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login(1)

termcap(5)

getty(8)

GETTYTAB(5)                          BSD                           GETTYTAB(5)



NAME
     gettytab - terminal configuration database

SYNOPSIS
     /etc/gettytab

DESCRIPTION
     gettytab is a simplified version of the termcap(5) database used to
     describe terminal lines.  The initial terminal login process getty(8)
     accesses the gettytab file each time it starts, allowing simpler
     reconfiguration of terminal characteristics.  Each entry in the database
     is used to describe one class of terminals.

     There is a default terminal class, default, that is used to set global
     defaults for all other classes.  (That is, the default entry is read,
     then the entry for the class required is used to override particular
     settings.)

CAPABILITIES
     Refer to termcap(5) for a description of the file layout.  The default
     column below lists defaults obtained if there is no entry in the table
     obtained, nor one in the special default table.

     Name   Type  Default        Description
     ap     bool  false          terminal uses any parity
     bd     num   0              backspace delay
     bk     str   0377           alternate end of line character (input break)
     cb     bool  false          use crt backspace mode
     cd     num   0              carriage-return delay
     ce     bool  false          use crt erase algorithm
     ck     bool  false          use crt kill algorithm
     cl     str   NULL           screen clear sequence
     co     bool  false          console - add \n after login prompt
     ds     str   ^Y             delayed suspend character
     dx     bool  false          set DECCTLQ
     ec     bool  false          leave echo OFF
     ep     bool  false          terminal uses even parity
     er     str   ^?             erase character
     et     str   ^D             end of text (EOF) character
     ev     str   NULL           initial enviroment
     f0     num   unused         tty mode flags to write messages
     f1     num   unused         tty mode flags to read login name
     f2     num   unused         tty mode flags to leave terminal as
     fd     num   0              form-feed (vertical motion) delay
     fl     str   ^O             output flush character
     hc     bool  false          do NOT hangup line on last close
     he     str   NULL           hostname editing string
     hn     str   hostname       hostname
     ht     bool  false          terminal has real tabs
     ig     bool  false          ignore garbage characters in login name
     im     str   NULL           initial (banner) message
     in     str   ^C             interrupt character
     is     num   unused         input speed
     kl     str   ^U             kill character
     lc     bool  false          terminal has lowercase
     lm     str   login:         login prompt
     ln     str   ^V             "literal next" character
     lo     str   /bin/login     program to exec when name obtained
     nd     num   0              newline (line-feed) delay
     nl     bool  false          terminal has (or might have) a newline character
     nx     str   default        next table (for auto speed selection)
     op     bool  false          terminal uses odd parity
     os     num   unused         output speed
     pc     str   \0             pad character
     pe     bool  false          use printer (hard copy) erase algorithm
     pf     num   0              delay between first prompt and following flush (seconds)
     ps     bool  false          line connected to a MICOM port selector
     qu     str   ^\             quit character
     rp     str   ^R             line retype character
     rw     bool  false          do NOT use raw for input, use cbreak
     sp     num   unused         line speed (input and output)
     su     str   ^Z             suspend character
     tc     str   none           table continuation
     to     num   0              time-out (seconds)
     tt     str   NULL           terminal type (for enviroment)
     ub     bool  false          do unbuffered output (of prompts etc)
     uc     bool  false          terminal is known uppercase only
     we     str   ^W             word erase character
     xc     bool  false          do NOT echo control chars as ^X
     xf     str   ^S             XOFF (stop output) character
     xn     str   ^Q             XON (start output) character

     If no line speed is specified, speed will not be altered from that which
     prevails when getty is entered.  Specifying an input or output speed will
     override line speed for stated direction only.

     Terminal modes to be used for the output of the message, for input of the
     login name, and to leave the terminal set as upon completion, are derived
     from the Boolean flags specified.  If the derivation should prove
     inadequate, any (or all) of these three may be overriden with one of the
     f0, f1, or f2 numeric specifications, which can be used to specify
     (usually in octal, with a leading '0') the exact values of the flags.
     Local (new tty) flags are set in the top 16 bits of this (32 bit) value.

     Should getty receive a null character (presumed to indicate a line break)
     it will restart using the table indicated by the nx entry. If there is
     none, it will re-use its original table.

     Delays are specified in milliseconds, the nearest possible delay
     available in the tty driver will be used.  Should greater certainty be
     desired, delays with values 0, 1, 2, and 3 are interpreted as choosing
     that particular delay algorithm from the driver.

     The cl screen clear string may be preceded by a (decimal) number of
     milliseconds of delay required (a la termcap).  This delay is simulated
     by repeated use of the pad character pc.

     The initial message, and login message, im and lm may include the
     character sequence %h or %t to obtain the hostname or tty name
     respectively.  (%% obtains a single '%' character.)  The hostname is
     normally obtained from the system, but may be set by the hn table entry.
     In either case it may be edited with he.  The he string is a sequence of
     characters, each character that is neither '@' nor '#' is copied into the
     final hostname.  A '@' in the he string, causes one character from the
     real hostname to be copied to the final hostname.  A '#' in the he
     string, causes the next character of the real hostname to be skipped.
     Surplus '@' and '#' characters are ignored.

     When getty execs the login process, given in the lo string (usually
     "/bin/login"), it will have set the enviroment to include the terminal
     type, as indicated by the tt string (if it exists).  The ev string, can
     be used to enter additional data into the environment.  It is a list of
     comma separated strings, each of which will presumably be of the form
     name=value.

     If a nonzero time-out is specified, with to, then getty will exit within
     the indicated number of seconds, either having received a login name and
     passed control to login, or having received an alarm signal, and exited.
     This may be useful to hangup dial in lines.

     Output from getty is even parity unless op is specified.  Op may be
     specified with ap to allow any parity on input, but generate odd parity
     output.  Note: this only applies while getty is being run, terminal
     driver limitations prevent a more complete implementation.  getty does
     not check parity of input characters in RAW mode.

SEE ALSO
     login(1), termcap(5), getty(8).

BUGS
     The special characters (erase, kill, etc.) are reset to system defaults
     by login(1).  In all cases, '#' or '^H' typed in a login name will be
     treated as an erase character, and '@' will be treated as a kill
     character.

     The delay stuff is not designed as well as it might have been.  Apart
     form its general lack of flexibility, some of the delay algorithms are
     not implemented.  The terminal driver should support sane delay settings.

     The he capability is pointless.

     Something more rational than termcap format should have been chosen.

Typewritten Software • bear@typewritten.org • Edmonds, WA 98026