This is a text-only version of the following page on https://raymii.org: --- Title : Run software on the tty1 console instead of getty login on Ubuntu 14.04 and 16.04 Author : Remy van Elst Date : 10-04-2017 URL : https://raymii.org/s/tutorials/Run_software_on_tty1_console_instead_of_login_getty.html Format : Markdown/HTML --- Recently I wanted to change the default login prompt on the `tty1` console on an OpenStack instance to automatically run `htop`. Instead of logging in via the console, I wanted it to start up `htop` right away and nothing else. Ubuntu 14.04 uses `init` and Ubuntu 16.04 uses systemd. Both ways are shown in this tutorial.

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Here's what the default login prompt on the console looks: ![][2] And here is the result, `htop` running without ever logging in: ![][3] Do note that you loose the ability to login via the regular console this way. `ssh` is your only means of access. Do note that the software is run as root. If you for example want to run `vim` you also can escape to a shell. `htop` as far as I know doesn't allow command execution. On Ubuntu 14.04, edit the following file: vim /etc/init/tty1.conf Replace: exec /sbin/getty -8 38400 tty1 with: exec /usr/bin/htop /dev/tty1 2>&1 Use full paths and make sure output and input are redirected (` /dev/tty1 2>&1`). On Ubuntu 16.04 stuff changes due to `systemd`. No longer can you use output redirection, this is now all handled via `systemd`. Create an override folder for the `getty@tty1` service first: mkdir /etc/systemd/system/getty@tty1.service.d/ Edit the override file: vim /etc/systemd/system/getty@tty1.service.d/override.conf Place the following: [Service] ExecStart= ExecStart=-/usr/bin/htop StandardInput=tty StandardOutput=tty Now reload the unit files and restart the service. `htop` should appear on your prompt: systemctl daemon-reload; systemctl restart getty@tty1.service Or just do a `reboot`. As a bonus, you can also install `hollywood`: apt-get install tmux hollywood # fill your console with Hollywood melodrama technobabble and set that up to autorun on the console. Use the following in the `systemd` file otherwise `byobu` will complain about wrong permissions on your homefolder: /usr/bin/sudo -H /usr/bin/hollywood Much fun: ![][4] [1]: https://www.digitalocean.com/?refcode=7435ae6b8212 [2]: https://raymii.org/s/inc/img/console1.png [3]: https://raymii.org/s/inc/img/console2.png [4]: https://raymii.org/s/inc/img/console3.png --- License: All the text on this website is free as in freedom unless stated otherwise. This means you can use it in any way you want, you can copy it, change it the way you like and republish it, as long as you release the (modified) content under the same license to give others the same freedoms you've got and place my name and a link to this site with the article as source. This site uses Google Analytics for statistics and Google Adwords for advertisements. You are tracked and Google knows everything about you. Use an adblocker like ublock-origin if you don't want it. All the code on this website is licensed under the GNU GPL v3 license unless already licensed under a license which does not allows this form of licensing or if another license is stated on that page / in that software: This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or (at your option) any later version. This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU General Public License for more details. You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along with this program. If not, see . Just to be clear, the information on this website is for meant for educational purposes and you use it at your own risk. I do not take responsibility if you screw something up. Use common sense, do not 'rm -rf /' as root for example. If you have any questions then do not hesitate to contact me. See https://raymii.org/s/static/About.html for details.