1VLOCK(1)                    General Commands Manual                   VLOCK(1)
2
3
4

NAME

6       vlock - Virtual Console lock program
7

SYNOPSIS

9       vlock
10
11       vlock [ -a,--all ] [ -c,--current ] [ -h,--help ] [ -v,--version ]
12

DESCRIPTION

14       vlock  is  a program to lock one or more sessions on the Linux console.
15       This is especially useful for Linux machines which have multiple  users
16       with  access  to  the console.  One user may lock his or her session(s)
17       while still allowing other users to use the  system  on  other  virtual
18       consoles.   If  desired,  the  entire console may be locked and virtual
19       console switching disabled.
20
21       By default, only the current VC (virtual console) is locked.  With  the
22       -a,-all  option  all VCs are locked.  The locked VCs cannot be unlocked
23       without the invoker's password or the root password.  The root password
24       will  always be able to unlock any or all sessions.  And, for the para‐
25       noid, vlock makes it a trying experience for those attempting to  guess
26       the password, so unauthorized access to session(s) is highly unlikely.
27
28       Please  note  that  it is entirely possible to completely lock yourself
29       out of the console with the -a,--all option if you cannot remember your
30       password!  Unless you are able to kill vlock by logging in remotely via
31       a serial terminal or network, a  hard  reset  is  the  only  method  of
32       ``unlocking'' the display.
33
34       vlock  works for console sessions primarily.  However, there is support
35       for trying to lock non-console sessions as well, but that  support  has
36       not been well tested.
37

OPTIONS

39       -a,--all
40
41              Lock all console sessions and disable VC switching.
42
43       -c,--current
44
45              Lock the current session (this is the default).
46
47       -h,--help
48
49              Print a brief help message.
50
51       -v,--version
52
53              Print the version number of vlock.
54

AUTHOR

56       Michael K. Johnson <johnsonm@redhat.com>
57
58
59
60Linux User's Manual               16 May 1996                         VLOCK(1)