Unusual mode? Options

[nwilkins83]

Hello,

So last night before I went home my second machine (a desktop I use to run Linux) went into a mode I haven't seen before.
The screen went black and a Unix prompt started as if the whole screen was now a terminal window wanting me to login.
I can see from exceed and remote login that the stuff I was using is still there on the machine...

How do I get back to the normal screen?

Thanks

[michaelk]

As posted in your other threads you can switch between console mode and desktop by pressing ctrl-alt-F1 and ctrl-alt-F7. There are actually 6 virtual terminals that you can switch between in console mode by pressing alt-F1 to alt-F6. Console mode is typical for severs or computers that do not run a desktop (no x server). linux is a multiuser operating system.

For a little bit of history... A terminal was a physical piece of equipment (search for DEC VT100) that connected to a main frame using RS-232 i.e. a serial port. Basically a monitor and keyboard. The terminal window in the desktop and virtual terminal in console mode emulate the functionality of the original terminal.