ttys(5) - NetBSD Manual Pages

TTYS(5)                   NetBSD Programmer's Manual                   TTYS(5)


NAME

     ttys - terminal initialization information


DESCRIPTION

     The file ttys contains information that is used by various routines to
     initialize and control the use of terminal special files.  This informa-
     tion is read with the getttyent(3) library routines.  There is one line
     in the ttys file per special device file.  Fields are separated by tabs
     and/or spaces.  Fields comprising more than one word should be enclosed
     in double quotes (``"'').  Blank lines and comments may appear anywhere
     in the file; comments are delimited by hash marks (``#'') and new lines.
     Any unspecified fields will default to null.

     The first field is the name of the terminal special file as it is found
     in /dev.

     The second field of the file is the command to execute for the line, usu-
     ally getty(8), which initializes and opens the line, setting the speed,
     waiting for a user name and executing the login(1) program.  It can be,
     however, any desired command, for example the start up for a window sys-
     tem terminal emulator or some other daemon process, and can contain mul-
     tiple words if quoted.

     The third field is the type of terminal usually connected to that tty
     line, normally the one found in the termcap(5) data base file.  The envi-
     ronment variable TERM is initialized with the value by either getty(8) or
     login(1).

     The remaining fields set flags in the ty_status entry (see getttyent(3))
     or specify a window system process that init(8) will maintain for the
     terminal line or a key into a database of tty attributes (currently un-
     used).

     As flag values, the strings ``on'' and ``off'' specify that init(8)
     should (should not) execute the command given in the second field, while
     ``secure'' (if ``on'' is also specified) allows users with a uid of 0 to
     login on this line.  The flags ``local'', ``rtscts'', ``mdmbuf'', and
     ``softcar'' modify the default behaviour of the terminal line, and their
     actions are driver dependent.  The ``local'' flag causes the driver to
     treat the line as if it locally connected.  The ``rtscts'' flag instructs
     the driver to use RTS/CTS hardware flow control, if possible.  The ``mdm-
     buf'' flag instructs the driver to use DTR/DCD flow control, if possible.
     The ``softcar'' flag causes the driver to ignore hardware carrier on the
     line.  These flag fields should not be quoted.

     The string ``window='' may be followed by a quoted command string which
     init(8) will execute before starting the command specified by the second
     field.

     The string ``class='' may be followed by a quoted string used as a key
     into a database of attributes for that category of tty.  See getttynam(3)
     for more information on this feature.

     After changing the ttys file a SIGHUP signal can be sent to init(8) with
     the command ``kill -s HUP 1''.  On receipt of this signal, init(8) will
     re-read the ttys file and spawn any necessary getty(8) processes.


EXAMPLES

     # root login on console at 1200 baud
     console "/usr/libexec/getty std.1200"   vt100   on secure
     # dialup at 1200 baud, no root logins
     ttyd0   "/usr/libexec/getty d1200"      dialup  on      # 555-1234
     # Mike's terminal: hp2621
     ttyh0   "/usr/libexec/getty std.9600"   hp2621-nl       on      # 457 Evans
     # John's terminal: vt100
     ttyh1   "/usr/libexec/getty std.9600"   vt100   on              # 459 Evans
     # terminal emulate/window system
     ttyv0   "/usr/new/xterm -L :0"          vs100   on window="/usr/new/Xvs100 0"
     # Network pseudo ttys -- don't enable getty
     ttyp0   none    network
     ttyp1   none    network off


FILES

     /etc/ttys


SEE ALSO

     login(1), getttyent(3), ttyslot(3), gettytab(5), termcap(5), getty(8),
     init(8), ttyflags(8)


HISTORY

     A ttys file appeared in Version 6 AT&T UNIX.

NetBSD 1.4                       June 4, 1993                                2