Hi all,

Until documentation or on-screen instructions make this unnecessary,
this email serves to document various actions the user can perform
while on Devuan's login screen. The login screen is that screen that
asks for your username, and then after that, it asks for your password.
It typically is either green or purplish. Either way, it consists of a
slightly lighter and slightly darker version of its color, has two
broadly sweeping curves, and has in large lowercase letters the word
"login". It has an input field, and just above the input field, in
tiny black letters, is written the string "username".

The most usual way it's used is the user types in his username into the
input field, presses the Enter key, after which the tiny "username:"
changes to "password:". The user then types his password, hits Enter,
and if the username and password were correct, he is logged in.


CHANGING WINDOW MANAGER / DESKTOP ENVIRONMENT

If the user wants to change the window manager / desktop environment
(wmde) he will log into, he presses the F1 key to cycle through all the
installed wmde's, and stops when the desired wmde is written on the
screen.

This functionality has no memory. At every new login, without the F1
key, every user's wmde will be the default wmde, which is the one
specified at installation. There is no capacity to remember different
wmde's for different users: A user desiring a non-default WMDE simply
needs to remember to cycle through wmde's with the F1 key on every
login.


SPECIAL USERNAMES

The login screen has no controls other than the input field. So how do
you reboot, halt or go to a console from the login screen? The answer
is, you use a special username.

For instance, to reboot the computer from the login screen, type in the
username "reboot" (without the quotes), then when asked for the
password put the root password, and it reboots. If you want to halt,
use the username "halt". To go to a console, use "console" without any
password. A little console appears, asking you for username and
password. When you exit the console via the exit command or Ctrl+d on
the console, you go back to the login screen.

SteveT

Steve Litt 
July 2016 featured book: Troubleshooting Techniques
     of the Successful Technologist
http://www.troubleshooters.com/techniques