How can I get autologin at startup working on Ubuntu Server 16.04.1?

Question

I have a problem with autologin at startup in Ubuntu Server 16.04.1 LTS.

I use this server only for listening internet radio so I do not care about security.

I was able to create a bash script to auto start mplayer but can't configure autologin.

I've tried at least 4 solutions (always editing the file /etc/init/tty1.conf and of course replacing USERNAME with actual user name):

1. change the line from

   exec /sbin/getty -8 38400 tty1
   

   to

   exec /sbin/getty -8 38400 tty1 -a USERNAME 
   

2. change the line from

   exec /sbin/getty -8 38400 tty1
   

   to

   exec /bin/login -f USERNAME < /dev/tty1 > /dev/tty1 2>&1
   

3. Install rungetty, comment the line

   exec /sbin/getty -8 38400 tty1
   

   and add the line

   exec /sbin/rungetty --autologin USERNAME tty1 
   

4. Install mingetty, comment the line

   exec /sbin/getty -8 38400 tty1
   

   and add the line

   exec /sbin/mingetty --autologin USERNAME tty1
   

Nothing helps - I have to input my login and password at startup - any ideas what to do?

Answer 1

Try this:

sudo systemctl edit getty@tty1.service

This will the create a drop-in file (if neccessary) and open it an editor. Add the following, replacing myusername with your user name:

[Service]
ExecStart=
ExecStart=-/sbin/agetty --noissue --autologin myusername %I $TERM
Type=idle

This will:

• Create the folder /etc/systemd/system/getty@tty1.service.d if necessary
• Create the file /etc/systemd/system/getty@tty1.service.d/override.conf if necessary

Answer 2

agetty opens a tty port, prompts for a login name and invokes the /bin/login command.

This file overrides the config by default of agetty on systemd for tty1. This provides a new instance of tty1 with autologin for the user specified.

By the way, the parameter --noissue is used to hide the contents of /etc/issue on login, so not needed in your case.

The option Type=idle found in the default getty@.service will delay the service startup until all jobs are completed in order to avoid polluting the login prompt with boot-up messages. When starting X automatically, it may be useful to start getty@tty1.service immediately by adding Type=simple into the file.

More info: getty: Archlinux.org