AKBD(4) | Device Drivers Manual | AKBD(4)

# NAME

`akbd` — Apple Desktop Bus keyboard driver for wscons

# SYNOPSIS

`akbd* at obio?`
`wskbd* at akbd? console ?`

`options ALTXBUTTONS`
`options CAPS_IS_CONTROL`
`options EMULFKEYS`
`options FORCE_FUNCTION_KEYS`

# DESCRIPTION

This driver provides the wscons(4) driver with support for Apple Desktop Bus keyboards.

`options ALTXBUTTONS`
  To map ⟨Option⟩+⟨1⟩, ⟨Option⟩+⟨2⟩, ⟨Option⟩+⟨3⟩, to mouse buttons 1, 2, and 3 respectively.
`options CAPS_IS_CONTROL`
  On macppc systems it is possible to tweak the keyboard driver to treat the caps lock key on an ADB keyboard as a control key. This requires special remapping because of ADB's strange emulation of a mechanically-locked key.
`options EMULFKEYS`
  On mac68k especially PowerBooks that do not have function keys or on a standard keyboard this emulates function keys 1-8. To map ⟨Option⟩+⟨1⟩, ⟨Option⟩+⟨2⟩, ⟨Option⟩+⟨3⟩, ⟨Option⟩+⟨4⟩, ⟨Option⟩+⟨5⟩, ⟨Option⟩+⟨6⟩, ⟨Option⟩+⟨7⟩, ⟨Option⟩+⟨8⟩, to function keys 1 through to 8 respectively.

  This cannot be used in conjunction with `options ALTXBUTTONS`

`options FORCE_FUNCTION_KEYS`
  On macppc PowerBooks, several function keys double as “hot keys” (brightness, volume, eject) when the ⟨Fn⟩ modifier is held down. Mac OS X likes to reprogram the keyboard controller to send hot key events when ⟨Fn⟩ is not held down and send function key events when it is. With this option you can transform the non-keyboard “button” events back into function key events.

## Special Keys

To work around the limited number of buttons found on most ADB mice, the following key sequences trigger mouse button events:

- ⟨Option⟩+⟨LeftArrow⟩ will work as the middle mouse button.
- ⟨Option⟩+⟨RightArrow⟩ will work as the right mouse button.

On PowerBook (mac68k) models the following key sequences are also significant:

- ⟨Option⟩+⟨UpArrow⟩ increase screen brightness.
- ⟨Option⟩+⟨DownArrow⟩ decrease screen brightness.

## Supported Hardware

NetBSD is known to support the following ADB keyboards:

- On-board keyboards on PowerBook models
- Apple Standard Keyboard
- Apple Keyboard II
- Apple Extended Keyboard
- Apple Extended Keyboard II
- Apple Adjustable Keyboard
- Most third-party ADB keyboards are supported

# SEE ALSO

xmodmap(1), adb(4), wscons(4), wskbd(4), wsconsctl(8)

# BUGS

The number pad on extended keyboards does not send out the proper key codes for many applications.

The LEDs on extended keyboards are not functional under NetBSD.

In X11 with the default key mapping, middle and right mouse button events will hold ‘`Meta_L`’ and this will clobber the intended mouse button. ⟨Option⟩ should be remapped with xmodmap(1) to the ⟨Command⟩ key:

    remove Mod4 = Super_L
    remove Mod1 = Alt_L
    add Mod1 = Super_L

May 17, 2026 | NetBSD 11.99