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VLOCK(1)                    General Commands Manual                   VLOCK(1)

NAME
       vlock - Virtual Console lock program
SYNOPSIS
       vlock
       vlock [ -a,--all ] [ -c,--current ] [ -h,--help ] [ -v,--version ]
DESCRIPTION
       vlock  is  a program to lock one or more sessions on the Linux console.
       This is especially useful for Linux machines which have multiple  users
       with  access  to  the console.  One user may lock his or her session(s)
       while still allowing other users to use the  system  on  other  virtual
       consoles.   If  desired,  the  entire console may be locked and virtual
       console switching disabled.
       By default, only the current VC (virtual console) is locked.  With  the
       -a,-all  option  all VCs are locked.  The locked VCs cannot be unlocked
       without the invoker's password.  And, for the paranoid, vlock makes  it
       a  trying  experience  for  those  attempting to guess the password, so
       unauthorized access to session(s) is highly unlikely.
       Please note that it is entirely possible to  completely  lock  yourself
       out of the console with the -a,--all option if you cannot remember your
       password!  Unless you are able to kill vlock by logging in remotely via
       a  serial  terminal  or  network,  a  hard  reset is the only method of
       ``unlocking'' the display.
       vlock works for console sessions primarily.  However, there is  support
       for  trying  to lock non-console sessions as well, but that support has
       not been well tested.
OPTIONS
       -a,--all
              Lock all console sessions and disable VC switching.
       -c,--current
              Lock the current session (this is the default).
       -h,--help
              Print a brief help message.
       -v,--version
              Print the version number of vlock.
AUTHOR
       Michael K. Johnson <johnsonm AT redhat.com>

Linux User's Manual               16 May 1996                         VLOCK(1)