Using Virtual Console
Linux Commands - Basic Commands

Using Virtual Console to Fix Problems

Linux distributions are multiterminal systems so that one user is able to log into the system several different times using virtual terminals or one user can log into the system several times using different logins.

CTRL+ALT+F1
CTRL+ALT+F2
CTRL+ALT+F3
CTRL+ALT+F4
CTRL+ALT+F5
CTRL+ALT+F6
CTRL+ALT+F7 – original runlevel 5

The great advantage here is that if you experience difficulties as a user in the graphical interface and cannot get anything to work you can switch to a virtual terminal as root and fix the problem.