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

Question

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.

htorque · Accepted Answer · 2011-07-28T08:55:11.873

58

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

Use Ctrl + Alt + 2 to switch to the QEMU console.
Type sendkey ctrl-alt-f1 and press Enter.
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.

edited Jul 28 '11 at 08:55

answered Jul 28 '11 at 08:43

htorque

64,798

+1, it works if you don't set -monitor stdio (as do aqemu GUI by default) – enzotib Jul 28 '11 at 20:00
When I do Ctrl-Alt-2 to switch to the QEMU console, I see grey-on-blue text saying "parallel0 console". None of my further keypresses seem to do anything; or if they do, they don't echo. Certainly finishing with a newline/enter has no effect at all. Am I missing something? – J-P Feb 13 '13 at 20:05
For some reason it doesn't work when QEMU is running under Gnome Boxes. – Hi-Angel Feb 23 '22 at 17:45

score 22 · Answer 2 · answered Mar 14 '15 at 15:16

22

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

answered Mar 14 '15 at 15:16

Manolis Ragkousis

320

2

Works on QEMU 2 Ubuntu 14.04 and https://github.com/cirosantilli/runlinux The lack of upvotes for this best answer must imply it is a new feature :-) – Ciro Santilli OurBigBook.com Oct 25 '15 at 18:31
Well I am using it for quite some time now but I can't remember where/when I first read about it :) – Manolis Ragkousis Feb 06 '16 at 16:51
1

Doesn't work for me on qemu 2.8.1 on Debian. – David Given May 24 '17 at 20:17

score 6 · Answer 3 · edited Sep 26 '12 at 14:22

6

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.

edited Sep 26 '12 at 14:22

Peachy

7,117
10
38
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answered Sep 26 '12 at 12:32

Albert van Zyl

61

Could not get his working in QEMU 2 Ubuntu 14.04. Can you link to the docs? – Ciro Santilli OurBigBook.com Oct 25 '15 at 18:29
1

Doesn't work for me on qemu 2.8.1 on Debian. – David Given May 24 '17 at 20:17

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

3 Answers3