Hints for Using Linux & X Windows

Shusterman Research Group

This page is a compilation of hints and tricks for using Linux & X Windows on chemistry computers. Reed's Linux/X Windows guru is Ben Poliakoff (ext. 6674).

Alan Shusterman, June 2004

Establish a 'virtual console'

Ctrl + Alt + F1 (console #1)
Ctrl + Alt + F2 (console #2) ...

Xwindow sessions generally establish themselves on virtual console #7.

You'll be prompted for a text login.
 

Why establish a new virtual console?

If an X program has run amok (or is sluggish or unresponsive), try switching to another virtual console (see above). Take a peek at the 'top' processes (use the 'k' command to kill any rogue processes). After that you can go back to your X session by logging out of the virtual console and typing Ctrl+Alt+F7.
 

Kill an X session

Ctrl + Alt + Backspace (Backspace = left arrow on upper RHC of keyboard)

A new login window will appear after the X session dies.
 

Reboot computer

Ctrl + Alt + Delete