difference between a Linux console and a virtual terminal

[B3Co0L]

I just installed my very 1st Linux box few days ago.. as well as reading a book...

Anyway, here is my question:
What is the difference between a Linux console (where we get when booting into a no desktop environment Linux box) and a virtual terminal (where we use when execute it from a desktop environment)?

Apparently, the xterm virtual terminal by default is the virtual terminal emulated in my ubuntu 9.04. Also, I noticed I have a few other types of terminals stored under /usr/share/terminfo and I can see there is a "linux" under "l" directory. I assume it is the linux console.

So, why the terminal emulation package under ubuntu 9.04 use "xterm" instead of the "linux", when it is a Linux system (why it need to go all the hesitation when there is a Linux's "linux console)?

Summarize, there are 2 questions:
1. what is the difference between a Linux console and a virtual terminal?
2. Why use other virtual terminal when there is a default "linux" console stored under /usr/share/terminfo/l in the desktop environment?

[Roxoff]

Well really there is very little difference. You can pretty much do the same things with either terminal type without noticing the difference, they both run the same shell (probably BASH) based on your user settings. There are, of course, subtle differences which make them more suited for particular purposes - in X for instance, you can launch graphical apps from the command line. From the text-mode terminal you can use your system without having X loaded and running (useful for resolving system problems), there are other differences too, but as a regular user you will hardly need or notice any difference. Stick to using the X-based terminal if you have to use one - it's more user-friendly (cut/select/paste, easy scrolling with the mouse, uses your desktop settings for input language, etc.).

The reason there are several terminals is that this is Linux. That means you are not tied to one tool for a job, and can excercise your own choice. You could even write your own if you want. xterm is probably used because it's a very mature application, and has seen many years trouble-free use. If you prefer to use another, then feel free to do so. Try them all out and make your own mind up. You're free to do that.

[i92guboj]

From the average user view point there's little difference, other that these that are inherent to X-based programs. About being able to launch X programs, well, it's not scrictly true that you can't do so as well from pure text consoles, you just need to let the shell know in which display to start. For example, if you have launched X on another VT, you can use something like:

DISPLAY=:0.0 whatever_program

As long as you have permissions over that X session, of course.


About the variety of terminals, they usually exist for a given reason. xterm is pretty much the standard, and you will find it on most linuxes and other OSes, rxvt was born as a more featureful terminal, and rxvt-unicode came out because there wasn't anything with good utf8 suppot by that time, however nowadays it has evolved into a very complete product with lots of features that range from eye candy to other more advanced and not so widely used features.

Others like eterm, konsole or gnome-terminal are about integration with a given desktop or wm and about ease of use, with things like menus, config dialogs, etc.

There are also others that feature a quake-like console that can shade when you are not using it.

To suit all tastes.

[B3Co0L]

I see. Thanks both of you.
I am now crystal clear about it now. XD

[hazel]

A further point which might interest you is that linux virtual consoles are much easier to read than even a maximised xterm. You might therefore prefer then for reading documentation.

[vickey_20]

1. what is the difference between a Linux console and a virtual terminal?

ans: Linux provide different type of console which include

Physical Console
Virutal Console
Serial Console
System Console

The difference between a Linux console and a virtual console is that when a Virtual console is launched i.e when you login, the login scripts like /etc/profile and /etc/profile.d/ /etc/bashrc and many more, which is not the case in the local console called pts as you are already logged in as a VLU( Valid Linux User).

2. Why use other virtual terminal when there is a default "linux" console stored under /usr/share/terminfo/l in the desktop environment?

I think the answer for the 1 question pretty much ans this one too.