xcons(8X)
NAME
xcons − redirect console output to login window
SYNTAX
/usr/bin/xcons ttyv0 xconsdev
ARGUMENTS
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. Console output must be redirected 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 usage of the graphics device.
The xcons program is invoked by init out of 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 ttyv0" none on nomodem
The xcons command is the system default and requires no user setup.
RESTRICTIONS
The entry in the /etc/ttys file for the console terminal must be disabled while the windowing system is running.
FILES
/dev/xcons
/dev/ttyv0
/dev/console
/etc/ttys