

Debian bug report logs - #980
no terminfo file for con132x25

Package: sysvinit, base? ; Reported by: andrew@kryten.it.com.au (Andrew
Howell); Done: imurdock@debian.org (Ian Murdock).
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From: imurdock@debian.org (Ian Murdock)
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Subject: Bug#980:

This bug was fixed in a recent upload of the package.  Please
check ftp.debian.org:/pub/debian/binary for the fixed version.
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From debian.org!imurdock Wed Jun 14 11:53:31 1995
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From: imurdock@debian.org (Ian Murdock)
To: debian-bugs@pixar.com
In-Reply-To: <9506141839.AA12936@rem.ods.com> (david@rem.ods.com)
Subject: Re: Bug#980: no terminfo file for con132x25

   From: david@rem.ods.com (David Engel)
   Date: Wed, 14 Jun 1995 13:39:01 -0500 (CDT)

   > I have just made this change to our distributed image of 1.2.10.  
As
   > Linus has changed the standard kernel sources to include this 
change,
   > future versions will not have to be patched.  (Unless, of course,
   > there is another patch to 1.2.x, in which case I will make the 
change
   > for us.)

   Don't forget that an entry for 'linux' needs to be added to
   /etc/termcap.

Yes, I've done that, too.
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From rem.ods.com!david Wed Jun 14 11:38:00 1995
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From: david@rem.ods.com (David Engel)
Message-Id: <9506141839.AA12936@rem.ods.com>
Subject: Re: Bug#980: no terminfo file for con132x25
To: imurdock@debian.org
Date: Wed, 14 Jun 1995 13:39:01 -0500 (CDT)
Cc: debian-bugs@pixar.com
In-Reply-To: <m0sLvPF-00001xC@debra.debian.org> from "Ian Murdock" at 
Jun 14, 95 11:35:00 am
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>    Actually, I changed it to "linux" in my current kernel: I didn't 
want to
>    do it for the 1.2.x tree, as it _will_ break some existing setups 
(only
>    slightly, but still), but as of 1.3.2 linux have "TERM=linux" as 
the
>    initial environment.
> 
> I have just made this change to our distributed image of 1.2.10.  As
> Linus has changed the standard kernel sources to include this change,
> future versions will not have to be patched.  (Unless, of course,
> there is another patch to 1.2.x, in which case I will make the change
> for us.)

Don't forget that an entry for 'linux' needs to be added to
/etc/termcap.

David
-- 
David Engel                        Optical Data Systems, Inc.
david@ods.com                      1101 E. Arapaho Road
(214) 234-6400                     Richardson, TX  75081
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From debian.org!imurdock Wed Jun 14 09:33:25 1995
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In-Reply-To: <199506141450.RAA06171@keos.cs.Helsinki.FI> (message from 
Linus Torvalds on Wed, 14 Jun 1995 17:50:33 +0300)
Subject: Re: Bug#980: no terminfo file for con132x25

   Date: Wed, 14 Jun 1995 17:50:33 +0300
   From: Linus Torvalds <Linus.Torvalds@cs.Helsinki.FI>

   David Engel: "Re: Bug#980: no terminfo file for con132x25" (Jun 14,  
9:42):
   >
   > I'll throw in my support for changing the console to 'linux' as 
well.
   > However, unless we can persuade Linus to make the change in his
   > kernel, I'd prefer we change it in the Debian init or inittab.

   Actually, I changed it to "linux" in my current kernel: I didn't want 
to
   do it for the 1.2.x tree, as it _will_ break some existing setups 
(only
   slightly, but still), but as of 1.3.2 linux have "TERM=linux" as the
   initial environment.

I have just made this change to our distributed image of 1.2.10.  As
Linus has changed the standard kernel sources to include this change,
future versions will not have to be patched.  (Unless, of course,
there is another patch to 1.2.x, in which case I will make the change
for us.)
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From cs.Helsinki.FI!Linus.Torvalds Wed Jun 14 07:51:32 1995
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From: Linus Torvalds <Linus.Torvalds@cs.Helsinki.FI>
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In-Reply-To: David Engel's message as of Jun 14,  9:42
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To: david@rem.ods.com (David Engel), iwj10@cus.cam.ac.uk,
        debian-bugs@pixar.com
Subject: Re: Bug#980: no terminfo file for con132x25
Cc: linux-kernel@vger.rutgers.edu, andrew@kryten.it.com.au

David Engel: "Re: Bug#980: no terminfo file for con132x25" (Jun 14,  
9:42):
> 
> I'll throw in my support for changing the console to 'linux' as well.
> However, unless we can persuade Linus to make the change in his
> kernel, I'd prefer we change it in the Debian init or inittab.

Actually, I changed it to "linux" in my current kernel: I didn't want to
do it for the 1.2.x tree, as it _will_ break some existing setups (only
slightly, but still), but as of 1.3.2 linux have "TERM=linux" as the
initial environment. 

                Linus
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From rem.ods.com!david Wed Jun 14 07:41:13 1995
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From: david@rem.ods.com (David Engel)
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Subject: Re: Bug#980: no terminfo file for con132x25
To: iwj10@cus.cam.ac.uk, debian-bugs@pixar.com
Date: Wed, 14 Jun 1995 09:42:02 -0500 (CDT)
Cc: linux-kernel@vger.rutgers.edu, andrew@kryten.it.com.au,
        debian-bugs@pixar.com
In-Reply-To: <m0sLJEj-0000XRZ@chiark.al.cl.cam.ac.uk> from "Ian Jackson" 
at Jun 13, 95 00:49:00 am
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> I and others have asked several times here for the default terminal
> type for a Linux console to be changed to `linux'.  I've even supplied
> a patch (though I'm not sure whether I'm competent to do so).
> 
> Perhaps noone else thinks this is important, but I disagree.  It is
> causing us (Debian) several recurring problems.

I'll throw in my support for changing the console to 'linux' as well.
However, unless we can persuade Linus to make the change in his
kernel, I'd prefer we change it in the Debian init or inittab.  The
reason I prefer this is because I (and probably others) build my own
kernels and wouldn't want to have to apply the same patch every time I
get a new kernel from Linus.

BTW, the current /etc/termcap does not contain an entry for 'linux'.
Would whoever maintains this file please add 'linux' as an alias for
the current 'console' definition.  Terminfo (aka ncurses) already
provides an entry for 'linux'.

David
-- 
David Engel                        Optical Data Systems, Inc.
david@ods.com                      1101 E. Arapaho Road
(214) 234-6400                     Richardson, TX  75081
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From gtex02.us.es!jon Wed Jun 14 01:31:08 1995
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From: jon@gtex02.us.es (Jon Tombs)
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Subject: Re: Bug#980: no terminfo file for con132x25
To: eowmob@exp-math.uni-essen.de (Michael Weller)
Date: Wed, 14 Jun 95 10:28:19 MET DST
Cc: andrew@kryten.it.com.au, iwj10@cus.cam.ac.uk,
        linux-kernel@vger.rutgers.edu, debian-bugs@pixar.com
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<Pine.3.89.9506140330.C2723-0100000@werner.exp-math.uni-essen.de>; from 
"Michael Weller" at Jun 14, 95 3:47 am
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Michael Weller said:
> 
> > I and others have asked several times here for the default terminal
> > type for a Linux console to be changed to `linux'.  I've even 
supplied
> > a patch (though I'm not sure whether I'm competent to do so).
> 
> Well.. here is a simple question: Why don't you make either your
> init program (that /etc/init thingy) set TERM or even better setup
> up the getty's on the console correctly to use TERM=linux. Setting 
TERM
> in the kernel at all makes only sense if it is somehow mode depending.

Why do poeple keep proposing _work rounds_ for something which is 
clearly
brain dead. Has any one in the don't change the random TERM variable 
camp got
a reason _not_ to change the current setup. Having the size in the TERM 
env
serves nothing, it is pointless kernel bloat. Yes you can work round it 
with
modified .cshrc, /bin/login /sbin/init but why kludge when we can fix! 
If
somebody can explain when the current TERM variable serves a purpose 
other
than giving new users problems please explain when!

I can't patch init on all the linux machines I use. I can patch my 
.bashrc, but
that doesn't stop the lusers coming up with the same problem.

Jon.
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From exp-math.uni-essen.de!eowmob Tue Jun 13 18:48:45 1995
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Date: Wed, 14 Jun 1995 03:47:07 +0200 (MSZ)
From: Michael Weller <eowmob@exp-math.uni-essen.de>
Subject: Re: Bug#980: no terminfo file for con132x25
To: Andrew Howell <andrew@kryten.it.com.au>, Ian Jackson 
<iwj10@cus.cam.ac.uk>
Cc: linux-kernel@vger.rutgers.edu, debian-bugs@pixar.com
In-Reply-To: <9506131410.AA21932@pollux.exp-math.uni-essen.de>
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<Pine.3.89.9506140330.C2723-0100000@werner.exp-math.uni-essen.de>
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> (NB: If you wish to CC debian-bugs on any future messages on this
> subject, please be sure to preserve the `Re: Bug#980' at the start of
> the line so as to avoid having your message filed as a new bug
> report.)
> 
> Andrew Howell writes, in Debian bug report #980:
> >   3. I make lilo choose a text mode that is 132x25. This causes my 
TERM
> >      variable to be set up as con132x25. This causes problems since
> >      there is no con132x25 terminfo file. There are a few ways to 
get
> >      around this as I can see.
> 
> I and others have asked several times here for the default terminal
> type for a Linux console to be changed to `linux'.  I've even supplied
> a patch (though I'm not sure whether I'm competent to do so).

Well.. here is a simple question: Why don't you make either your
init program (that /etc/init thingy) set TERM or even better setup
up the getty's on the console correctly to use TERM=linux. Setting TERM
in the kernel at all makes only sense if it is somehow mode depending.

If you want it static just remove it from the kernel. Such 
administration 
details don't belong there.

You can also leave it as it is. Well setup new system can simply use 
TERM=linux old system continue to run => perfect solution.

> I haven't seen anyone advance any arguments against making such a
> change.

ABove argument came up several times already. change your init 
suite/setup and be happy.

Michael.

(eowmob@exp-math.uni-essen.de or  eowmob@pollux.exp-math.uni-essen.de
Please do not use my vm or de0hrz1a accounts anymore. In case of real
problems reaching me try mat42b@aixrs1.hrz.uni-essen.de instead.)

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From cus.cam.ac.uk!iwj10 Tue Jun 13 06:29:22 1995
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Date: Tue, 13 Jun 95 00:49 BST
From: iwj10@cus.cam.ac.uk (Ian Jackson)
To: linux-kernel@vger.rutgers.edu, andrew@kryten.it.com.au (Andrew 
Howell),
        debian-bugs@pixar.com
Subject: Re: Bug#980: no terminfo file for con132x25

(NB: If you wish to CC debian-bugs on any future messages on this
subject, please be sure to preserve the `Re: Bug#980' at the start of
the line so as to avoid having your message filed as a new bug
report.)

Andrew Howell writes, in Debian bug report #980:
>   3. I make lilo choose a text mode that is 132x25. This causes my 
TERM
>      variable to be set up as con132x25. This causes problems since
>      there is no con132x25 terminfo file. There are a few ways to get
>      around this as I can see.

I and others have asked several times here for the default terminal
type for a Linux console to be changed to `linux'.  I've even supplied
a patch (though I'm not sure whether I'm competent to do so).

Perhaps noone else thinks this is important, but I disagree.  It is
causing us (Debian) several recurring problems.

I don't know why this is.  Perhaps our users are more demanding.
Perhaps we're the first distribution that's worried about this kind of
thing which is trying to use and be compatible with standard
components (e.g. kernels) and at the same time trying to avoid
inserting hacks to get around avoidable brain damage.

Whatever the explanation for us in particular having problems, it
seems to me that encoding the console size into the TERM variable is a
bad idea, and that using something derived from `console' rather than
`linux' is a bad idea, and that both of these things should be fixed.

I haven't seen anyone advance any arguments against making such a
change.

Please could it be implemented ASAP.  I hereby resubmit my patch,
which I believe was originally based on 1.2.0.

Ian.

 --- init/main.c~       Sat Mar 18 14:24:21 1995
 +++ init/main.c        Thu Apr 27 01:10:24 1995
 @@ -100,7 +100,7 @@
  static unsigned long memory_start = 0;
  static unsigned long memory_end = 0;

 -static char term[21];
 +static const char term[] = "TERM=linux";
  int rows, cols;

  int ramdisk_size;
 @@ -282,7 +282,7 @@
         if (!*line)
                 return;
         args = 0;
 -      envs = 1;       /* TERM is set to 'console' by default */
 +      envs = 1;       /* TERM is set to 'linux' by default */
         next = line;
         while ((line = next) != NULL) {
                 if ((next = strchr(line,' ')) != NULL)
 @@ -426,7 +426,6 @@
         int pid,i;

         setup();
 -      sprintf(term, "TERM=con%dx%d", ORIG_VIDEO_COLS, 
ORIG_VIDEO_LINES);

         #ifdef CONFIG_UMSDOS_FS
         {
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From kryten.it.com.au!andrew Mon Jun 12 06:31:58 1995
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From: andrew@kryten.it.com.au (Andrew Howell)
Subject: no terminfo file for con132x25
To: debian-bugs@pixar.com
Date: Mon, 12 Jun 1995 21:31:44 +0800 (WST)
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Package: sysvinit, base?

Following was passed onto me by a friend


  3. I make lilo choose a text mode that is 132x25. This causes my TERM
     variable to be set up as con132x25. This causes problems since
     there is no con132x25 terminfo file. There are a few ways to get
     around this as I can see.

       a) Supply terminfo files for the various text modes (Yuck :)

       b) Add the word 'console' to the end of all the getty
          statements in the /etc/inittab file.

          e.g.

          1:2345:respawn:/sbin/getty 9600 tty1 console
          2:23:respawn:/sbin/getty 9600 tty2 console
          3:23:respawn:/sbin/getty 9600 tty3 console
          4:23:respawn:/sbin/getty 9600 tty4 console
          5:23:respawn:/sbin/getty 9600 tty5 console
          6:23:respawn:/sbin/getty 9600 tty6 console

          rather than -

          1:2345:respawn:/sbin/getty 9600 tty1
          2:23:respawn:/sbin/getty 9600 tty2
          3:23:respawn:/sbin/getty 9600 tty3
          4:23:respawn:/sbin/getty 9600 tty4
          5:23:respawn:/sbin/getty 9600 tty5
          6:23:respawn:/sbin/getty 9600 tty6

       c) Add a line like TERM=console;export TERM to the /etc/profile
          file and other shell files.

     Option a) will work but it seems like too much hassle and a waste
     of disk space. Perhaps the 'untic' program should come in one of 
the
     packages so people can easily generate their own terminfo files if
     they really want to.

     I think option b) is the best method. That way things work 
correctly
     on all the VCs for all text modes. 
 
     I believe option c) isn't very a good choice. This will cause 
hassles
     for things like running an xterm with the -ls parameter since it 
will
     cause the TERM variable to equal console rather than xterm.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Dehydration - 34%, Recollection of previous evening - 2%, embarrassment
factor - 91%.  Advise repair schedule:- off line for 36 hours, re-boot
startup disk, and replace head - wow, what a night!
                -- Kryten in Red Dwarf `The Last Day'

Andrew Howell                                          andrew@it.com.au 
Perth, Western Australia                      howellaa@cs.curtin.edu.au 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Acknowledgement sent to andrew@kryten.it.com.au (Andrew Howell) :
New bug report received and forwarded. Full text available.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Report forwarded to debian-devel@pixar.com :
Bug#980 ; Package sysvinit, base? . Full text available.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Ian Jackson / iwj10@thor.cam.ac.uk , with the debian-bugs tracking
mechanism
This page last modified 07:13:02 GMT Fri 23 Jun