The file ttys contains information that is used by various routines to
     initialize and control the use of terminal special files.  This informa-
     tion is read with the getttyent(3) library routines.  There is one line
     in the ttys file per special device file.  Fields are separated by tabs
     and/or spaces.  Fields comprised of more than one word should be enclosed
     in double quotes (``"'').  Blank lines and comments may appear anywhere
     in the file; comments are delimited by hash marks (``#'') and new lines.
     Any unspecified fields will default to null.

     The first field is the name of the terminal special file as it is found
     in /dev.

     The second field of the file is the command to execute for the line, usu-
     ally getty(8),  which initializes and opens the line, setting the speed,
     waiting for a user name and executing the login(1) program.  It can be,
     however, any desired command, for example the start up for a window sys-
     tem terminal emulator or some other daemon process, and can contain mul-
     tiple words if quoted.

     The third field is the type of terminal usually connected to that tty
     line, normally the one found in the termcap(5) data base file.  The envi-
     ronment variable TERM is initialized with the value by either getty(8) or
     login(1).

     The remaining fields set flags in the ty_status entry (see getttyent(3))
     or specify a window system process that init(8) will maintain for the
     terminal line.  The following is a list of permitted flags for each tty:

     on       Specify that init should execute the command given in the second
              field.

     off      The opposite of on.

     secure   if on is also specified, allows users with a uid of 0 to login
              on this line.

     Additionally, the following flags modify the default behaviour of the
     terminal line.  Some of these flags may not be support by a terminal line
     driver.

     local    Treat the line as if it is locally connected.

     rtscts   Use RTS/CTS hardware flow control, if possible.

     mdmbuf   Use DTR/DCD flow control if possible.

     softcar  Ignore hardware carrier on the line.  These flag fields should
              not be quoted.

     The string window= may be followed by a quoted command string which init
     will execute before starting the command specified by the second field.

FILES

     /etc/ttys

SEE ALSO

     login(1),  getttyent(3),  ttyslot(3),  gettytab(5),  termcap(5),
     getty(8),  init(8),  ttyflags(8)

HISTORY

     A ttys file appeared in Version 6 AT&T UNIX.

BSD Experimental                 June 4, 1993                                2