[SOLVED] How to set /dev/tty as living log?

igadoter · 11-04-2018, 05:34 AM

Hi,
I found this in very old book abou UNIX administration

Code:

$ write  foo > /dev/tty

I came to idea to redirect output of commands in similar way, eg.

Code:

$ mirror-slackware-current.sh > /dev/tty5

It works now. But still I have to login using /dev/tty5. I want this device to work without shell. I don't know I am clear enough. Commonly switching to /dev/tty5 ones is being welcomed and prompted to provide name and password. I want that switching to /dev/tty5 just opens plain screen - no system welcome. no prompt, no possibility to use /dev/tty5 as login device. It just should show eg. output of command as above.

Didier Spaier · 11-04-2018, 06:37 AM

That would need several modifications:

In /etc/inittab, comment out this line:

Code:

c4:12345:respawn:/sbin/agetty 38400 tty5 linux

Create the device if need be. As done in the Slackware installer:

Code:

  if [ ! -r /dev/tty5 ]; then
    mknod /dev/tty5 c 4 5
    chown root:tty /dev/tty5
    chmod 620 /dev/tty5
  fi

Good luck.

PS Caveat: you probably won't be able to scroll up or down in /dev/tty5

igadoter · 11-04-2018, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Didier Spaier

[*]In /etc/fstab , comment out this line:

Code:

c4:12345:respawn:/sbin/agetty 38400 tty5 linux

I suppose it is about /etc/inittab, /etc/fstab contains partition to auto mount.

No matter

Code:

$ echo foo > /dev/tty8

is enough. I suppose kernel just open this device. The only restriction is the user has to belong to tty group.

Didier Spaier · 11-04-2018, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by igadoter

I suppose it is about /etc/inittab, /etc/fstab contains partition to auto moun.

Yes, fixed.