. activation without manual multiple specific keys remapping?

Thks 4 ur attention, interest & support

[sublogic]

@wynnmc, following up on Hu's earlier post and in case your laptop is like mine: my Left-Shift key has a secondary label "fn lock" in the lower right corner. Pressing Fn+Left-Shift toggles the action of the Fn key (and toggles an LED on said key). No need to change BIOS settings.