---
name: "fgetty"
section: "8"
platform: "linux"
package: "fgetty"
version: "0.7-11"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/fgetty"
---

# fgetty(8)

a small getty for linux

## NAME

fgetty - a small getty for linux

## SYNOPSIS

**fgetty** *tty* \[*--noclear*\] \[*--long-hostname*\]

## DESCRIPTION

The command **fgetty** is normally invoked by *[init(8)](/init/8.md)*, opens a tty port, prompts for a login name and invokes the /bin/login command.

## OPTIONS

**--noclear** makes fgetty not clear the screen before displaying the login prompt.

**--long-hostname** makes fgetty display the full hostname in the login prompt.

## FILES

| | |
| --- | --- |
| /etc/issue | printed before the login prompt |
| /etc/inittab | [*init*(8)](/init/8.md) configuration file |
| /var/run/utmp | the system status file |

## ISSUE ESCAPES

The issue-file (*/etc/issue* or the file may contain certain escape codes to display the system name, date and time etc. All escape codes consist of a backslash (\\) immediately followed by one of the letters explained below.

- d

  the current date. (eg: 2002-01-19)

- s

  the system name, the name of the operating system. (eg: Linux)

- l

  the name of the current tty line. (eg: tty3)

- m

  the architecture identifier of the machine (eg: i586)

- n

  the nodename of the machine, also known as the hostname. (eg: sirius)

- o

  the domainname of the machine. (eg: (none))

- r

  the release number of the OS. (eg: 2.4.3-i)

- t

  the current time. (eg: 14:51:51)

- u

  the number of current users logged in. (eg: 4)

- U

  the string "1 user" or "\<n\> users", where \<n\> is the number of current users logged in. (eg: 4 users)

- v

  Insert the version of the OS. (eg: #2 Fre Jan 18 23:05:45 CET 2002)

## ENVIRONMENT VARIABLES

| | |
| --- | --- |
| HOST | is set to your hostname |
| TERM | is set to linux |
| TTY | is set to the current tty line |

## RETURN VALUES

| | |
| --- | --- |
| **1** | could not chown/chmod tty device |
| **3** | could not open tty device |
| **4** | not a typewriter |
| **5** | vhangup failed |
| **6** | could not open tty (can't happen) |
| **7** | dup failed |
| **8** | could not exec login |
| **9** | read returned an unexpected error |
| **10** | unprintable character in login name |
| **11** | login name too long (\>40) |
| **13** | user name started with a dash |
| **23** | received SIGQUIT |

## AUTHOR

Felix von Leitner \<felix-fgetty@fefe.de\>

Homepage: http://www.fefe.de/fgetty/