Text-Terminal-HOWTO

David S. Lawyer

1. Introduction

• 1.1 Copyright, Disclaimer, and Author
• 1.2 What is a Terminal ?
• 1.3 Dumb Terminals
• 1.4 Types of Terminals
• 1.5 Terminology

2. Quick Install

3. Why Use a Terminal ?

• 3.1 Introduction
• 3.2 Lower Hardware Costs
• 3.3 Control of Software
• 3.4 Hardware Upgrades
• 3.5 Other Advantages of Terminals
• 3.6 Major Disadvantages of Terminals
• 3.7 Are Text Terminals Obsolete ?

4. Overview of How Terminals Work (in Linux)

• 4.1 Device Names
• 4.2 Login/Logout
• 4.3 Half/Full Duplex
• 4.4 Terminal Memory
• 4.5 Commands for the Terminal
• 4.6 Lack of Standardization Solved by Terminfo
• 4.7 The Interface
• 4.8 Emulation
• 4.9 The Console

5. Terminal Special Files: /dev/tty... etc.

• 5.1 Serial Port Terminals
• 5.2 Pseudo Terminals
• 5.3 The Controlling Terminal /dev/tty
• 5.4 /dev/ttyI? "Terminals"
• 5.5 The Console: /dev/tty?
• 5.6 Creating a Device with mknod

6. Some Details on How Terminals Work

• 6.1 Terminal Memory
• 6.2 Early Terminals
• 6.3 Control Codes and Escape Sequences

7. Special Capabilities of Some Terminals

• 7.1 Color
• 7.2 Dual Sessions
• 7.3 Printer/Auxiliary Port
• 7.4 Character-Sets
• 7.5 Fonts
• 7.6 Keyboards & Special Keys
• 7.7 The Linux Console

8. Notes by Brand Name

• 8.1 CIT
• 8.2 IBM
• 8.3 Teletypes
• 8.4 VT (DEC)

9. Serial Communications on EIA-232 (RS-232)

• 9.1 Introduction
• 9.2 Voltages
• 9.3 Parity Explained
• 9.4 Forming a Byte (Framing)
• 9.5 Limitations of EIA-232
• 9.6 Synchronization & Synchronous
• 9.7 Block Mode
• 9.8 EIA-232 (RS-232) Books

10. Flow Control (Handshaking)

• 10.1 Why Is Flow Control Needed ?
• 10.2 Overrunning a Serial Port
• 10.3 Stop Sending
• 10.4 Resume Sending
• 10.5 Hardware Flow Control (RTS/CTS etc.)
• 10.6 Is Hardware Flow Control Done by Hardware ?
• 10.7 Obsolete ETX/ACK Flow Control

11. Physical Connection

• 11.1 Direct Cable Connection.
• 11.2 Modem Connection
• 11.3 Terminal Server Connection
• 11.4 Making or Modifying a Cable

12. Set-Up (Configure) for both Computer & Terminal

• 12.1 Introduction
• 12.2 Terminal Set-Up
• 12.3 At the Computer
• 12.4 Communication Interface Settings
• 12.5 Rarely Needed /etc/ttytype File
• 12.6 Login Restrictions
• 12.7 Run Command Only If TERM=my_term_type

13. Terminfo and Termcap (detailed)

• 13.1 Introduction
• 13.2 Terminfo Database
• 13.3 Initialization
• 13.4 TERM Variable
• 13.5 Termcap Documents

14. Using the Terminal

• 14.1 Introduction
• 14.2 Starting Up the Terminal
• 14.3 Terminal Device Driver
• 14.4 Corrupted Terminal Interface
• 14.5 Special (Control) Characters
• 14.6 Inspecting the Interface
• 14.7 Changing the Terminal Settings

15. Trouble-Shooting (software)

• 15.1 Terminal Was Working OK
• 15.2 Terminal Newly Installed
• 15.3 Is the Terminal OK ?
• 15.4 Missing Text
• 15.5 Getty Respawning Too Rapidly
• 15.6 Fails Just After Login
• 15.7 Can't Login
• 15.8 Garbled Login Prompt
• 15.9 No Sign of any Login Prompt
• 15.10 Serial Test Equipment

16. Repair & Diagnose

• 16.1 Repair Books & Websites
• 16.2 Safety
• 16.3 Appearance of Display
• 16.4 Diagnose
• 16.5 Capacitors
• 16.6 Keyboards

17. Appendix

• 17.1 List of Linux Terminal Commands
• 17.2 The Internet and Books