Very Computer

Just two virtual console questions:

First, how can I make more virtual consoles than the 8 (actually 6, since XWin
reserve VC7 and something else reserves VC8, I forget what) that is the
default? I have RH4.0. I would imagine that it would involve making some new
/devs and also chaning some config files. Does anybody know how to do this?

Second, is there a way to tell which VC I'm currently in? A environment
variable, perhaps? I'm especially looking for a way to put this in /etc/issue
so that I can tell which VC I'm logging in to. (I know how to change
/etc/rc.d/rc.local to change /etc/issue)

Thank you very much,
MZ33062

: Just two virtual console questions:

: First, how can I make more virtual consoles than the 8 (actually 6, since XWin
: reserve VC7 and something else reserves VC8, I forget what) that is the
: default? I have RH4.0. I would imagine that it would involve making some new
: /devs and also chaning some config files. Does anybody know how to do this?

: Second, is there a way to tell which VC I'm currently in? A environment
: variable, perhaps? I'm especially looking for a way to put this in /etc/issue
: so that I can tell which VC I'm logging in to. (I know how to change
: /etc/rc.d/rc.local to change /etc/issue)

Not sure about the vc's, though I know it's possible to go up to at least
64, and possibly more :).  You need to add getty entries into /etc/inittab,
and you might need to modify and load the keyboard map ( you can find
them under /usr/lib/kbd/keytables ) Oh, and X doesn't reserve a specifig
tty, it just takes the highest one that isn't being used.  As for the
tty, you can find that with the tty command, but that won't work for issue -
your command will get executed by the script, and it'll just say tty1 in
issue.  Do man getty, and look for the escape codes.

--
Windows: I can play Doom!               |RedHat Linux 2.1.26 i386
Linux: I can be a file server, be a Web |Because reboots are for upgrades!

twelve terminals AND play Doom!         |for pgp key.        frank sweetser

Quote:>them under /usr/lib/kbd/keytables ) Oh, and X doesn't reserve a specifig
>tty, it just takes the highest one that isn't being used.  As for the

-VJV-
OTiT PC Admin

Thank you very much,
MZ33062

: > No need to modify keymap - chtty can be used for changing the vc.
: Can you please tell me where I can find chtty? I don't seem to have it in my
: RH4.0 distrib. It seems that it would be a standard program.

Whoops!  I think he meant chvt

--
Windows: I can play Doom!               |RedHat Linux 2.1.26 i386
Linux: I can be a file server, be a Web |Because reboots are for upgrades!

twelve terminals AND play Doom!         |for pgp key.        frank sweetser

Quote:>Second, is there a way to tell which VC I'm currently in? A environment
>variable, perhaps? I'm especially looking for a way to put this in /etc/issue
>so that I can tell which VC I'm logging in to. (I know how to change
>/etc/rc.d/rc.local to change /etc/issue)

PS1="F`tty | cut -b9`:$LOGNAME > "

My prompt then displays as:

F3:root >

when I am using the console beneath F3 and am logged in as root on that
console.  For console beneath F5 where I login as vern, the prompt is:

F3:vern >

Would this help you?

vern

--
Vernon C. Hoxie                                           scicom!zebra!vern

Denver, Colo., 80212        uucp: 303-455-2670          voice: 303-477-1780
               Unix is what MSDOS will be when it grows up.

And yes you do need to make more ttys (this on redhat 3.0.3, there are
only 8 ttys as default)

Xfree doesn't really reserver the seventh vc, it uses the first available
it can find. I think you can actually tell it to use something else too,
but not sure about that.

Panu