Home / ubuntu / Questions / 54814
Accepted
Jorge Castro
Asked: 2011-07-28 20:55:50 +0800 CST

How can I ctrl-alt-f# to get to a TTY in a QEMU session?

  • 772

I'm doing an install via testdrive using QEMU/KVM and I would like to check the log files during the installation, however I can't figure out a way to send Ctrl-Alt-F1 and other F keys to the virtualized window (It instead goes to the TTY on the host machine).

Ctrl-Alt-1 through 4 send me to some kind of QEMU consoles (the installer is on one, then there are qemu consoles and one serial and one parallel, so I think I'm getting close.

qemu

3 Answers

  1. Best Answer

    sendkey can be used to send keys to the virtual system that your host intercepts at low level - such as Ctrl + Alt + F*.

    1. Use Ctrl + Alt + 2 to switch to the QEMU console.
    2. Type sendkey ctrl-alt-f1 and press Enter.
    3. Use Ctrl + Alt + 1 to switch back to the virtual system, which should now by at TTY1.

    Once at a virtual terminal, you should be able to use the chvt command, e.g. sudo chvt 7 to go back to your X session.

    • 57

  2. You can change tty in the guest os running on qemu with ALT + left or right arrows on the keypad.

    • 20

  3. You can try using sticky keys: Press the first key three times to "stick" it to the "virtualized window" followed by the other keys e.g. CTRL+CTRL+CTRL+ALT+F1.

    This should send the command to the virtual machine instead of the host machine "hijacking" it.

    • 6