CONS(4)

NAME
cons - VAX-11 console interface

DESCRIPTION
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, ^P (control-P) puts the console in local console mode (where the prompt is ‘’). The operation of the console in this mode varies slightly per-processor.

  VAX-11/780 or 785
On either the VAX-11/780 or 785 the following commands may be used after placing the console in local mode with ^P.

c
continue
    Re-enter conversational mode if the processor was halted.

h
halt
    Halt the CPU. On an 11/780 or 785 the processor is not stopped by entering local console mode.

set t p
    (set terminal program) Re-enter conversational mode if the processor is still running.

P   (proceed) Get out of ODT mode.

break
    If you hit the break key on the console, then the console LSI-11 will go into ODT (console debugger mode).

  VAX-11/750 or 11/730
On an 11/750 or an 11/730 the processor is halted whenever the console is not in conversational mode.

C   Return to conversational mode.

ret Return from remote diagnosis mode to local console mode.

^D  (11/750 only) When in console mode on an 11/750 which has a remote diagnosis module, a ^D will put you in remote diagnosis mode, where the prompt will be ‘RDM’.

  VAX-8600 or 8650
The VAX-8600 (8650) console normally works in the same way as the 11/750, except that there are many additional modes and commands.

c
continue
    Return to conversational mode.

halt
    Halt the processor if HEX debug enabled.

p   Halt the processor if in normal mode.

With the above proviso's the console works like any other UNIX terminal.

FILES
/dev/console

SEE ALSO
tty(4), reboot(8) VAX Hardware Handbook.

HISTORY
The cons interface appeared in 4.0BSD.