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3.2.1. How To Get a Command Line
When your system is working properly, the easiest way to access the command line is to run a terminal in your graphical desktop session.
Figure 3.1 Starting GNOME Terminal
For instance, on a default Kali Linux system, GNOME Terminal can be started from the list of fa- vorite applications. You can also type “terminal” while in the Activities screen (the one that gets activated when you move the mouse to the top-left corner) and click on the correct application icon that appears (Figure 3.1, “Starting GNOME Terminal” [page 51]).
In the event that your graphical interface is broken, you can still get a command line on virtual consoles (up to six of them can be accessible through the six key combinations of CTRL+ALT+F1 through CTRL+ALT+F6 — the CTRL key can be omitted if you are already in text mode, outside of Xorg or Wayland’s graphical interface). You get a very basic login screen where you enter your login and password before being granted access to the command line with its shell:
Kali GNU/Linux Rolling kali-rolling tty3 kali-rolling login: root
Password:
Last login: Fir Mar 25 12:30:05 EDT 2016 from 192.168.122.1 on pts/2
Linux kali-rolling 4.4.0-kali1-amd4 #1 SMP Debian 4.4.6-1kali1 (2016-03-18) x86_64
The programs included with the Kali GNU/Linux system are free software; the exact distribution terms for each program are described in the individual files in /usr/share/doc/*/copyright.
Kali GNU/Linux comes with ABSOLUTELY NO WARRANTY, to the extent permitted by applicable law.
root@kali-rolling:~#
Kali GNU/Linux Rolling kali-rolling tty3 kali-rolling login: root
Password:
Last login: Fir Mar 25 12:30:05 EDT 2016 from 192.168.122.1 on pts/2
Linux kali-rolling 4.4.0-kali1-amd4 #1 SMP Debian 4.4.6-1kali1 (2016-03-18) x86_64
The programs included with the Kali GNU/Linux system are free software; the exact distribution terms for each program are described in the individual files in /usr/share/doc/*/copyright.
Kali GNU/Linux comes with ABSOLUTELY NO WARRANTY, to the extent permitted by applicable law.
root@kali-rolling:~#
The program handling your input and executing your commands is called a shell (or a command- line interpreter). The default shell provided in Kali Linux is Bash (it stands for Bourne Again SHell). The trailing “$“ or “#” character indicates that the shell is awaiting your input. It also indicates whether Bash recognizes you as a normal user (the former case with the dollar) or as a super user (the latter case with the hash).