Questions[virtual-console](ubuntu)

I have used the virtual consoles (tty1-6) for decades in various Linuxes. I recently installed Ubuntu 18.04 (Bionic Beaver) on an x86-64 box. Everything is fine, except that the VCs don't work. As far as I can tell, it is by design that people are now only supposed to use the GUI (like in Windows). I would like to be able to use the VCs.

Note:
I've noticed (from ps output) that a lot of the GUI processes are running on tty1, so I assume that the GUI gets launched from there).

What I've tried:

1. Ctrl-Alt-F1 (or F2 or F3 or ...). Nothing happens. By "nothing happens", I mean, literally, nothing happens.
   Note:
   I am familiar with one system where you can switch to the virtual consoles (from the GUI), and it really does switch, but the screen stays on the GUI. You can now type and you are typing on the virtual console, but the screen makes it look like you are still on the GUI. I mention all this to say that, no, this is not the case here. You are still typing into the GUI.
2. (as root) chvt 1. Nothing happens. Prompt comes right back and nothing has changed.
3. (as root) chvt 2. Process hangs until you hit Ctrl/C. Weird...!

4. (as root) strace chvt 2. Lots of strace output, ending with something like:

   ioctl(3,VT_WAITACTIVE ...)
   

and then it hangs (until you hit CTRL-C).
Next, following some advice I found on this board, I tried editing the file:

/etc/systemd/logind.conf

and uncommenting the first two active lines, which are:

NAutoVTs=6
ReserveVT=6

I tried first just uncommenting the first one, then rebooted, nothing changed.
So I then uncommented the second one as well, rebooted, again, no change.

So, what to do?
What is next?

I would like to open the terminal from the login screen. In previous Ubuntu releases I just used Ctrl+Alt+F1. However, when I press Ctrl+Alt+F1 in 18.04, nothing happens, the login screen just stays as it is. All other combinations with F-keys (F2 to F12) also have no effect whatsoever.

What key shortcut do I have to press to open the terminal from the login screen?

When I press Ctrl+Alt+F1 it goes to virtual terminal.

What is this virtual terminal for? When do you need to use it?

I hope the question is self-explanatory.

My understanding is that gnome-terminal and konsole are virtual terminals, and they are basically serving the same purpose, i.e. a command line environment for various optional command interpreters. (I'm not even sure if that's the right way to look at it.)

I assume that the real terminal is where I am teleported to occasionaly by mis-keying Ctrl+Alt+F1,F2, etc.

But "There be Dragons" in that black-screen hinterland, so I'm outta-there as quickly as I can press Ctrl+Alt+F7 (I learnt that somewhere: "When all is black and dark: press the secret keys to return :)

• Is/are the "real" terminal(s) the one(s) that exist behind the Ctrl+Alt+F1,F2, etc. keys?
• And what is so "real" about them vs the "virtual" ones?
• And how to they differ? Is it as simple as "no GUI" vs "GUI"?

P.S. are "console" and "terminal" synonymous?

Is there a way for me to take a screenshot in a virtual console?