DOCUMENT ID:  1124-02

SYNOPSIS:     How to set up a serial terminal using Solaris x86

OS RELEASE:   

PRODUCT:      Solaris x86

KEYWORDS:     serial terminal modem ttymon listen port monitor


DESCRIPTION:

Instructions for setting up a serial terminal.


SOLUTION:

Modems and terminals aren't very useful on their own; they require
access to computing resources.  The main mechanism for gaining access to
a service is through a port monitor.  A port monitor is a program that
continuously watches out for requests to log in, or requests to access
printers or files. 

There are two types of port monitors included in Solaris x86 operating
system: ttymon and listen. 

The listen port monitor controls access to network services, fielding
remote print and file system requests.  The listen port monitor does not
come into play when you set up modems and terminals. 

The ttymon port monitor provides access to the login services needed by
modems and terminals.  Modems and terminals are not much good unless you
can use them to log in to the computer and start typing commands.  To
make this possible, you'll need to set up a ttymon port monitor (using
SAF) to process login requests from these devices. 

There are three basic tasks required to set up a serial port device such
as a modem or terminal. 

1.  Use the sacadm command to add a port monitor (if none is
    present).

2.  Use the pmadm command to designate a service to be associated
    with the new port monitor.

3.  Edit one or more communications-related files, as needed.

The first two tasks involve using SAF commands.  The
communications-related files mentioned affect how modems and terminals
communicate.  The files you may need to edit include /etc/ttydefs,
/etc/uucp/Devices, and /etc/uucp/Dialers. 

SAF commands require that you supply arguments to specify one or more of
the following items:

Name of a port monitor: The 'pmtag' argument is the name you assign to a
specific instance of a port monitor.  You can give the port monitors any
name you like, provided the name is unique and no longer than 14
characters.  However, it's wise to assign names that contain the word
'ttymon', so that such monitors will be easily identifiable as being of
ttymon-type when you list them using the sacadm -l command. 

Baud rate and line discipline: The ttylabel argument specifies which
entry in the /etc/ttydefs file to use when searching for the proper baud
rate and line discipline. 
 
Device path: The dev_path argument is the full path name of the TTY port
device file.  That is, dev_path is the path to the file in the /dev
directory for the port to which the modem or terminal is attached.  For
example, the path name for an terminal attached to serial port B is
/dev/term/b. 

Comments (optional): Both the 'pmadm' and 'sacadm' commands allow you to
add comments using a '-y' flay when adding a port monitor or service. 
Your comments are included in the display when you later list port
monitors or services using the -l flag.  Enclose your comments withing
quotation marks. 

Instructions for Setting up a Terminal

Setting up a terminal is really quite easy.  This section includes
step-by-step instructions for performing the tasks related to terminals. 

1. Type ttyadm -V and note the port monitor version number:

 #ttyadm -V
 1
 #

2. Type the sacadm command.  Substitute the appropriate port monitor
   tag for pmtag and substitute the correct version number (as obtained
   in the previous step) for vers. 

 #sacadm -a -p ttymonb -t ttymon -c /usr/lib/saf/ttymon -v 1
                 |                                        |
                 ^^^pmtag                                 ^^^vers

3. Use the pmadm command to add a login service. Substitute the
   arguments as appropriate.

 #pmadm -a -p ttymonb -s b -i root -fu -v 1 -m "`ttyadm -d
 /dev/term/b -l 9600 \
 -s /usr/bin/login `"

In this command ttymonb=pmtab, b=svctag, 1=vers, /dev/term/b=dev_path

4. Connect and turn on the terminal.  Attach all cords and cables.  See
   the documentation accompanying the terminal for connection instructions. 
   A quick and easy way to test the terminal connections is to pipe the
   /etc/passwd file to the terminal.  If everything is setup correctly, you
   should see the passwd file displayed on the screen.  Use the following
   command:

 cat /etc/passwd >/dev/term/b


Following is a list of very useful SAF commands:

sacadm -l  -- The system displays all port monitors

sacadm -a -p ttymonb -t ttymon -c /usr/lib/saf/ttymon -v 1 -y "TTY Ports a & b"
           -- To add a ttymon port monitor
Where:
 -a  is the add port monitor flag
 -p  specifies the pmtag ttymonb as the port monitor tag
 -t  specifies the port monitor type as ttymon
 -c  defines the command string used to start the port monitor
 -v  specifies the version number of the port monitor
 -y  defines a comment to describe this instance of the port
     monitor

sacadm -l -p ttymonb  -- To kill a ttymon port monitor
Where:
 -k  is the kill port monitor status flag
 -p  specifies the pmtag ttymonb as the port monitor tag

sacadm -s -p ttymonb  -- To start a killed ttymon port monitor
Where:
 -s  is the start port monitor status flag
 -p  specifies the pmtag ttymonb as the port monitor tag

sacadm -d -p ttymonb  -- To disable a ttymon port monitor
Where:
 -d  is the disable port monitor status flag
 -p  specifies the pmtag ttymonb as the port monitor tag

sacadm -e -p ttymob  -- To enable the port monitor status flag
Where:
 -e  is the enable port monitor status flag
 -p  specifies the pmtag ttymonb as the port monitor tag

sacadm -r -p ttymonb -- To remove a ttymon port monitor
Where:
 -r is the remove port monitor status flag
 -p  specifies the pmtag ttymonb as the port monitor tag

Note: Removing a port monitor deletes all the configuration files
associated with it.  Port monitor configuration files cannot be updated
or changed using sacadm.  To reconfigure a port monitor, remove it and
add a new one. 


DATE APPROVED: 10/10/95