---
name: "gettydefs"
section: "5"
platform: "linux"
package: "gettyps"
version: "2.0.7i-1"
release: "Debian 1.3 (Bo)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/gettydefs"
---

# gettydefs(5)

speed and tty settings used by getty

## NAME

gettydefs - speed and tty settings used by getty

## DESCRIPTION

The file **/etc/gettydefs** contains information used by *getty*(1m) to set up the speed and tty settings for a line.  It supplies information on what the *login-prompt* should look like.  It also supplies the speed to try next if the user indicates the current speed is not correct by typing a *\<break\>* character.

Each entry in **/etc/gettydefs** has the following :

label# initial-flags # final-flags # login-prompt #next-label

Each entry is followed by a blank line.  Lines that begin with **are ignored and may be used to comment the file.  The various** fields can contain quoted characters of the form **\\b**, **\\n**, **\\c**, etc., as well as **\\***nnn*, where *nnn* is the octal value of the desired character.  The various fields are:

- *label*

  This is the string against which *getty* tries to match its second argument. It is often the speed, such as **1200**, at which the terminal is supposed to run, but it needn't be (see below).

- *initial-flags*

  These flags are the initial [*ioctl*(2)](/ioctl/2.md) settings to which the terminal is to be set if a terminal type is not specified to *getty*. *Getty* understands the symbolic names specified in **/usr/include/termio.h** (see [*termio*(7)](/termio/7.md)). Normally only the speed flag is required in the *initial-flags* field. *Getty* automatically sets the terminal to raw input mode and takes care of most of the other flags.  The *initial-flag* settings remain in effect until *getty* executes *login*(1m).

- *final-flags*

  These flags take the same values as the *initial-flags* and are set just prior to *getty* executes **/bin/login**. The speed flag is again required.  The composite flag **SANE** takes care of most of the other flags that need to be set so that the processor and terminal are communicating in a rational fashion. The other two commonly specified *final-flags* are **TAB3**, so that tabs are sent to the terminal as spaces, and **HUPCL**, so that the line is hung up on the final close.

- *login-prompt*

  This entire field is printed as the *login-prompt*. Unlike the above fields where white space is ignored (a space, tab or new-line), they are included in the *login-prompt* field.

  The *login-prompt* may contain various **@***char* and **\\***char* parameters.  These are described in full in the *getty*(1m) section PROMPT SUBSTITUTIONS.

- *next-label*

  This indicates the next *label* of the entry in the table that *getty* should use if the user types a *\<break\>* or the input cannot be read.  Usually, a series of speeds are linked together in this fashion, into a closed set.  For instance, **2400** linked to **1200**, which in turn is linked to **300**, which finally is linked back to **2400**.

If *getty* is called without a *speed* argument, then the first entry of **/etc/gettydefs** is used, thus making the first entry of **/etc/gettydefs** the default entry. It is also used if *getty* can't find the specified *label.* If **/etc/gettydefs** itself is missing, there is one entry built into *getty* which will bring up a terminal at 9600 baud.

It is strongly recommended that after making or modifying **/etc/gettydefs**, it be run through *getty* with the check (**-c**) option to be sure there are no errors.

## FILES

/etc/gettydefs

## SEE ALSO

login(1m), getty(1m), [ioctl(2)](/ioctl/2.md), [termio(7)](/termio/7.md)