How do I switch virtual consoles in debian etch ?

I've just successfully upgraded one of my servers from sarge to etch.

Before the upgrade I had it booting to the console, rather than to X, as I rarely use X on my servers.

After the upgrade it booted into X. I tried to switch to the first virtual console, using the same key stroke I have been using since X first ran on Linux, i.e. Ctrl-Alt-F1. I didn't work, I am stuck in X.

Have they changed the keystroke or is something broken on my install ?

I tried Googling and didn't find anything, so I am assuming they haven't changed the keystroke.

Edit:

I should have said, I know how to kill off X via a "/etc/init.d/gdm stop", I'm just puzzled as to while virtual console switching isn't working anymore.

Oh, I remember this happening to me ... I'll have to look it up though.

In the meantime try:
chvt 1

from an
apt-get install console-tools

I think it's Ctrl-Alt-F5 to switch out of an X console. Or one of those F keys- try them all.

Have you got:
Code:

---

Section "ServerFlags"
...
        Option          "Allow VTSwitch"
...
EndSection

---

set in /etc/X11/xorg.conf ?

Or try this:
http://lists.freedesktop.org/archives/xorg/2004-September/003473.html

I think it may have been a keyboard config thing - I have a UK Microsoft keyboard....

my xorg.conf looks like this now:
Code:

---

Section "InputDevice"
        Identifier      "Keyboard"
        Driver          "kbd"
        Option          "CoreKeyboard"
        Option          "XkbRules"      "xfree86"
#       Option          "XkbModel"      "pc105"
        Option          "XkbModel"      "microsoft"
        Option          "XkbLayout"     "gb"
#       Option          "XkbGeometry"   "microsoft"
EndSection

---

It's Ctl-Alt and any Fn key - each goes to a different virtual terminal

I tried adding the AllowVTSwitch (and a few others suggested in that link), but no joy.

Thankfully it isn't something I really need to fix as I will never be using X on this box (I'll rarely even be using the console). Very annoying though.