Anyone tried a thin client for console?

CY

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Jun 1, 2010, 1:55:10 PM6/1/10

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Using something like a HP t5735 with telnet via a blackbox to my VAX/
Alphas is an idea, but how do I get the PA1 (gold key) for example
working, when using reflecting it was no problem putting it on the
right place but now, in linux hell.... should be a no brainer if I
only could find something looking like a VT emulator and figuring out
how to get it into the thin client.

Is there any manual "for dummys" or do I have to RTFM?

Richard B. Gilbert

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Jun 1, 2010, 2:13:21 PM6/1/10

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If you don't have a DEC Keyboard; you need terminal emulation software
to "fake it". You might possibly be able to look up the escape sequence
generated by the Gold key+whatever and enter the sequence manually.

Terminal emulation software is/was available from WRQ (now "Attachmate").

Dale Dellutri

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Jun 1, 2010, 2:48:09 PM6/1/10

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For Linux, you could use vmsterm, which is an xterm which uses the
standard PC keyboard like a DEC keyboard. The NumLock key becomes
the gold key.

Google for vmsterm. You'll find many variants.

--
Dale Dellutri <ddelQ...@panQQQix.com> (lose the Q's)

CY

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Jun 1, 2010, 3:13:20 PM6/1/10

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>
> For Linux, you could use vmsterm, which is an xterm which uses the
> standard PC keyboard like a DEC keyboard. The NumLock key becomes
> the gold key.
>
> Google for vmsterm. You'll find many variants.
>
> --

> Dale Dellutri <ddelQQQl...@panQQQix.com> (lose the Q's)

Thank you, sounds like a really good idea. Not too good at linux, so I
thougth to ask here before trying.

There is hope with linux+OVMS then...

//CY

VAXman-

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Jun 1, 2010, 4:05:41 PM6/1/10

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In article <1d2c7e5e-e387-438d...@e28g2000vbd.googlegroups.com>, CY <chri...@gmail.com> writes:
>>
>> For Linux, you could use vmsterm, which is an xterm which uses the

>> standard PC keyboard like a DEC keyboard. =A0The NumLock key becomes
>> the gold key.
>>
>> Google for vmsterm. =A0You'll find many variants.

>>
>> --
>> Dale Dellutri <ddelQQQl...@panQQQix.com> (lose the Q's)
>
>Thank you, sounds like a really good idea. Not too good at linux, so I
>thougth to ask here before trying.
>
>There is hope with linux+OVMS then...

Install Linux.

Configure ssh.

Use Xmodmap to map the few keys you may need when using xterm. I have a
.Xmodmap file with half a dozen mappings to make my keyboard sufficiently
LK-like.

If you want/need better terminal emulation, then login with 'ssh -x' and
issue a $ CREATE/TERMINAL. Usually the xterm works well enough; however,
when I need to debug something, I issue:

$ CREATE/TERMINAL=DECTERM /NOPROCESS -
/DEFINE_LOGICAL=(TABLE=LNM$SYSTEM,DBG$INPUT,DBG$OUTPUT) -
/WINDOW_ATTRIBUTES=(ROWS=24,COLUMNS=132)/LITTLE_FONT

This requires having the font server running and the font path modified.

If you have font issues, setup the font server on VMS and then use 'xset'
on linux to add the font server to the font path. You could even tunnel
the font server with the 'ssh -L 7100:localhost:7100 -x' command with the
system you are connecting to.

--
VAXman- A Bored Certified VMS Kernel Mode Hacker VAXman(at)TMESIS(dot)ORG

And ever since I was a boy I never felt that I belonged Like everything they
did to me Was an experiment to see How I would cope with the illusion In which
direction would I jump Would I do it all the same As the actors in the game Or
would I spit it back at them And not get caught up in their rules And live
according to my own And not be used To find the fundamental truths It was
going to take some time Thirty five summers down the line The wisdom of each
passing year Seems to serve only to confuse Seems to serve only to confuse

Tom Linden

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Jun 1, 2010, 9:32:40 PM6/1/10

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find xmodmap

--
PL/I for OpenVMS
www.kednos.com

VAXman-

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Jun 1, 2010, 9:44:17 PM6/1/10

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In article <op.vdnfw...@murphus.hsd1.ca.comcast.net>, "Tom Linden" <t...@kednos.company> writes:
>find xmodmap

Is it lost?

CY

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Jun 2, 2010, 1:57:32 AM6/2/10

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Looked at vmsterm, and its a sh for configuring the telnet to look
like VT220, will probably be good enough (if it can get PA1 to work)
Cant test for a couple of days (meetings, meetings) but to figure out
how to get the .sh file (like a .COM in vms) into the thin client (ftp
or something, didnt respond on telnet) will be solved by RTFM.

XMODMAP is probably the same fixup, but for Xtelnet client, so its the
same solution (at least I think it is)
so another way is to figure out what the "client" is using now, and
modify the keyboard map using the info from vmsterm anyway.

//CY

urbancamo

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Jun 2, 2010, 4:00:52 AM6/2/10

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If you want to get really fancy, you can make a simple adapter and
plug a real LK201/LK401 into your Linux box via a serial port - there
is an LK keyboard driver in the kernel.
More info here: http://www.wickensonline.co.uk/vaxen/linuxLK.html
Mice are supported too - although for me that was taking it too far!

Or if you want to get *really* fancy you could build a sparetimegizmos
terminal: http://www.sparetimegizmos.com/Hardware/VT.htm

Alternatively, if you can find one, the USB LK464 works OK (although I
seem to remember *one* of the keys doesn't map properly by default).

Regards, Mark.

Bob Koehler

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Jun 2, 2010, 10:10:43 AM6/2/10

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In Linux, like most UNIX, the one VT emulator you can rely on is
xterm, which does an accurate job of emulating a VT100. Other
terminal emulators will actually respond to SET TERMINAL/INQUIRE
with the VT100 code, but not even come close to behaving like a
VT100.

This may not be sufficient to get the keyboard mapping right. For
that use xmodmap.