The ''Friendly'' Terminal Server

Terminals are a dying species, but there are still a few in the observatory. Most of these are connected to a terminal server. This means that they are not attached directly to any specific computer, but rather to a switcher which allows access to any machine -- both local and remote. Local ones need only specify a brief name (e.g. kaputar) whereas you need to give the full internet address for remote machines (e.g. mymachine.myhome.edu.au). A single terminal can be connected to up to four hosts simultaneously. The terminal server's name is friendly, and it displays the Friendly> prompt.

The terminal server has a small set of commands including: connect (c); resume (r); help (h); show sessions (sh s). Use the help command for details of other options. For example, the command


  Friendly> c leon

starts a leon session.

The terminal communicates with the terminal server once the Friendly> prompt is displayed. This prompt is produced in response to the BREAK key, or when you log off a host. Do not type logout if the Friendly> prompt is displayed. You will disconnect the terminal from the terminal server itself. If you do log out of the server, please log in again, giving the room you are in (e.g. Control Room) as your username. If you press the BREAK key during a session, the Friendly> prompt apppears. Then you can start another session with the connect command. Use the resume n command to get back to the nth session from the Friendly> prompt.

Original: Bob.Sault@csiro.au (05-OCT-1998)
Modified: Bob.Sault@csiro.au (05-OCT-1998)