console(4) — VAX
Name
console − console interface
Description
On all but the busless small VAX processors, the console is available to the processor through the console registers. It acts like a normal terminal, except that, when the local functions are not disabled, CTRL/P puts the console in local console mode (where the prompt is “>>>”). This is true for all processors except the MicroVAX line and busless small VAX processors (see the information that follows). The operation of the console in this mode varies slightly for each processor.
On a VAX-11/780 or VAX-11/785, if you press the BREAK key on the console, the console goes into ODT (console debugger mode). Press P (uppercase letter p) to return from this mode.
On a VAX-11/750 or a VAX-11/730 (11/725), the processor is halted whenever the console is not in conversational mode. Press C (uppercase letter c) to return to conversational mode. When in console mode on a VAX- 11/750 that has a remote diagnosis module, a CTRL/D will put you in remote diagnosis mode, where the prompt will be “RDM>”. The command ret will return from remote diagnosis mode to local console mode.
On any MicroVAX, halt the processor by pressing the HALT button on the front panel. Pressing CTRL/P has no effect on either the MicroVAX-I or the MicroVAX-II. Press c (lowercase letter c ) on the console terminal to return to the running system after the HALT button is released.
On the busless small VAX processor, halt the processor by pressing the HALT button on the rear panel (located next to the printer port connector). If the diagnostic console terminal is attached, halt the processor by pressing the BREAK key. For further information, see ss(.). Typing CTRL/P has no effect on the busless small VAX processor. Press c (lowercase letter c) on the console terminal to return to the running system.
On an VAX 8800 (8700, 8500, 8550), you can return to conversational mode using the command sett (set terminal program) if the processor is still running, or continue if it is halted. The continue command can be abbreviated to c. Halt the processor by pressing CTRL/P. Restart the processor by pressing c (lowercase letter c).
On a VAX 8600 (8650), halt the processor by pressing CTRL/P when the terminal control switch on the front panel is in the LOCAL or REMOTE position. When this switch is in the LOCAL position, pressing CTRL/P at the console terminal is the only way to halt the processor. When the switch is in the REMOTE position, both the console terminal and the remote terminal (if present) can halt the processor. When the terminal control switch is in either LOCAL position, only the console terminal will operate as any other ULTRIX terminal. When the terminal control switch is in either REMOTE position, both the console terminal and the remote terminal will operate as any other ULTRIX terminal.
On a VAX 8100 (8200, 8300), halt the processor by pressing CTRL/P when the console is ENABLED. Press c (lowercase letter c) to return to the running system.
Restrictions
On all but the busless small VAX processors, the console serial line should be used at a relatively low baud rate (2400 BPS or less) as it generally interrupts the CPU for each character received or transmitted. Higher baud rates are permitted but generally impede system performance so much as to warrant using a lower baud rate. On the small VAX, the console operates at 9600 BPS for a terminal or 4800 BPS for a graphics device. For further information, see ss(.).
Files
/dev/console