SAF Configuration for Character Terminals

Solaris 2.x systems come with a ttymon port monitor named zsmon and with serial ports A and B already configured with default settings for terminals, as shown in the following example:

castle% /usr/sbin/sacadm -l
PMTAG         PMTYPE         FLGS RCNT STATUS     COMMAND
tcp      listen   -    999   ENABLED   /usr/lib/saf/listen tcp #
zsmon       ttymon   -    0    ENABLED   /usr/lib/saf/ttymon #
castle% /usr/sbin/pmadm -l
PMTAG         PMTYPE         SVCTAG         FLGS ID       <PMSPECIFIC>
tcp      listen   lp          - root    - p -
/var/spool/lp/fifos/listenS5 #
tcp      listen   lpd          - root
\x00020203000000000000000000000000  - p - /var/spool/lp/fifos/listenBSD #
tcp      listen   0           - root
\x00020ACE000000000000000000000000 - c - /usr/lib/saf/nlps_server #
zsmon       ttymon    ttya       u    root     /dev/term/a I -
➥/usr/bin/login - 9600 ldterm,ttcompat ttya login:  - tvi925 y  
#
zsmon       ttymon    ttyb       u    root     /dev/term/b I -
➥/usr/bin/login - 9600 ldterm,ttcompat ttyb login:  - tvi925 y  
#
castle%

The I in the second field of the <PMSPECIFIC> column means that the service is initialized for the hardware configuration, but connection to the service is not enabled.

You probably only need to add a login service to configure an existing port. Follow these steps to configure the SAF for a character terminal:

1.  Become superuser.

2.  Type sacadm -l and press Return. Check the output to make sure that a ttymon port monitor is configured. It is unlikely that you will need to add a new port monitor. If you do need to add one, type sacadm -a -p pmtag -t ttymon -c /usr/lib/saf/ttymon -v `ttymon -V` and press Return.

3.  Type pmadm -a -p pmtag -s svctag -i root -fu -v `ttymon -V` -m “`ttyadm -t terminfo-type -d dev-path -l ttylabel -s /usr/bin/login`” and press Return. The port is configured for a login service.

4.  Attach all of the cords and cables to the terminal and turn it on.

In this example, a ttymon port monitor called ttymon0 is created and a login is enabled for serial port /dev/term/00:

oak% su
Password:
# sacadm -l
PMTAG          PMTYPE    FLGS RCNT STATUS      COMMAND
zsmon        ttymon  -  Ø  ENABLED  /usr/lib/saf/ttymon #
# sacadm -a -p ttymonØ -t ttymon -c /usr/lib/saf/ttymon -v`ttyadm -V`
# sacadm -l
PMTAG          PMTYPE    FLGS RCNT STATUS     COMMAND
ttymonmØ     ttymon   -  Ø  STARTING   /usr/lib/saf/ttymon #
zsmon        ttymon  -  Ø  ENABLED  /usr/lib/saf/ttymon #
# pmadm -a -p ttymonØ -s ttyØØ -i root -fu
-v `ttyadm -V` -m "`ttyadm -t tvi925 -d
/dev/term/ØØ -l 96ØØ -s
/usr/bin/login`"
# pmadm -l
PMTAG          PMTYPE         SVCTAG        FLGS ID       <PMSPECIFIC>
zsmon        ttymon   ttya       u root     /dev/term/a I -
/usr/bin/login - 96ØØ ldterm,ttcompat ttya login:  - tvi925 y
#
zsmon        ttymon   ttyb       u root     /dev/term/b I -
/usr/bin/login - 96ØØ ldterm,ttcompat
ttyb login:  - tvi925 y
#
ttymonØ         ttymon    ttyØØ    u root     /dev/term/ØØ - - -
➥/usr/bin/login - 96ØØ login: - tvi925 - #
#

Terminal Connection Troubleshooting

When troubleshooting problems with terminal connections, first check the following list with the user:

•  Was the correct login ID or password used?

•  Is the terminal waiting for the xon flow control key?

•  Is the serial cable loose or unplugged?

•  Is the serial cable verified to work properly?

•  Is the terminal configuration correct?

•  Is the terminal turned off?

Continue troubleshooting by checking the configuration of the terminal.

•  Was the proper ttylabel used?

•  Does the ttylabel setting of the modem match the ttylabel of the SAF?

If the problem persists, check the system software.

•  Was the port monitor configured to enable logins?

•  Does it have the correct ttylabel associated with it?

•  Is the port monitor enabled? (Use the sacadm -l -p pmtag command.)

•  Is the service enabled? (Use the pmadm -l -p pmtag command.)

If the SAC is starting the ttymon port monitor, the service is enabled, and the configuration matches the port monitor configuration, continue to search for the problem by checking the serial connection. A serial connection consists of serial ports, cables, and terminals. Test each of these parts by using it with two other parts that are known to be reliable.

To check for cable problems, a breakout box is helpful. It plugs into the RS-232-C cable. A patch panel lets you connect any pin to any other pins. A breakout box often contains light-emitting diodes that show whether a signal is present on each pin.

If you cannot access a port, and the ps command shows that a process is running on it, make sure that pin 8 in the cable is connected. If that does not work, check that the device driver is configured properly to set the correct flag for the line to Off.