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Text-Terminal-HOWTO

David S. Lawyer mailto:dave@lafn.org

v1.36, August 2004


This document explains what text terminals are, how they work, how to install and configure them, and provides some info on how to repair them. If you don't have a terminal manual, it may be of help. While it's written for real terminals on a Linux system, much of it is also applicable to terminal emulation and may be helpful for non-Linux systems.

1. Introduction

2. Types of Terminals

3. Quick Install

4. Why Use a Terminal ?

5. Overview of How Terminals Work (in Linux)

6. Terminal Special Files such as /dev/tty

7. Some Details on How Terminals Work

8. Special Features of Some Terminals

9. Terminal Emulation (including the Console)

10. Flow Control (Handshaking)

11. Physical Connection

12. Set-Up (Configure) in General

13. Terminal Set-Up (Configure) Details

14. Computer Set-Up (Configure) Details

15. Terminfo and Termcap (detailed)

16. Using the Terminal

17. Special Uses for a Terminal

18. Trouble-Shooting

19. Repair & Diagnose

20. Appendix A: General

21. Appendix B: Escape Sequence Commands Terminology

22. Appendix C: Serial Communications on EIA-232 (RS-232)

23. Appendix D: Notes by Brand/Model


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