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# 3. Virtual Consoles

VCs are a great way to free up memory. Most Linux distributions run about 6 of them out of the box. On average running 6 VCs requires about 4MB of memory. Removing a couple of them can free up a couple MBs of memory. Most users can get away with running only 3 or 4 VCs. How many you choose to remove is a matter personal preference. Just remember that the fewer you run, the more memory your applications will have to run.

The file which outlines how many VCs get loaded is `/etc/inittab`. In order to remove VCs:

1. Load `/etc/inittab` in a text editor.

2. Look for a line which looks like the following line (the key feature being a line which starts with c1):

       c1:12345:respawn:/sbin/getty tty1 38400
       					linux

   Start at the highest number (i.e. c6) and comment it out by inserting a '#' in the first row. Repeat this step as many times as needed. Remember every line you comment out is one less VC running.

3. Re-boot the system for your changes to take effect.

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