CONS(4)                OpenBSD Programmer's Manual (VAX)               CONS(4)

NAME
     cons - VAX 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, a special command character puts the console in local con-
     sole mode.  The character itself is dependent upon the model of VAX and
     the type of console in use.  The prompt in console mode is `>>>', also
     called the `chevron' prompt.

     The operation of the console in this mode varies among different VAX mod-
     els.

   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 diag-
                   nosis 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.

   VAX 4000, MicroVAX, VAXstation, others
     If the console is a serial console, sending a break will likely cause the
     machine to halt and enter console mode.  The set of commands available at
     the console varies from machine to machine, although there are several
     commands which are common to most or all models.
         c
         continue  Return to the currently executing program.

         halt      Halt the processor.

         help      Display a list of available console commands.

         [e]xamine [/bwl][/ins] [/pgiv] [/n:n] [addr]
                   Display the contents at address addr according to the op-
                   tions specified.

                   The options are:

                   /bwl
                   /ins   Size of data to examine.  Your choices are examining
                          values as bytes (8 bits), words (16 bits), or long-
                          words (32 bits).  On systems that support it, you
                          can use the /ins option to display the mnemonic rep-
                          resentation of the instruction located at addr.

                   /pvgi  These options describe the meaning of addr.  With
                          the /p option, addr will be treated as an address in
                          physical memory.  With the /v option, addr will be
                          treated as a virtual address.  The /g option will
                          let you examine the general registers.  From 0 to F
                          (base 16), general registers are R0-R12(AP), FP, SP,
                          and PC.  The /i option will let you view the inter-
                          nal processor registers.  These vary from processor
                          to processor, but a relatively complete description
                          may be found in /usr/include/vax/mtpr.h.

                   /n:count
                          The /n option specifies that the command will repeat
                          count times after executing once, automatically in-
                          crementing addr while doing so.

         [d]eposit [/bwl] [/pgiv] [/n:n] [addr] [value]
                   Insert the value value into the address addr according to
                   the options specified.

                   The options are:

                   /bwl   Size of data to insert.  Your choices are inserting
                          values as bytes (8 bits), words (16 bits), or long-
                          words (32 bits).

                   /pvgi  These options describe the meaning of addr.  Their
                          meanings are identical to their respective meanings
                          in the examine command.

                   /n:count
                          The /n option specifies that the command will repeat
                          count times after executing once, automatically in-
                          crementing addr while doing so.

     With the above provisos 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.

OpenBSD 4.7                      May 31, 2007                                2
