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 information 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 comprised of 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, usually 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 system terminal emulator or some other daemon process, and can contain multiple 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 environment 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. The following is a list of permitted flags for each tty:

on

Specify that init should execute the command given in the second field.

off

The opposite of on.

secure

if on is also specified, allows users with a uid of 0 to login on this line.

Additionally, the following flags modify the default behaviour of the terminal line. Some of these flags may not be support by a terminal line driver.

local

Treat the line as if it is locally connected.

rtscts

Use RTS/CTS hardware flow control, if possible.

mdmbuf

Use DTR/DCD flow control if possible.

softcar 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 will execute before starting the command specified by the second field.

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.

Table of Contents

• Name
• Description
• Examples
• Files
• See Also
• History