GETTYTAB(5) | File Formats Manual | GETTYTAB(5)

# NAME

`gettytab` —
terminal configuration data base

# SYNOPSIS

`gettytab` |

# DESCRIPTION

The `gettytab` file is a simplified version of the capfile(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.

Where to run getty(8) processes is normally defined by ttys(5).

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.) The `default` entry is also normally read by other programs that present login prompts to the user, such as telnetd(8), in order to retrieve the values of the `he`, `hn`, `im`, and `if` capabilities.

# CAPABILITIES

Refer to capfile(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
`ab` | bool | false | Auto-baud speed select mechanism for the Micom 600 portselector. Selection is done by looking at how the character ‘`\r`’ is garbled at 300, 1200, 4800, and 9600 baud.
`al` | str | `NULL` | user to auto-login instead of prompting
`ap` | bool | false | terminal uses any parity
`bk` | str | `\377` | alternative end of line character (input break) (`VEOL`)
`b2` | str | `\377` | alternative end of line character (input break) (`VEOL2`)
`c0` | num | unused | tty control flags to write messages
`c1` | num | unused | tty control flags to read login name
`c2` | num | unused | tty control flags to leave terminal as
`ce` | bool | false | use CRT erase algorithm
`ck` | bool | false | use CRT kill algorithm
`cl` | str | `NULL` | screen clear sequence
`co` | bool | false | console – add ‘`\r\n`’ after login prompt
`cs` | bool | false | clear screen based on terminal type in /etc/ttys
`ds` | str | ‘`^Y`’ | delayed suspend character (`VDSUSP`)
`dx` | bool | false | set `DECCTLQ`
`ec` | bool | false | leave echo OFF
`ep` | bool | false | terminal uses even parity
`er` | str | ‘`^?`’ | erase character (`VERASE`)
`et` | str | ‘`^D`’ | end of text (`VEOF`) character
`ev` | str | `NULL` | initial environment
`f0` | num | unused | tty mode flags to write messages
`f1` | num | unused | tty mode flags to read login name
`f2` | num | unused | tty mode flags to leave terminal as
`fl` | str | ‘`^O`’ | output flush character (`VDISCARD`)
`hc` | bool | false | do NOT hangup line on last close
`he` | str | `NULL` | hostname editing string
`hn` | str | hostname | hostname
`ht` | bool | false | terminal has real tabs
`i0` | num | unused | tty input flags to write messages
`i1` | num | unused | tty input flags to read login name
`i2` | num | unused | tty input flags to leave terminal as
`if` | str | `NULL` | display named file before prompt, like /etc/issue
`ig` | bool | false | ignore garbage characters in login name
`im` | str | `NULL` | initial (banner) message
`in` | str | ‘`^C`’ | interrupt character (`VINTR`)
`is` | num | unused | input speed
`kl` | str | ‘`^U`’ | kill character (`VKILL`)
`l0` | num | unused | tty local flags to write messages
`l1` | num | unused | tty local flags to read login name
`l2` | num | unused | tty local flags to leave terminal as
`lc` | bool | false | terminal has lower case
`lm` | str | login: | login prompt
`ln` | str | ‘`^V`’ | ‘literal next’ character (`VLNEXT`)
`lo` | str | /usr/bin/login | program to exec when name obtained
`mb` | bool | false | do flow control based on carrier
`nl` | bool | false | terminal has (or might have) a newline character
`nn` | bool | false | do not prompt for a login name
`np` | bool | false | terminal uses no parity (i.e. 8-bit characters)
`nx` | str | default | next table (for auto speed selection)
`o0` | num | unused | tty output flags to write messages
`o1` | num | unused | tty output flags to read login name
`o2` | num | unused | tty output flags to leave terminal as
`op` | bool | false | terminal uses odd parity
`os` | num | unused | output speed
`pc` | str | ‘`\0`’ | pad character
`pe` | bool | false | use printer (hard copy) erase algorithm
`pf` | num | 0 | delay between first prompt and following flush (seconds)
`pp` | str | unused | PPP authentication program
`ps` | bool | false | line connected to a MICOM port selector
`qu` | str | ‘`^\`’ | quit character (`VQUIT`)
`rp` | str | ‘`^R`’ | line retype character (`VREPRINT`)
`rw` | bool | false | do NOT use `RAW` for input, use `CBREAK`
`sp` | num | unused | line speed (input and output)
`st` | str | ‘`^T`’ | status character (`VSTATUS`)
`su` | str | ‘`^Z`’ | suspend character (`VSUSP`)
`tc` | str | none | table continuation
`to` | num | 0 | timeout (seconds)
`tt` | str | `NULL` | terminal type (for environment)
`ub` | bool | false | do unbuffered output (of prompts etc)
`we` | str | ‘`^W`’ | word erase character (`VWERASE`)
`xc` | bool | false | do NOT echo control chars as ‘`^X`’
`xf` | str | ‘`^S`’ | XOFF (stop output) character (`VSTOP`)
`xn` | str | ‘`^Q`’ | XON (start output) character (`VSTART`)

The following capabilities are no longer supported by getty(8):

`bd` | num | 0 | backspace delay
`cb` | bool | false | use CRT backspace mode
`cd` | num | 0 | carriage-return delay
`fd` | num | 0 | form-feed (vertical motion) delay
`nd` | num | 0 | newline (line-feed) delay
`uc` | bool | false | terminal is known upper case only

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 overridden with one of the `c0`, `c1`, `c2`, `i0`, `i1`, `i2`, `l0`, `l1`, `l2`, `o0`, `o1`, or `o2` numeric specifications, which can be used to specify (usually in octal, with a leading ‘`0`’) the exact values of the flags. These flags correspond to the termios c_cflag, c_iflag, c_lflag, and c_oflag fields, respectively. Each these sets must be completely specified to be effective. The `f0`, `f1`, and `f2` are excepted for backwards compatibility with a previous incarnation of the TTY sub-system. In these flags the bottom 16 bits of the (32 bits) value contain the sgttyb sg_flags field, while the top 16 bits represent the local mode word.

Should getty(8) 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 `im`, and login message `lm` may include any of the following character sequences, which expand to information about the environment in which getty(8) is running.

`%d`
  The current date.
`%h`
  The hostname of the machine, which is normally obtained from the system using gethostname(3), but may also be overridden by the `hn` table entry. In either case it may be edited with the `he` string. 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. Each character that is neither ‘`@`’ nor ‘`#`’ is copied into the final hostname. Surplus ‘`@`’ and ‘`#`’ characters are ignored.
`%t`
  The tty name.
`%m`, `%r`, `%s`, `%v`
  The type of machine, release of the operating system, name of the operating system, and version of the kernel, respectively, as returned by uname(3).
`%%`
  A ‘`%`’ character.

When getty execs the login process, given in the `lo` string (usually “/usr/bin/login”), it will have set the environment 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(1), or having received an alarm signal, and exited. This may be useful to hangup dial in lines.

Output from getty(8) is even parity unless `op` or `np` 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(8) does not check parity of input characters in `RAW` mode.

If `pp` string is specified and a Point to Point Protocol (PPP) link bringup sequence is recognized, getty(8) will invoke the program referenced by the `pp` string, e.g. pppd(8). This can be used to handle incoming PPP calls.

# SEE ALSO

login(1), gethostname(3), uname(3), capfile(5), ttys(5), getty(8), pppd(8), telnetd(8)

# HISTORY

The `gettytab` file format appeared in 4.2BSD.

# 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 from 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.

April 5, 2012 | NetBSD 10.1