NAME

ext_ports - external ports file for network printers, terminals, and modems

SYNOPSIS

/etc/ext_ports

AVAILABILITY

Sun386i systems only. 

DESCRIPTION

The ext_ports external ports file is an ASCII file that resides in the /etc directory on the YP master server.  ext_ports is used only by SNAP, and contains basic information about each printer, terminal, and modem on the network.  This file contains a one-line entry for each device, of the following form, and each field MUST be separated by a tab: system:port  type  status  baud  model  name  #comment

system is the name of the system the device is attached to.  This field contains only lower case and numeric characters, must start with a lower case character, and must not be more than 32 characters long. 

port is the name of the port in /dev on the specified system to which the device is attached: ttya for the Sun386i’s serial port, pp0 for the parallel port, and ttym0 and ttym1 for ports on an AT bus serial card. 

type printer, terminal, or modem. 

status indicates the device’s status.  For terminals and printers, this can on or off.  An off status means the device is disabled from UNIX access, but it can still be accessed by DOS.  For modems, this can be in to enable dialin, out to enable dialout, in_out to enable dialin and dialout, or off.  An off status means the device is disabled from UNIX access, but it can still be accessed by DOS. 

baud is the baud rate. 

model indicates the manufacturer or specific kind of device for the given type.  For printers, this can be epson for Epson and compatibles, hp for HP Laserjet and compatibles, or text for text-only printers.  For terminals, this can be vt100 for DEC VT-100 and compatibles, or wyse-50 for Wyse WY-50 and compatibles.  For modems, this can be hayes for Hayes and compatibles. 

name is only used for unique naming of printers on the network.  Up to 16 characters can be entered.  This field is blank for terminals and modems, simply insert an extra tab character. 

comment
can contain anything you want, up to a maximum of 96 characters.

EXAMPLE

In this example of an ext_ports file, the system vulcan has an epson printer attached to its parallel port, and a wyse-50 terminal attached to its serial port, but with logins currently disabled.  The system android has a vt100 attached to its serial port, with logins enabled.  The system polaris has a hayes modem set for dialing out on an installed AT bus serial card. 

vulcan:pp0printeronepsonlp#Engineering lab
android:ttyaterminalonvt100#Reception
vulcan:ttyaterminaloffwyse-50#Engineering lab
polaris:ttym0modemdialouthayes#QA lab

FILES

/etc/ext_ports

SEE ALSO

snap(1) Sun386i System and Network Administration Sun386i Advanced Administration

BUGS

This information should not be maintained in YP because there is no mechanism to keep it up to date when ttytab(5) or printcap(5) is edited by hand. 

Sun Release 4.0  —  Last change: 14 July 1989