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-
-
-
-NCD X terminal mini HOWTO
-
-
-
-----
-
-!!! NCD X terminal mini HOWTO
-
-!!Ian Hodge, ian at permedia.ca v1.09, March 27, 2000
-
-
-----
-''This document describes how to connect
-an NCD X terminal to a UNIX host''
-----
-
-
-
-
-!!1. Copyright
-
-
-
-
-!!2. Introduction
-
-
-*2.1 Summary of steps
-
-
-
-
-
-!!3. Requirements
-
-
-*3.1 The X terminal
-
-*3.2 Physical Connection
-
-*3.3 NCD X server software
-
-
-
-
-
-!!4. Configuring the UNIX Host
-
-
-*4.1 TFTP and BootP
-
-
-
-
-
-!!5. Configuring the NCD X terminal Boot Process
-
-
-*5.1 Boot Monitor command syntax
-
-*5.2 Boot Monitor Setup Menu
-
-*5.3 X Terminal Configuration Files
-
-*5.4 Logging on to the host
-
-
-
-
-
-!!6. Fonts and the X terminal
-
-
-*6.1 The font server
-
-
-
-
-
-!!7. Miscellaneous
-
-
-*7.1 Supported Terminals
-
-*7.2 Reference
-
-*7.3 Equipment used in the preparation of this document
-
-*7.4 Acknowledgments
-
-*7.5 Outstanding Issues
-
-*7.6 Feedback
-
-----
-
-!!1. Copyright
-
-
-The NCD X terminal mini HOWTO is copyright(c) 1998 by Ian Hodge. Linux
-HOWTO documents may be reproduced and distributed in whole or in part, in
-any medium physical or electronic, as long as this copyright notice is
-retained on all copies.
-
-
-
-----
-
-!!2. Introduction
-
-
-This document describes how an X terminal manufactured by NCD (Network
-Computing Devices) can be connected to and booted from a UNIX host using
-BootP (boot protocol). Many terminals are also capable of booting with
-RARP, NFS or locally from a PCMCIA card or over a serial link (either
-directly or with a modem).
-
-
-Although the material in this document was prepared based on experience
-with a single model of X terminal, much of the information applies to other
-models and other X terminals generally. There is also an Linux X terminal
-mini HOWTO document (declared obsolete by HOWTO maintainers at the time of
-writing and therefore possibly not available in all Linux distributions)
-which overlaps material from this document. That document covers X terminal
-information more generally.
-
-
-
-
-!!2.1 Summary of steps
-
-
-
-The process of connecting an X terminal to a UNIX network can be summarized
-in the following steps:
-
-
-
-
-
-*Physically connect the X terminal to the network.
-*
-
-*Configure the UNIX host you are going to boot from.
-*
-
-*Configure the X terminal boot procedure.
-*
-
-*Boot the X terminal.
-*
-
-*Log in to the network.
-*
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-----
-
-!!3. Requirements
-
-!!3.1 The X terminal
-
-
-
-An X terminal is a device which communicates and displays over a network
-using a distributed network window system known as X. Typically, the
-terminal's X software, known as the X server, is retrieved from the network
-at boot time. Programs other then the X server software (X client programs)
-are not run locally on the X terminal (with some exceptions); instead, the
-X terminal displays programs running on other hosts on the network. The X
-terminal, therefore, is a type of network computer which uses the X
-protocol to access network resources.
-
-
-
-
-!!3.2 Physical Connection
-
-
-
- The NCD X terminal (model Xncd19r was used in preparation of this
-document) has an RJ-45 (twisted pair) connector for use with 10baseT
-Ethernet. A hub is required to link more than two Ethernet devices using
-twisted pair. If the X terminal and its host are the only devices in the
-network, they may be connected with a 'null' cable which is described in
-the Linux Ethernet HOWTO document.
-
-
-
-
-!!3.3 NCD X server software
-
-
-
-The terminal's X server software file is available from the manufacturer
-and presumably is provided with the terminal upon initial purchase. This
-file will reside on the boot host where it can be accessed by the X
-terminal when it boots. This file is specific to the terminal type but
-independent of boot host. The terminal can boot from any host which
-supports the boot communication protocol (explained later). In addition to
-X server, the X software may also include applications, like a window
-manager, which can run locally on the X terminal itself.
-
-
-
-----
-
-!!4. Configuring the UNIX Host
-
-
-At boot time, the X terminal retrieves files (including its X server
-software) from a remote host on the network. After the terminal boots, the
-X server software will control input, display, local clients and X protocol
-communication. The X server software is executed on the X terminal and
-therefore does not have to be software compatible with the host on which it
-resides.
-
-
-
-
-!!4.1 TFTP and BootP
-
-
-
-Together, tftp (trivial file transfer protocol) and BootP (boot protocol
-server) are used on the remote host to allow the X terminal to retrieve its
-X server software and configuration files over the network. Both services
-are typically started by inetd (Internet Daemon).
-
-
-
-
-
-After the X terminal is powered up, if it is configured to boot from the
-network, it will send out a broadcast message using BootP (TCP/IP bootstrap
-protocol). This boot message will contain the X terminal's hardware
-(Ethernet) address which is used by the boot host to respond to the boot
-request.
-
-
-
-
-
-When a boot request is received by the remote host, inetd
-(listening on a port designated in /etc/services) starts the BootP daemon
-specified in /etc/inetd.conf.
-
-
-
-
-
-In file inetd.conf, create or uncomment lines that refer to TFTP and
-BootP. The final argument of the tftpd entry in the example below is the
-path of the directory containing the files required by the X
-terminal. Although directory names are not mandatory, for security reasons
-they should always be present as tftp access will then be restricted to
-files in specified directories.
-
-
-
-
-
-From a sample file /etc/inetd.conf:
-
-# tftp service is provided primarily for booting. Most sites
-# run this only on machines acting as "boot servers".
-tftp dgram udp wait root /usr/sbin/tcpd /usr/sbin/in.tftpd /usr/X11/lib/X11/ncd/
-bootps dgram udp wait root /usr/sbin/tcpd /usr/sbin/in.bootpd
-
-
-
-
-
-
-Upon activation, the BootP server daemon on the host will then read its
-database file /etc/bootptab. An entry for the X terminal must be placed in
-this file. Each entry contains a set of tags separated with ':'
-characters. The host name must be the very first tag in an entry.
-
-
-Useful bootptab tags:
-
-; ____hd____:
-
-Bootfile home directory (eg /usr/X11/lib/X11/ncd/).
-; ____ip____:
-
-Address of the X terminal (eg 10...1).
-
-
-
-; ____sm____:
-
-Subnet mask (eg 255...). To understand the use of
-the subnet mask and other IP networking principles, consult the Linux NET-3
-(networking) HOWTO document.
-
-
-
-; ____gw____:
-
-IP Address of gateway (eg 10...1).
-; ____ht____:
-
-Hardware type - Ethernet in this example.
-; ____ha____:
-
-Hardware address of X terminal (6 byte Ethernet address)
-
-
-According to the bootptab UNIX man page, the 'ha' tag must be preceded by
-the 'ht' tag. The X terminal's Ethernet address is displayed when the
-terminal is first powered on. The address appears as a series of 6
-double digit hex numbers separated by colons (e.g. 00:00:A7:12:26:19).
-
-
-
-; ____tc____:
-
-Table continuation or label of another entry in the
-BootP database. See the example below.
-
-
-
-; ____ds____:
-
-IP address of domain name server (eg 10...3). Not
-required if DNS is not used for hostname resolution.
-
-
-
-; ____bf____:
-
-Name of X terminal boot file (Usually the terminal
-model is used as the X server file name eg Xncd19r).
-
-
-
-
-
-
- The following is an example of the Boot protocol server database file,
-/etc/bootptab. The character '\' is used to escape the end-of-line
-character.
-
-
-
-
-# This is an entry (
here given the name default)
-# with information common to all BootP clients
-default:hd=/usr/X11/lib/X11/ncd/:\
-ds=10...3:\
-sm=255...:\
-gw=10...1:
-# X terminal entry with hostname myxterm
-# Notice the tc tag reference to the entry default
-myxterm:ht=ethernet:\
-ha=0x0000a7122619:\
-ip=10...2:\
-tc=default:\
-bf=Xncd19r:
-
-
-
-
-
-
-When a matching entry for the hardware address in the boot request is found
-in the bootptab file, a response is sent by bootpd with the corresponding
-IP address from the matching entry. File transfer can then take place over
-IP using TFTP.
-
-
-A hostname can be assigned to the X terminal by creating an entry on
-the boot host in the file /etc/hosts. This file is used to map hostnames to
-IP addresses. In the this example, the X terminal (address 10...2) has
-been assigned the hostname 'myxterm'.
-
-
-
-
-10...1 linuxhost # The boot host
-10...2 myxterm # X terminal
-
-
-
-
-----
-
-!!5. Configuring the NCD X terminal Boot Process
-
-
-After being powered up, the X terminal attempts to boot. This is the
-process where the X software is loaded into memory and executed. If the X
-terminal cannot boot, the Boot Monitor prompt '>' will appear. The Boot
-Monitor is firmware found in terminal PROMs (programmable read-only
-memory). With the basic Boot Monitor interface, it is possible to configure
-the terminal to boot and retrieve its X server software from the host. Use
-'?' for a list of Boot Monitor commands.
-
-
-
-
-
-Configuration parameters set with the boot monitor are stored in NVRAM
-(Non-volatile Random-Access Memory) and are retained when the terminal is
-powered down.
-
-
-
-
-
-From the boot monitor, the 'bt' command or a menu system can be used to
-boot the terminal. Functionality of the two methods largely overlaps but
-the menu provides control over more boot parameters.
-
-
-
-
-!!5.1 Boot Monitor command syntax
-
-
-
->bt file terminal_IP host_IP gateway_IP subnet_mask
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-; ____file____:
-
-The name of the file retrieved from the remote host
-containing the X server software used by the X terminal to boot (eg
-"Xncd19r"). Check that this file name is the same as the file name is found
-in the X terminal entry in the bootptab file on the host (explained in the
-previous section).
-
-
-
-; ____terminal_IP____:
-
-The IP address assigned to the X terminal (eg
-10...2). Again, this IP address should be the same as the address assigned
-in the X terminal entry of the bootptab file on the host.
-
-
-
-; ____host_IP____:
-
-The IP address of the boot host (eg 10...1).
-
-
-
-; ____gateway____:
-
-The IP address of the subnet gateway (eg 10...1)
-
-
-
-; ____subnet_mask____:
-
-The subnet mask, specified as a decimal IP
-address or as a hexadecimal number (eg 255...0 or ff000000).
-
-
-
-
-
-!!5.2 Boot Monitor Setup Menu
-
-
-
-The setup menus are accessed by pressing the 'Setup' key or
-typing 'se' from the boot monitor '>' prompt.
-
-
-
-
-; ____Get IP Addresses From____:
-
-The IP address of the X terminal should
-be obtained from boot monitor configuration stored in NVRAM. Only select
-'Network' if you are using RARP (reverse ARP) to retrieve the X terminal's
-IP address from the remote host.
-
-
-
-; ____Terminal IP Address____:
-
-The IP address assigned to the X terminal
-(eg 10...2). This is the same as 'terminal_IP' parameter above.
-
-
-
-; ____First Boot Host IP Address____:
-
-The IP address of the boot host
-(eg 10...1). This is the same as 'host_IP' parameter above.
-
-
-
-; ____Gateway IP Address____:
-
-The IP address of the subnet gateway. This
-is the same as 'gateway' parameter above.
-
-
-
-; ____Subnet Mask____:
-
-The subnet mask, specified as a decimal IP
-address. This is the same as the 'subnet_mask' parameter above.
-
-
-
-; ____Broadcast IP Address____:
-
-The IP address used to broadcast to the
-subnet. (eg 10.255.255.255)
-
-
-
-; ____Boot File____:
-
-The name of the file retrieved from the remote
-host containing the X server software used by the X terminal to boot (eg
-"Xncd19r"). This is the same as 'file' parameter described above.
-
-
-
-; ____TFTP Boot Directory____:
-
-The name of the directory on the host
-which contains the boot file (eg "/usr/X11/lib/X11/ncd/" or "/tftpboot/").
-
-
-
-; ____Config file____:
-
-The name of the X terminal configuration file on the remote host
-(See below).
-
-
-
-; ____UNIX Config Directory____:
-
-Name of the directory containing X terminal configuration files
-(eg "/usr/X11/lib/X11/ncd/").
-
-
-
-; ____TFTP Order, NFS Order, Local Order____:
-
-Assign '1' to the preferred method for booting. Assign '1' to TFTP
-when booting from a host using BootP.
-
-
-
-
-
-!!5.3 X Terminal Configuration Files
-
-
-
-During the boot process, the X terminal will attempt to transfer and load
-files from the boot host. These files are not required for the
-X terminal to boot successfully. If a file is not found, the terminal
-will use default settings.
-
-
-Configuration Files transferred to the X terminal at boot time:
-
-
-*X terminal configuration file (eg ncd.conf) used
-to retain terminal settings.
-*
-
-*Color file (eg rgb.txt).
-*
-
-*X key symbol database (eg XKeysymDB).
-*
-
-*Font directory files (eg font.dir, font.alias).
-*
-
-
-
-
-
-
-After a successful boot, the X terminal console window with a
-menu bar should appear. The terminal setup key toggles display of this
-console window. From the console window 'setup' pull-down menu, terminal
-characteristics can be viewed, altered and saved on the boot host in the
-configuration file which can be used in future sessions.
-
-
-If TFTP is being used to transfer files from the boot host, then file
-permission must be world readable. Similarly, to save a configuration file
-to the boot host, the file must already exist and with world write
-permission enabled. If secure TFTP is used (this is recommended for
-security reasons), then file access is possible only through specified
-directories.
-
-
-__Note:__ The terminal may fail to boot if it was previously
-configured to work with other hosts or with different configuration
-parameters. Resetting the NVRAM to remove stored settings may solve the
-problem.
-
-
-
-
-
-To reset NVRAM, from the boot monitor, type the 'nv' command. From this
-sub-menu, select 'l' to load defaults, 's' to save and finally 'q' to
-quit. Resume the boot procedure described above.
-
-
-
-
-!!5.4 Logging on to the host
-
-
-
-From the X terminal console window menu bar, select the 'terminals'
-pull-down menu and choose 'New Telnet...'. When the telnet window appears,
-insert the address of a network host in the service entry and click
-'OK'. The host log in prompt should appear. After logging in, X programs,
-including a window manager, can be started from the telnet window.
-
-
-
-----
-
-!!6. Fonts and the X terminal
-
-
-The X terminal comes with a small set of fonts. In the X terminal setup
-menus and configuration files, these fonts are referred to as
-'built-ins'. The terminal can be operated with these fonts alone but more
-fonts are desirable. Fonts can be added by specifying font paths in
-X terminal console setup menus, configuration files or by using the xset
-command.
-
-
-
-
-
-Once the X server software is running on the X terminal, the font path can
-modified or queried with the command xset.
-
-
-To query the X server:
-
-xset -q
-
-To add a font entry:
-
-xset +fp <path>
-
-To remove a font entry:
-
-xset -fp <path>
-
-
-
-
-
-!!6.1 The font server
-
-
-
-The font server (xfs) runs on a network host and retrieves fonts for the X
-terminal and other network clients. Use of the font server allows the use
-of a wide variety of fonts as the X server software is otherwise
-restricted to bitmap fonts. During retrieval, the font server can
-uncompress, scale and convert fonts for the X server and can help
-simplify the management of fonts for groups of terminals and network
-clients. Font server software is part of many Linux distributions and has
-been incorporated into X consortium software available from
-ftp.x.org.
-
-
-To indicate the use of a font server, a tcp service entry is used instead
-of a font path in the X terminal's host resident configuration file or
-console setup menu.
-
-
-Format of tcp service entry:
-
-tcp/<IP address of font server>:<port used by font server>
-
-
-
-Example:
-
-tcp/10...1:7100
-
-
-
-
-
-
-An example of an entry in the X terminal configuration file found on the
-boot host:
-
-
-
-
-xserver-default-font-path = {
-{ "tcp/10...1:7100" }
-{ "built-ins" }
-}
-
-
-
-The xset command with the tcp service entry can used to add the font server
-to the path:
-
-
-
-
-xset +fp tcp/10...1:7100
-
-
-
-
-
-
-WARNING: Certain versions of NCDware require the font server entry to be
-listed first before X terminal 'built-in' fonts. This is contrary to the
-NCD documentation "System Administrator's Guide for UNIX Systems".
-Experiment with the order of the font path and verify it with the
-'xset q' command.
-
-
-
-
-
-On the font server host, the server is started at boot time from the
-rc.local startup script. The font server (xfs) is started with the
-following command:
-
-
-
-
-xfs -config <config file path> -port <font server port number>
-
-
-
-The standard font server port is 7100.
-
-
-Example:
-
-
-
-
-xfs -config /usr/X11/lib/X11/fs/config -port 7100
-
-
-
-
-
-
-Example font server configuration file:
-
-
-
-
-# font server configuration file
-# allow a max of 10 clients to connect to this font server
-client-limit = 10
-# when a font server reaches its client limit, start up a new one
-clone-self = on
-# use the UNIX syslog utility to log errors.
-use-syslog = on
-# list of font directories
-catalogue = /usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/misc/,
-/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/Speedo/,
-/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/Type1/,
-/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/75dpi/,
-/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/100dpi/
-# file used to log errors if syslog is not used.
-error-file = /usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fs/fs-errors
-# 12 point in decipoints
-default-point-size = 120
-# 100 x 100 and 75 x 75
-default-resolutions = 75,75,100,100
-
-
-
-
-----
-
-!!7. Miscellaneous
-
-!!7.1 Supported Terminals
-
-
-
-I have been told that this procedures in this document work (more or less)
-with the following terminals: __NCD 19r, NCD 19c, NCD19m?, NCD 15b, NCD MCX__
-
-
-
-
-!!7.2 Reference
-
-
-
-Unix man pages:
-bootpd(8), tftpd(8), bootptab(5), xdm(1x), xfs(1), fsinfo(1), xset(1),
-inetd(8)
-
-
-Linux Ethernet HOWTO document,
-Linux Net-3 (Networking) HOWTO document
-
-
-
-
-
-NCDware System Administrator's Guide for UNIX Systems (print version)
-
-
-
-NCD Techtips Archive
-
-Now available for download in the NCD Techtips Archive is the
-NCDware Reference Manual which covers almost every X terminal
-configuration issue in detail.
-
-
-The searchable
-NCD knowledge base addresses some frequently asked questions
-as well as bug reports.
-
-
-
-
-
-Note that the above links are subject to change. Since the first
-version of this mini-HOWTO was published, the NCD web site has been
-extensively reorganized.
-
-
-
-
-!!7.3 Equipment used in the preparation of this document
-
-
-
-X terminal: NCD model NCD19r with 19 monochrome monitor 1280x1024 8M RAM
-
-
-X server software: NCDware V3.2.CV 19r_s
-
-
-Remote Host: IBM Cyrix 686 P150+ running Slackware
-(Linux kernel version 2..31)
-
-
-Remote Host: IBM Cyrix M2 200 MMX running Red Hat 5.
-(Linux kernel version 2..32)
-
-
-Network Card: 10 base T Ethernet card (ne 2000 clone) and 8 port hub
-
-
-Font server version 2 release number 6300
-
-
-
-
-!!7.4 Acknowledgments
-
-
-
-I would like to thank Michael de Lind van Wijngaarden, Jamal Hadi-Salim and
-Dwight Hodge for assistance in the preparation of this document.
-
-!!7.5 Outstanding Issues
-
-
-
-
-
-
-*Is it possible or wise to start the font server using inetd?
-
-*
-
-*If the remote host running the font server is powered down but later
-comes up again, with the font server active, the X terminal may fail to
-retrieve its fonts. The font path entry has to be re-entered with the
-console menu or xset. Why?
-
-*
-
-*Are the procedures for other models of X terminals roughly similar?
-
-*
-
-*What is the procedure to boot the X terminal using NFS (Network File
-System) or RARP (Reverse Address Resolution Protocol)?
-
-*
-
-*The following messages appear in the X terminal Console. I am
-suspicious that they come from xfree86 extensions to X which are not part
-of the X terminal server. Can someone confirm or deny this?
-
-%XSERVER-I-NEWCLIENT, host "localhost" connected with blank authorization
-%XSERVER-W-NOEXTENSION, client attempted to use non-existent extension "BIG-REQUESTS"
-%XSERVER-W-NOEXTENSION, client attempted to use non-existent extension "XKEYBOARD"
-%XSERVER-W-NOEXTENSION, client attempted to use non-existent extension "XFree86-Misc"
-
-
-*
-
-*Could Linux be ported to an X terminal? This is almost a joke
-question but Linux is already on some unlikely platforms.
-
-*
-
-
-
-
-
-!!7.6 Feedback
-
-
-
-Please write to ian at permedia.ca
-with any comments, questions, corrections, suggestions or contributions.
-Many thanks to all who have written with feedback and additional information
.
-
-
-
-----
+Describe [HowToNCDXTerminal]
here.
