NAME

getty  − set terminal mode

SYNOPSIS

/etc/getty [ char ]

DESCRIPTION

Getty is invoked by init(8) immediately after a terminal is opened, following the making of a connection. While reading the name getty attempts to adapt the system to the speed and type of terminal being used. 

Init calls getty with an argument specified by the ttys file entry for the terminal line.  (see ttys(5)).  Normally, it sets the speed of the interface, specifies that raw mode is to be used (break on every character), that echo is to be suppressed, and either parity allowed.  It types a banner identifying the system (from /etc/ident and the ’login:’ message.  Then the user’s name is read, a character at a time. 

If a null or break character is received and the parameter to getty specifies a multiple speed line, getty will step to the next baud rate and start again. 

The user’s name is terminated by a new-line or carriage-return character.  The latter results in the system being set to treat carriage returns appropriately (see stty(2)).

The user’s name is scanned to see if it contains any lower-case alphabetic characters; if not, and if the name is nonempty, the system is told to map any future upper-case characters into the corresponding lower-case characters. 

Finally, login is called with the user’s name as argument. 

SEE ALSO

init(8), login(1), stty(2), ttys(5)

7th Edition