C64 or C128 as a terminal for Linux
Introduction
This is a small HOWTO file. Linux users are always referred to HOWTOs and I will also
send you to one - you should read Serial-HOWTO before proceeding. Well, this
document is an extracted information from Serial-HOWTO but you won't loose
anything by reading both documents, which is highly recommended.
What is this all about?
C64/128 computer can easily interface with a PC running Linux - you just need a 5
wire cable and RS-232 interface (see projects section).
With C64/128 connected to PC you can have one more console in your Linux system,
which will act identically as the telnet feature on the web.
Partlist
You need
- RS232 interface and null-modem cable to PC
- a PC running Linux
- a good terminal program on commy, I recommend you
Novaterm for C64
and DesTerm 3.02 (the best) or
Dialogue128 for C128; all of them can be
found on Banana Republic site (if you have C128 and
Swiftlink go and get ACE, because terminal program 'term' from ACE is definietly the best). For a
persistent terminal program you can try CaTer.
It is a terminal program for C64 that can be burned into EPROM so bare C64 can be used as a serial
console. CaTer comes with termcap and terminfo entries so terminal programs work without problems
and show colors.
- some spare time for computing ;-)
Worklist
Linux machine:
- read Serial-HOWTO and ensure that you can use getty or uugetty.
- add this line to your /etc/gettydefs file
DT9600# B9600 CS8 CLOCAL # B9600 SANE -ISTRIP CLOCAL #@S login: #DT9600
- you may replace 9600 by your current baud speed - this is for unexpanded
C128, for C64 should be 2400, some C128 configs might prefer 4800 instead
- add this line to your /etc/inittab file
S1:234:respawn:/sbin/getty ttyS0 DT9600 vt100
- you have to change 9600 setting to the one you gave in /etc/gettydefs, you may change getty
to uugetty (see Serial-HOWTO what for). It is assumed here that your null-modem cable is
attached to COM1 port (ttyS0)
C64/128
- start your terminal program
- set terminal emulation for vt100
- set transfer parameters for 8 bits, no parity, 1 stop bit (8N1)
- set baud speed as you entered in /etc/inittab
Do not plug in any cables when both computers are working! At least one
of them have to be turned off or you may finish up with smoking CIA.
Now you may update Linux settings (or reboot :-):
init q
And voila! You should get login message on your C= terminal.
How to use it?
You may want to add a 'commodore' user for C64/128 terminal. Then
Linux apps will use configuration files which are best suited for your terminal.
For example if you want to run Midnight Commander on DesTerm you have to
configure the keyboard with MC's 'Learn Keys' option. Until then,
use CTRL+ B/F/N/P for cursor movement. Running MC from Novaterm seems
to be a hard task as C64 has less keys from C128 and it lacks some important
function keys, but nothing is impossible. E.g. for F5 use ESC-5 (do not hold ESC while
pressing 5).
Disclaimer
I take no responsibility for the contents of this document. I did it
this way and it works fine. You should get the same result.