[Info-vax] virtual consoles

[Steven Schweda]

Phillip Helbig---remove CLOTHES to reply wrote:
> Right now, I am using VT320s as consoles.  Work fine.  However, in some
> cases it might be convenient to have a console from a DECterm on another
> machine (outside the cluster).  Is something like this possible?
>
> Presumably, I would have to connect the console port via a serial line
> to a serial port on the "console machine", but---assuming it is
> possible---what else needs to be done?  (I've never used it, but it
> seems that SET HOST/DTE could be used for such a connection to LOG IN on
> another machine, but I don't want to log in---I want to get to the
> console.)

   If you don't wish to log in, then don't log in.  Same as a
real terminal.

> If it can be done, can it be done without serial lines?

   Not entirely, if your systems have serial port consoles.

>   Can it be done
> so that I can connect to several consoles on several nodes from
> different DECterms running on my "console machine"?

   Yes.

> A terminal server lets me connect several serial lines to one device
> (the terminal server) which is on the network and so from it I can get
> to any machine on the network.  Something like this but in reverse would
> fit the bill: connect the console ports on all the machines to this
> device via serial lines, and connect to the device over the network and
> somehow select a console connection.

   I have a DECserver 200/MC configured for this:

alp $ latcp show service

Service Name      Status       Identification
----------------  -----------
-------------------------------------------------
ALP               Available    COMPAQ Professional Workstation XP1000,
VMS V7.3-
2  (Saint Paul)
DY_CONSOLE        Available    DY Console
GIMP_CONSOLE      Available    GIMP Console
IT_CONSOLE        Available    IT Console
MODEM             Available    Modem
SPARE_CONSOLE     Available    Spare Console
WIMP_CONSOLE      Available    WIMP Console

All the xxx_CONSOLE services are for ports connected to
various system consoles  DY is an HP c3700 workstation
(HP-UX), GIMP and WIMP are [Micro]VAXes, IT is an HP zx2000
workstation, and SPARE is currently an IBM Power 275
workstation.  I typically connect (SET HOST /LAT xxx_CONSOLE)
from a DECterm when I need to do something on one of these
usually-off systems, but if I had enough idle DECterms, I
could leave one connected to each system.

   I assume that with a newer (Telnet-capable) terminal
server, one could connect using Telnet instead of LAT.

   On the terminal server (condensed):

Local> show service it_console characteristics

Service: IT_CONSOLE
Identification: IT Console
Ports: 6
Rating: 255
Enabled Characteristics:
Connections, Queuing


Local> show port 6

Port 6:                            Server: SP2
Character Size:            8       Input Speed:        9600
Flow Control:            XON       Output Speed:       9600
Parity:                 None       Modem Control:  Disabled

Access:               Remote       Local Switch:       None
Backwards Switch:       None       Name:             PORT_6
Break:                 Local       Session Limit:         4
Forwards Switch:        None       Type:               Soft

Preferred Service: ALP

Authorized Groups:   0
(Current)  Groups:   0

Enabled Characteristics:

Input Flow Control,  Loss Notification,  Message Codes,
Output Flow Control,  Queuing,  Verification


   I don't know if that's all optimal, but it seems to do what
I want done.