Name

xcons − redirect console output to login window

Syntax

/usr/bin/xcons n ttyv0 xconsdev

Arguments

nSpecifies the number of seconds xcons will initially pause before first opening and reading the console-redirect device.

ttyv0Specifies the terminal device file that is used for the login window. 

xconsdevSpecifies the console-redirect device.  The redirect device name depends on which graphics device is used, but the file /dev/xcons always is a link to it.

Description

The xcons program is used to redirect console output to the login window. Console output includes error messages from the operating system kernel and all writes to /dev/console. You must redirect console output to a window, instead of writing it directly to the display screen. Without redirection, any direct writes to the display screen interfere with the windowing system’s use of the graphics device.

The xcons program is invoked by the /etc/ttys file. The xcons line appears in the /etc/ttys file immediately after the ttyv0 line and takes the form:

xcons "/usr/bin/xcons  n ttyv0" none on nomodem

The xcons command is the system default and requires no user setup.

Restrictions

You must disable the entry in the /etc/ttys file for the console terminal while the windowing system is running.

Files

/dev/xcons
/dev/ttyv0
/dev/console
/etc/ttys

See Also

ttys(5)

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