> > Is there a way to make the console more ususable with another TERM
> > setting (it defaults to "unknown")?
> 
> The correct TERM is "sun".  Sorry, most of the /etc stuff is MI, so out
> of the box it doesn't exactly fit every NetBSD platform.

But, in particular, /etc/ttys is not, so can fit NetBSD/alpha exactly.
However, it's still correct that the default for 'console' is unknown.

/dev/console may be the graphics display, but it also may be a serial
port.  In the former case, you want 'sun', but in the latter case you
probably don't (unless you happen to be tipped over from a real sun
console 8-).


Really, the 'stock' ttys file on the alpha should look like:

# console pseudo-device
console "/usr/libexec/getty std.9600"   unknown on secure

# Workstation console (framebuffer) ttys
ttyE0   "/usr/libexec/getty std.9600"   sun off secure
ttyE1   "/usr/libexec/getty std.9600"   sun off secure

# DEC 3000 Z8530 ("scc") serial ports
ttyB0   "/usr/libexec/getty std.9600"   unknown off secure
ttyB1   "/usr/libexec/getty std.9600"   unknown off secure

# AlphaStation NS16550 ("com") serial ports
ttyC0   "/usr/libexec/getty std.9600"   unknown off secure
ttyC1   "/usr/libexec/getty std.9600"   unknown off secure


When a system is set up, part of the setup process is editing
/etc/ttys, turning off getty on console, and enabling gettys on the
terminal lines that should have them started.  That is (sparsely)
documented in the ttys file itself.


Note that the use of 'sun' may change above, when the new wscons is
used, if an emulation other than 'sun' is ever made the default.  But
right now, that'd be correct.



cgd