GETTYTAB

Section: File Formats (5)
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BSD mandoc
BSD 4.2  

NAME

gettytab - terminal configuration data base  

SYNOPSIS

gettytab  

DESCRIPTION

The gettytab file is a simplified version of the termcap(5) data base 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 data base 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  num0backspace delay"
"bkstr0377alternate end of line character (input break)"
"cbboolfalseuse crt backspace mode"
"cdnum0carriage-return delay"
"ceboolfalseuse crt erase algorithm"
"ckboolfalseuse crt kill algorithm"
"clstr" Ta NULLTa screen clear sequence
"coboolfalseconsole - add"
`\n' after login prompt
"ds     str" Ta So ^Y Sc Ta delayed suspend character
"dx    bool    false   set"
DECCTLQ
"ecboolfalseleave echo"
OFF
"epboolfalseterminal uses even parity"
"erstr" Ta So ^? Sc Ta erase character
"etstr" Ta So ^D Sc Ta end of text
(EOF ) character
"ev     str" Ta NULL       Ta initial enviroment
"f0       num     unused  tty mode flags to write messages"
"f1numunusedtty mode flags to read login name"
"f2numunusedtty mode flags to leave terminal as"
"fdnum0form-feed (vertical motion) delay"
"flstr" Ta So ^O Sc Ta output flush character
"hcboolfalsedo"
NOT hangup line on last close
"he     str" Ta NULL       Ta hostname editing string
"hn  str     hostname        hostname"
"htboolfalseterminal has real tabs"
"igboolfalseignore garbage characters in login name"
"imstr" Ta NULL Ta initial (banner) message
"instr" Ta So ^C Sc Ta interrupt character
"isnumunusedinput speed"
"klstr" Ta So ^U Sc Ta kill character
"lcboolfalseterminal has lower case"
"lmstrlogin:login prompt"
"lnstr" Ta So ^V Sc Ta ``literal next'' character
"lostr" Ta /usr/bin/login Ta program to exec when name obtained
"ndnum0newline (line-feed) delay"
"nlboolfalseterminal has (or might have) a newline character"
"nxstrdefaultnext table (for auto speed selection)"
"opboolfalseterminal uses odd parity"
"osnumunusedoutput speed"
"pcstr" Ta So \0 Sc Ta pad character
"peboolfalseuse printer (hard copy) erase algorithm"
"pfnum0delay"
between first prompt and following flush (seconds)
"ps     bool    false   line connected to a"
MICOM port selector
"qu     str" Ta So ^\ Sc Ta quit character
"rp       str" Ta So ^R Sc Ta line retype character
"rwboolfalsedo"
NOT use raw for input, use cbreak
"sp     num     unused  line speed (input and output)"
"su     str" Ta So ^Z Sc Ta suspend character
"tcstrnonetable continuation"
"tonum0timeout (seconds)"
"ttstr" Ta NULL Ta terminal type (for environment)
"ubboolfalsedo unbuffered output (of prompts etc)"
"ucboolfalseterminal is known upper case only"
"westr" Ta So ^W Sc Ta word erase character
"xcboolfalsedo
NOT echo control chars as
`^X'
"xf str" Ta So ^S Sc Ta XOFF
(stop output) character
"xn     str" Ta So ^Q Sc Ta 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 ``/usr/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 non-zero timeout 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. The op string 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 a real crock. 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 stupid.

The termcap format is horrid, something more rational should have been chosen.  

HISTORY

The gettytab file format appeared in 4.2BSD.


 

Index

NAME
SYNOPSIS
DESCRIPTION
CAPABILITIES
SEE ALSO
BUGS
HISTORY

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Time: 06:35:01 GMT, May 19, 2025