NAME

ext_ports − external ports file for network printers, terminals, and modems

SYNOPSIS

/etc/ext_ports

AVAILABILITY

Available only on Sun 386i systems running a SunOS 4.0.x release or earlier.  Not a SunOS 4.1 release feature. 

DESCRIPTION

The ext_ports external ports file is an ASCII file in the /etc directory on the Network Information Service (NIS) master server.  ext_ports is used only by SNAP, and contains basic information about each printer, terminal, and modem on the network.  This file contains a one-line entry for each device, and each field must be separated by a TAB character:

system:port  type  status  baud  model  name  #comment

system names the system to which the device is attached.  This field contains only lower case and numeric characters, must start with a lower case character, and must not be longer than 32 characters. 

port names the port in /dev on the system: ttya for the Sun386i serial port, pp0 for the parallel port, and ttym0 and ttym1 for ports on an AT bus serial card. 

type printer, terminal, or modem. 

status indicates the device status.  For terminals and printers, this can be on or off.  An off status means the device is disabled from access by the SunOS operating system, but can still be accessed by DOS.  For modems, this can be in to enable dialin, out to enable dialout, in_out to enable dialin and dialout, or off.  An off status means the device is disabled from access by the SunOS operating system, but it can still be accessed by DOS. 

baud is the baud rate. 

model indicates the manufacturer or kind of device.  For printers, this can be epson, hp, or text, for Epson and compatibles, HP Laserjet and compatibles, or for text-only printers.  For terminals, this can be vt100 or wyse-50 for DEC VT-100 and compatibles or for Wyse WY-50 and compatibles.  For modems, this can be hayes for Hayes and compatibles. 

name is only used for unique naming of printers on the network.  Up to 16 characters can be entered.  This field is blank for terminals and modems — simply insert a TAB character. 

#comment
can contain anything you want, up to a maximum of 96 characters.

EXAMPLE

In this example of an ext_ports file, the system vulcan has an epson printer attached to its parallel port, and a Wyse-50 terminal attached to its serial port, but with logins currently disabled.  The system android has a VT100 attached to its serial port, with logins enabled.  The system polaris has a hayes modem set for dialing out on an installed AT bus serial card. 

FILES

/etc/ext_ports

SEE ALSO

snap(1), vipw(8)

Sun386i System and Network Administration,
Sun386i Advanced Administration

BUGS

The /etc/ext_ports file must be locked against simultaneous changes when it is edited; vipw(8) does the necessary locking. 

NOTES

The Network Information Service (NIS) was formerly known as Sun Yellow Pages (YP).  The functionality of the two remains the same; only the name has changed. 

Sun Release 4.1  —  Last change: 25 September 1989