---
name: "gettytab"
section: "5"
platform: "openbsd"
package: "man"
version: "8.0-current-20261101"
release: "OpenBSD 8.0-current (2026-11-01)"
platforms: ["freebsd", "openbsd", "macos"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/gettytab"
---

# gettytab(5)

terminal configuration database

## NAME

**gettytab** – terminal configuration database

## DESCRIPTION

The **gettytab** file is a simplified version of the [termcap(5)](/termcap/5.md) database used to describe terminal lines. The initial terminal login process [getty(8)](/getty/8.md) accesses the **gettytab** file each time it starts, allowing simpler reconfiguration of terminal characteristics. Each entry in the database is used to describe one class of terminals.

There is a default terminal class, *default*, that is used to set global defaults for all other classes. (That is, the *default* entry is read, then the entry for the class required is used to override particular settings.)

## CAPABILITIES

Refer to [termcap(5)](/termcap/5.md) for a description of the file layout. The *default* column below lists defaults obtained if there is no entry in the table obtained, nor one in the special *default* table.

| | | | |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| **Name** | **Type** | **Default** | **Description** |
| ab | bool | false | Auto-baud speed select for the MICOM 600 port selector. |
| ap | bool | false | Terminal uses any parity. |
| bk | str | 0377 | Alternative end-of-line character (input break). |
| c0 | num | unused | TTY control flags to write messages. |
| c1 | num | unused | TTY control flags to read login name. |
| c2 | num | unused | TTY control flags to leave terminal as. |
| ce | bool | false | Use CRT erase algorithm. |
| ck | bool | false | Use CRT kill algorithm. |
| cl | str | NULL | Screen clear sequence. |
| co | bool | false | Console; add |
| ds | str | ‘^Y’ | Delayed suspend character. |
| dx | bool | false | Set |
| ec | bool | false | Leave echo OFF. |
| ep | bool | false | Terminal uses even parity. |
| er | str | ‘^?’ | Erase character. |
| et | str | ‘^D’ | End of text |
| ev | str | NULL | Initial environment. |
| fl | str | ‘^O’ | Output flush character. |
| hc | bool | false | Do |
| hn | str | hostname | Hostname. |
| ht | bool | false | Terminal has real tabs. |
| i0 | num | unused | TTY input flags to write messages. |
| i1 | num | unused | TTY input flags to read login name. |
| i2 | num | unused | TTY input flags to leave terminal as. |
| ig | bool | false | Ignore garbage characters in login name. |
| im | str | NULL | Initial (banner) message. |
| in | str | ‘^C’ | Interrupt character. |
| is | num | unused | Input speed. |
| kl | str | ‘^U’ | Kill character. |
| l0 | num | unused | TTY local flags to write messages. |
| l1 | num | unused | TTY local flags to read login name. |
| l2 | num | unused | TTY local flags to leave terminal as. |
| lc | bool | false | Terminal has lower case. |
| lm | str | login: | Login prompt. |
| ln | str | ‘^V’ | \`\`Literal next'' character. |
| lo | str | */usr/bin/login* | Program to execute when name obtained. |
| mb | bool | false | Do flow control based on carrier. |
| nl | bool | false | Terminal has (or might have) a newline character. |
| np | bool | false | Terminal uses no parity (i.e., 8-bit characters). |
| nx | str | default | Next table (for auto speed selection). |
| o0 | num | unused | TTY output flags to write messages. |
| o1 | num | unused | TTY output flags to read login name. |
| o2 | num | unused | TTY output flags to leave terminal as. |
| op | bool | false | Terminal uses odd parity. |
| os | num | unused | Output speed. |
| pc | str | ‘\\0’ | Pad character. |
| pe | bool | false | Use printer (hard copy) erase algorithm. |
| pf | num | 0 | Delay |
| ps | bool | false | Line connected to a Develcon port selector. |
| qu | str | ‘^\\’ | Quit character. |
| rp | str | ‘^R’ | Line retype character. |
| rw | bool | false | Do |
| sp | num | unused | Line speed (input and output). |
| su | str | ‘^Z’ | Suspend character. |
| tc | str | none | Table continuation. |
| to | num | 0 | Timeout (seconds). |
| tt | str | NULL | Terminal type (for environment). |
| ub | bool | false | Do unbuffered output (of prompts etc). |
| uc | bool | false | Terminal is known upper case only. |
| we | str | ‘^W’ | Word erase character. |
| xc | bool | false | Do |
| xf | str | ‘^S’ | XOFF |
| xn | str | ‘^Q’ | XON |

The following capabilities are no longer supported by [getty(8)](/getty/8.md):

| | | | |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| cb | bool | false | Use CRT backspace mode. |
| f0 | num | unused | TTY mode flags to write messages. |
| f1 | num | unused | TTY mode flags to read login name. |
| f2 | num | unused | TTY mode flags to leave terminal as. |
| he | str | NULL | Hostname editing string. |

The following delay capabilities are no longer supported by [getty(8)](/getty/8.md):

| | | | |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| bd | num | 0 | Backspace delay. |
| cd | num | 0 | Carriage-return delay. |
| fd | num | 0 | Form-feed (vertical motion) delay. |
| nd | num | 0 | Newline (line-feed) delay. |
| td | num | 0 | Tab delay. |

If no line speed is specified, speed will not be altered from that which prevails when [getty(8)](/getty/8.md) is entered. Specifying an input or output speed will override line speed for stated direction only.

Terminal modes to be used for the output of the message and for input of the login name, and to leave the terminal set as upon completion, are derived from the boolean flags specified. If the derivation should prove inadequate, any (or all) of these three may be overridden with one of the *c0*, *c1*, *c2*, *i0*, *i1*, *i2*, *l0*, *l1*, *l2*, *o0*, *o1*, or *o2* numeric specifications, which can be used to specify (usually in octal, with a leading ‘0’) the exact values of the flags. These flags correspond to the termios *c\_cflag*, *c\_iflag*, *c\_lflag*, and *c\_oflag* fields, respectively. Each of these sets must be completely specified to be effective.

Should [getty(8)](/getty/8.md) receive a null character (presumed to indicate a line break) it will restart using the table indicated by the *nx* entry. If there is none, it will re-use its original table.

The *cl* screen clear string may be preceded by a (decimal) number of milliseconds of delay required (a la [termcap(5)](/termcap/5.md)). This delay is simulated by repeated use of the pad character *pc*.

The initial message and login message( *im* and *lm*) may include any of the following character sequences, which expand to information about the environment in which [getty(8)](/getty/8.md) is running:

- %d

  The current date.

- %h

  The hostname of the machine, which is normally obtained from the system using [gethostname(3)](/gethostname/3.md), but may also be overridden by the *hn* table entry.

- %t

  The TTY name.

- %m, %r, %s, %v

  The type of machine, release of the operating system, name of the operating system, and version of the kernel, respectively, as returned by [uname(3)](/uname/3.md).

- %%

  A ‘%’ character.

When [getty(8)](/getty/8.md) executes the login process given in the *lo* string (usually */usr/bin/login*), it will have set the environment to include the terminal type, as indicated by the *tt* string (if it exists). The *ev* string can be used to enter additional data into the environment. It is a list of comma-separated strings, each of which will presumably be of the form *name=value*.

If a non-zero timeout is specified with *to*, then [getty(8)](/getty/8.md) will exit within the indicated number of seconds, either having received a login name and passed control to [login(1)](/login/1.md), or having received an alarm signal and exited. This may be useful to hangup dial in lines.

Output from [getty(8)](/getty/8.md) is even parity unless *op* or *np* is specified. The *op* string may be specified with *ap* to allow any parity on input, but generate odd parity output. Note: this only applies while [getty(8)](/getty/8.md) is being run; terminal driver limitations prevent a more complete implementation. [getty(8)](/getty/8.md) does not check parity of input characters in RAW mode.

## FILES

- */etc/gettytab*

  Default location of the database file.

## SEE ALSO

[login(1)](/login/1.md), [gethostname(3)](/gethostname/3.md), [uname(3)](/uname/3.md), [termcap(5)](/termcap/5.md), [getty(8)](/getty/8.md)

## HISTORY

The **gettytab** file format appeared in 4.2BSD.

## BUGS

The special characters (erase, kill, etc.) are reset to system defaults by [login(1)](/login/1.md).

The [termcap(5)](/termcap/5.md) format is horrid; something more rational should have been chosen.