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Terminal Operating Characteristics Commands
default-value exec-character-bits
default-value special-character-bits
terminal-queue entry-retry-interval
terminal special-character-bits
terminal telnet refuse-negotiations
Terminal Operating Characteristics Commands
This chapter describes the commands used to control terminal operating characteristics.
For terminal operating characteristic task information and examples, refer to the "Configuring Operating Characteristics for Terminals" chapter in the Release 12.2 Cisco IOS Configuration Fundamentals Configuration Guide.
activation-character
To define the character you enter at a vacant terminal to begin a terminal session, use the activation-character line configuration command. To make any character activate a terminal, use the no form of this command.
activation-character ascii-number
no activation-character
Syntax Description
Defaults
Return (decimal 13)
Command Modes
Line configuration
Command History
Usage Guidelines
See the "ASCII Character Set and Hex Values" appendix for a list of ASCII characters.
Note
If you are using the autoselect function, set the activation character to the default, Return, and exec-character-bits to 7. If you change these defaults, the application will not recognize the activation request.
Examples
The following example sets the activation character for the console to Delete, which is decimal character 127:
Router(config)# line consoleRouter(config-line)# activation-character 127autobaud
To set the line for automatic baud rate detection (autobaud), use the autobaud line configuration command. To disable automatic baud detection, use the no form of this command.
autobaud
no autobaud
Syntax Description
This command has no arguments or keywords.
Defaults
Autobaud detection disabled. Fixed line speed of 9600 bps.
Command Modes
Line configuration
Command History
Usage Guidelines
The autobaud detection supports a range from 300 to 19200 baud. A line set for autobaud cannot be used for outgoing connections, nor can you set autobaud capability on a line using 19200 baud when the parity bit is set (because of hardware limitations).
Note
Examples
In the following example, the auxiliary port is configured for autobaud detection:
Router(config)# line auxRouter(config-line)# autobaudbuffer-length
To specify the maximum length of the data stream to be forwarded, use the buffer-length command in line configuration mode. To restore the default setting, use the no form of this command.
buffer-length length
no buffer-length
Syntax Description
length
Specifies the length of the buffer in bytes. Valid values for the length argument range from 16 to 1536. The default buffer length is 1536 bytes.
Defaults
1536 bytes
Command Modes
Line configuration
Command History
Usage Guidelines
The buffer-length command configures the size of the forwarded data stream. The higher the value used for the length argument is, the longer the delay between data transmissions will be. Configuring a smaller buffer length can prevent connections from timing out inappropriately.
Examples
The following example configures a buffer length of 500 bytes:
buffer-length 500databits
To set the number of data bits per character that are interpreted and generated by the router hardware, use the databits line configuration command. To restore the default value, use the no form of the command.
databits {5 | 6 | 7 | 8}
no databits
Syntax Description
5
Five data bits per character.
6
Six data bits per character.
7
Seven data bits per character.
8
Eight data bits per character.
Defaults
Eight data bits per character
Command Modes
Line configuration
Command History
Usage Guidelines
The databits line configuration command can be used to mask the high bit on input from devices that generate 7 data bits with parity. If parity is being generated, specify 7 data bits per character. If no parity generation is in effect, specify 8 data bits per character. The other keywords are supplied for compatibility with older devices and generally are not used.
Examples
The following example sets the number of data bits per character to seven on line 4:
Router(config)# line 4Router(config-line)# databits 7Related Commands
data-character-bits
To set the number of data bits per character that are interpreted and generated by the Cisco IOS software, use the data-character-bits line configuration command. To restore the default value, use the no form of this command.
data-character-bits {7 | 8}
no data-character-bits
Syntax Description
Defaults
Eight data bits per character
Command Modes
Line configuration
Command History
Usage Guidelines
The data-character-bits line configuration command is used primarily to strip parity from X.25 connections on routers with the protocol translation software option. The data-character-bits line configuration command does not work on hard-wired lines.
Examples
The following example sets the number of data bits per character to seven on virtual terminal line 1:
Router(config)# line vty 1Router(config-line)# data-character-bits 7Related Commands
Sets the number of data bits per character that are interpreted and generated by the Cisco IOS software for the current line and session.
default-value exec-character-bits
To define the EXEC character width for either 7 bits or 8 bits, use the default-value exec-character-bits global configuration command. To restore the default value, use the no form of this command.
default-value exec-character-bits {7 | 8}
no default-value exec-character-bits
Syntax Description
7
Selects the 7-bit ASCII character set. This is the default.
8
Selects the full 8-bit ASCII character set.
Defaults
7-bit ASCII character set
Command Modes
Global configuration
Command History
Usage Guidelines
Configuring the EXEC character width to 8 bits allows you to add graphical and international characters in banners, prompts, and so on. However, setting the EXEC character width to 8 bits can also cause failures. If a user on a terminal that is sending parity enters the help command, an "unrecognized command" message appears because the system is reading all 8 bits, although the eighth bit is not needed for the help command.
Examples
The following example selects the full 8-bit ASCII character set for EXEC banners and prompts:
Router(config)# default-value exec-character-bits 8Related Commands
default-value special-character-bits
To configure the flow control default value from a 7-bit width to an 8-bit width, use the default-value special-character-bits global configuration command. To restore the default value, use the no form of this command.
default-value special-character-bits {7 | 8}
no default-value special-character-bits
Syntax Description
Defaults
7-bit character set
Command Modes
Global configuration
Command History
Usage Guidelines
Configuring the special character width to 8 bits allows you to add graphical and international characters in banners, prompts, and so on.
Examples
The following example selects the full 8-bit special character set:
Router(config)# default-value special-character-bits 8Related Commands
disconnect-character
To define a character to disconnect a session, use the disconnect-character line configuration command. To remove the disconnect character, use the no form of this command.
disconnect-character ascii-number
no disconnect-character
Syntax Description
Defaults
No disconnect character is defined.
Command Modes
Line configuration
Command History
Usage Guidelines
See the"ASCII Character Set and Hex Values" appendix for a list of ASCII characters.
The Break character is represented by zero; NULL cannot be represented.
To use the session-disconnect character in normal communications, precede it with the escape character.
Examples
The following example defines the disconnect character for virtual terminal line 4 as Escape, which is decimal character 27:
Router(config)# line vty 4Router(config-line)# disconnect-character 27dispatch-character
To define a character that causes a packet to be sent, use the dispatch-character line configuration command. To remove the definition of the specified dispatch character, use the no form of this command.
dispatch-character ascii-number1 [ascii-number2 . . . ascii-number]
no dispatch-character ascii-number1 [ascii-number2 . . . ascii-number]
Syntax Description
Defaults
No dispatch character is defined.
Command Modes
Line configuration
Command History
Usage Guidelines
See the"ASCII Character Set and Hex Values" appendix for a list of ASCII characters.
The dispatch-character command defines one or more dispatch characters that cause a packet to be sent even if the dispatch timer has not expired. Use of a dispatch character causes the Cisco IOS software to attempt to buffer characters into larger-sized packets for transmission to the remote host.
Enable the dispatch-character command from the session that initiates the connection, not from the incoming side of a streaming Telnet session.
This command can take multiple arguments, so you can define any number of characters as dispatch characters.
Examples
The following example defines the Return character (decimal 13) as the dispatch character for vty line 4:
Router(config)# line vty 4Router(config-line)# dispatch-character 13Related Commands
dispatch-machine
To specify an identifier for a TCP packet dispatch state machine on a particular line, use the dispatch-machine line configuration command. To disable a state machine on a particular line, use the no form of this command.
dispatch-machine name
no dispatch-machine
Syntax Description
Defaults
No dispatch state machine identifier is defined.
Command Modes
Line configuration
Command History
Usage Guidelines
When the dispatch-timeout command is specified, a packet being built will be sent when the timer expires, and the state will be reset to zero.
Any dispatch characters specified using the dispatch-character command are ignored when a state machine is also specified.
If a packet becomes full, it will be sent regardless of the current state, but the state will not be reset. The packet size depends on the traffic level on the asynchronous line and the dispatch-timeout value. There is always room for 60 data bytes. If the dispatch-timeout value is greater than or equal to 100 milliseconds, a packet size of 536 (data bytes) is allocated.
Examples
The following example specifies the name "linefeed" for the state machine:
Router(config)# state-machine linefeed 0 0 9 0Router(config)# state-machine linefeed 0 11 255 0Router(config)# state-machine linefeed 0 10 10 transmitRouter(config)# line 1Router(config-line)# dispatch-machine linefeedRelated Commands
Defines a character that causes a packet to be sent.
Sets the character dispatch timer.
Specifies the transition criteria for the state of a particular state machine.
dispatch-timeout
To set the character dispatch timer, use the dispatch-timeout line configuration command. To remove the timeout definition, use the no form of this command.
dispatch-timeout milliseconds
no dispatch-timeout
Syntax Description
Defaults
No dispatch timeout is defined.
Command Modes
Line configuration
Command History
Usage Guidelines
Use this command to increase the processing efficiency for the remote host.
The dispatch-timeout line configuration command causes the software to buffer characters into packets for transmission to the remote host. The Cisco IOS software sends a packet a specified amount of time after the first character is put into the buffer. You can use the dispatch-timeout and dispatch-character line configuration commands together. In this case, the software dispatches a packet each time the dispatch character is entered, or after the specified dispatch timeout interval, depending on which condition is met first.
Note
Examples
The following example sets the dispatch timer to 80 milliseconds for vty lines 0 through 4:
Router(config)# line vty 0 4Router(config-line)# dispatch-timeout 80Related Commands
escape-character
To define a system escape character, use the escape-character line configuration command. To set the escape character to Break, use the no or default form of this command.
escape-character {break | char | default | none | soft}
no escape-character [soft]
default escape-character [soft]
Syntax Description
Defaults
The default escape key sequence is Ctrl-Shift-6 (Ctrl-^) or Ctrl-Shift-6, X (^^X). The X is generally only required for modem connections.
The default escape-character command sets the escape character to Break (the default setting for Break is Ctrl-C).
Command Modes
Line configuration
Command History
Usage Guidelines
See the "ASCII Character Set and Hex Values" appendix for a list of ASCII characters and their numerical representation.
The escape character (or key sequence) suspends any actively running processes and returns you to privileged EXEC mode or, if a menu is being used , to the system menu interface. The escape character is used for interrupting or aborting a process started by previously executed command. Examples of processes from which you can escape include Domain-Name lookup, ping, trace, and Telnet sessions initiated from the device to which you are connected.
To view the current setting of the escape sequence for a line, use the show line command followed by the specific line identifier (for example, show line 0, or show line console). The default escape sequence for a line is often displayed as ^^X . The first caret symbol represents the Control (Ctrl) key, the second caret symbol is literal (Shift-6), and the X is literal (for most systems, the X is not required).
To set the escape key for the active terminal line session, use the terminal escape-character command.
The Break key cannot be used as an escape character on a console terminal because the Cisco IOS software interprets Break as an instruction to halt the system. Depending upon the configuration register setting, break commands issued from the console line either will be ignored or cause the server to shut down.
To send an escape sequence over a Telnet connection, press Ctrl-Shift-6 twice.
The escape-character soft form of this command defines a character or character sequence that will cause the system to wait until pending input is processed before suspending the current session. This option allows you to program a key sequence to perform multiple actions, such as using the F1 key to execute a command, then execute the escape function after the first command is executed.
The following restrictions apply when using the soft keyword:
•
•
•
Examples
The following example sets the escape character for the console line to the keyboard entry Ctrl-P, which is represented by the ASCII decimal value of 16:
Router(config)# line consoleRouter(config-line)# escape-character 16The following example sets the escape character for line 1 to !, which is represented in the configuration file as the ASCII number 33:
Router(config)# line 1Router(config-line)# escape-character !Router(config-line)# endRouter# show running-configBuilding configuration......line 1autoselect during-loginautoselect pppmodem InOuttransport preferred nonetransport output telnetescape-character 33...Related Commands
show line
Displays information about the specified line connection, or all the lines.
Sets the escape character for the current terminal line for the current session.
exec-character-bits
To configure the character widths of EXEC and configuration command characters, use the exec-character-bits line configuration command. To restore the default value, use the no form of this command.
exec-character-bits {7 | 8}
no exec-character-bits
Syntax Description
7
Selects the 7-bit character set. This is the default.
8
Selects the full 8-bit character set for use of international and graphical characters in banner messages, prompts, and so on.
Defaults
7-bit ASCII character set
Command Modes
Line configuration
Command History
Usage Guidelines
Setting the EXEC character width to 8 allows you to use special graphical and international characters in banners, prompts, and so on. However, setting the EXEC character width to 8 bits can cause failures. If a user on a terminal that is sending parity enters the help command, an "unrecognized command" message appears because the system is reading all 8 bits, and the eighth bit is not needed for the help command.
Note
Examples
The following example enables full 8-bit international character sets, except for the console, which is an ASCII terminal. It illustrates use of the default-value exec-character-bits global configuration command and the exec-character-bits line configuration command.
Router(config)# default-value exec-character-bits 8Router(config)# line 0Router(config-line)# exec-character-bits 7Related Commands
hold-character
To define the local hold character used to pause output to the terminal screen, use the hold-character line configuration command. To restore the default, use the no form of this command.
hold-character ascii-number
no hold-character
Syntax Description
Defaults
No hold character is defined.
Command Modes
Line configuration
Command History
Usage Guidelines
The Break character is represented by zero; NULL cannot be represented. To continue the output, enter any character after the hold character. To use the hold character in normal communications, precede it with the escape character. See the "ASCII Character Set" appendix for a list of ASCII characters.
Examples
The following example sets the hold character to Ctrl-S, which is ASCII decimal character 19:
Router(config)# line 8Router(config-line)# hold-character 19Related Commands
insecure
To configure a line as insecure, use the insecure line configuration command. To disable this feature, use the no form of this command.
insecure
no insecure
Syntax Description
This command has no arguments or keywords.
Defaults
Disabled
Command Modes
Line configuration
Command History
Usage Guidelines
Use this command to identify a modem line as insecure for DEC local area transport (LAT) classification.
Examples
In the following example, line 10 is configured as an insecure dialup line:
Router(config)# line 10Router(config-line)# insecurelength
To set the terminal screen length, use the length line configuration command. To restore the default value, use the no form of this command.
length screen-length
no length
Syntax Description
screen-length
The number of lines on the screen. A value of zero disables pausing between screens of output.
Defaults
Screen length of 24 lines
Command Modes
Line configuration
Command History
Usage Guidelines
The Cisco IOS software uses the value of this command to determine when to pause during multiple-screen output. Not all commands recognize the configured screen length. For example, the show terminal command assumes a screen length of 24 lines or more.
Examples
In the following example, the terminal type is specified and the screen pause function is disabled for the terminal connection on line 6:
Router(config)# line 6Router(config-line)# terminal-type VT220Router(config-line)# length 0Related Commands
Sets the number of lines on the current terminal screen for the current session.
location
To provide a description of the location of a serial device, use the location line configuration command. To remove the description, use the no form of this command.
location text
no location
Syntax Description
Defaults
No location description provided.
Command Modes
Line configuration
Command History
Usage Guidelines
The location command enters information about the device location and status. Use the show users all EXEC command to display the location information.
Examples
In the following example, the location description for the console line is given as "Building 3, Basement":
Router(config)# line consoleRouter(config-line)# location Building 3, Basementlockable
To enable use of the lock EXEC command, use the lockable line configuration command. To reinstate the default (the terminal session cannot be locked), use the no form of this command.
lockable
no lockable
Syntax Description
This command has no arguments or keywords.
Defaults
Sessions on the line are not lockable (the lock EXEC command has no effect).
Command Modes
Line configuration
Command History
Usage Guidelines
This command enables use of temporary terminal locking, which is executed using the lock EXEC command. Terminal locking allows a user keep the current session open while preventing access by other users.
Examples
In the following example, the terminal connection is configured as lockable, then the current connection is locked:
Router# configure terminalRouter(config)# line console 0Router(config-line)# lockableRouter(config)# ^ZRouter# lockPassword: <password>Again: <password>LockedPassword: <password>Router#Related Commands
Prevents access to your session by other users by setting a temporary password on your terminal line.
logout-warning
To warn users of an impending forced timeout, use the logout-warning line configuration command. To restore the default, use the no form of this command.
logout-warning [seconds]
logout-warning
Syntax Description
seconds
(Optional) Number of seconds that are counted down before session termination. If no number is specified, the default of 20 seconds is used.
Defaults
No warning is sent to the user.
Command Modes
Line configuration
Command History
Usage Guidelines
This command notifies the user of an impending forced timeout (set using the absolute-timeout command).
Examples
In the following example, a logout warning is configured on line 5 with a countdown value of 30 seconds:
Router(config)# line 5Router(config-line)# logout-warning 30Related Commands
notify
To enable terminal notification about pending output from other Telnet connections, use the notify line configuration command. To disable notifications, use the no form of this command.
notify
no notify
Syntax Description
This command has no arguments or keywords.
Defaults
Disabled
Command Modes
Line configuration
Command History
Usage Guidelines
This command sets a line to inform a user that has multiple, concurrent Telnet connections when output is pending on a connection other than the current one.
Examples
In the following example, notification of pending output from connections is enabled on virtual terminal lines 0 to 4:
Router(config)# line vty 0 4Router(config-line)# notifyRelated Commands
Configures a line to inform a user that has multiple, concurrent Telnet connections when output is pending on a connection other than the current one.
padding
To set the padding on a specific output character, use the padding line configuration command. To remove padding for the specified output character, use the no form of this command.
padding ascii-number count
no padding ascii-number
Syntax Description
ascii-number
ACII decimal representation of the character.
count
Number of NULL bytes sent after the specified character, up to 255 padding characters in length.
Defaults
No padding
Command Modes
Line configuration
Command History
Usage Guidelines
Use this command when the attached device is an old terminal that requires padding after certain characters (such as ones that scrolled or moved the carriage). See the "ASCII Character Set and Hex Values" appendix for a list of ASCII characters.
Examples
In the following example, the Return (decimal character 13) is padded with 25 NULL bytes on the console line:
Router(config)# line consoleRouter(config-line)# padding 13 25Related Commands
Changes the character padding on a specific output character for the current session.
parity
To define generation of a parity bit, use the parity line configuration command. To specify no parity, use the no form of this command.
parity {none | even | odd | space | mark}
no parity
Syntax Description
none
No parity. This is the default.
even
Even parity.
odd
Odd parity.
space
Space parity.
mark
Mark parity.
Defaults
No parity.
Command Modes
Line configuration
Command History
Usage Guidelines
Communication protocols provided by devices such as terminals and modems will sometimes require a specific parity bit setting. Refer to the documentation for your device to determine required parity settings.
Examples
In the following example even parity is configured for line 34:
Router(config)# line 34Router(config-line)# parity evenRelated Commands
Defines the generation of the parity bit for the current for the current session and line.
printer
To configure a printer and assign a server tty line (or lines) to it, use the printer global configuration command. To disable printing on a tty line, use the no form of this command.
printer printer-name {line number | rotary number} [newline-convert | formfeed]
no printer
Syntax Description
Defaults
No printers are defined by default.
Command Modes
Global configuration
Command History
Usage Guidelines
This command enables you to configure a printer for operations and assign either a single tty line or a group of tty lines to it. To make multiple printers available through the same printer name, specify the number of a rotary group.
In addition to configuring the printer with the printer command, you must modify the file /etc/printcap on your UNIX system to include the definition of the remote printer in the Cisco IOS software. Refer to the Release 12.2 Cisco IOS Configuration Fundamentals Configuration Guide for additional information.
Use the optional newline-convert keyword in UNIX environments that cannot handle single-character line terminators. This converts newline characters to a carriage-return, linefeed sequence. Use the formfeed keyword when using the line printer daemon (lpd) protocol to print and your system is unable to separate individual output jobs with a form feed (page eject). You can enter the newline-convert and formfeed keywords together and in any order.
Examples
In the following example a printer named printer1 is configured and output is assigned to tty line 4:
Router(config)# printer printer1 line 4Related Commands
private
To save user EXEC command changes between terminal sessions, use the private line configuration command. To restore the default condition, use the no form of this command.
private
no private
Syntax Description
This command has no arguments or keywords.
Defaults
User-set configuration options are cleared with the exit EXEC command or when the interval set with the exec-timeout line configuration command has passed.
Command Modes
Line configuration
Command History
Usage Guidelines
This command ensures that the terminal parameters set by the user remain in effect between terminal sessions. This behavior is desirable for terminals in private offices.
Examples
In the following example, line 15 (in this example, vty 1) is configured to keep all user-supplied settings at system restarts:
Router(config)# line 15Router(config-line)# privateRelated Commands
show whoami
To display information about the terminal line of the current user, including host name, line number, line speed, and location, use the show whoami EXEC command.
show whoami [text]
Syntax Description
Command Modes
EXEC
Command History
Usage Guidelines
If text is included as an argument in the command, that text is displayed as part of the additional data about the line.
To prevent the information from being lost if the menu display clears the screen, this command always displays a More prompt before returning. Press the space bar to return to the prompt.
Examples
The following example is sample output from the show whoami command:
Router> show whoamiComm Server "Router", Line 0 at 0bps. Location "Second floor, West"--More--Router>special-character-bits
To configure the number of data bits per character for special characters such as software flow control characters and escape characters, use the special-character-bits line configuration command. To restore the default value, use the no form of this command.
special-character-bits {7 | 8}
no special-character-bits
Syntax Description
7
Selects the 7-bit ASCII character set. This is the default.
8
Selects the full 8-bit character set for special characters.
Defaults
7-bit ASCII character set
Command Modes
Line configuration
Command History
Usage Guidelines
Setting the special character bits to 8 allows you to use twice as many special characters as with the 7-bit ASCII character set. The special characters affected by this setting are the escape, hold, stop, start, disconnect, and activation characters.
Examples
The following example allows the full 8-bit international character set for special characters on line 5:
Router(config)# line 5Router(config-line)# special-character-bits 8Related Commands
state-machine
To specify the transition criteria for the state of a particular state machine, use the state-machine global configuration command. To remove a particular state machine from the configuration, use the no form of this command.
state-machine name state first-character last-character [nextstate | transmit]
no state-machine name
Syntax Description
name
Name for the state machine (used in the dispatch-machine line configuration command). The user can specify any number of state machines, but each line can have only one state machine associated with it.
state
State being modified. There are a maximum of eight states per state machine. Lines are initialized to state 0 and return to state 0 after a packet is transmitted.
first-character last-character
Specifies a range of characters. Use ASCII numerical values.
If the state machine is in the indicated state, and the next character input is within this range, the process goes to the specified next state. Full 8-bit character comparisons are done, so the maximum value is 255. Ensure that the line is configured to strip parity bits (or not generate them), or duplicate the low characters in the upper half of the space.
nextstate
(Optional) State to enter if the character is in the specified range.
transmit
(Optional) Causes the packet to be transmitted and the state machine to be reset to state 0. Recurring characters that have not been explicitly defined to have a particular action return the state machine to state 0.
Defaults
No transition criteria are specified.
Command Modes
Global configuration
Command History
Usage Guidelines
This command is paired with the dispatch-machine line configuration command, which defines the line on which the state machine is effective.
Examples
In the following example a dispatch machine named "function" is configured to ensure that the function key characters on an ANSI terminal are kept in one packet. Because the default in the example is to remain in state 0 without sending anything, normal key signals are sent immediately.
Router(config)# line 1 20Router(config-line)# dispatch-machine functionRouter(config-line)# exitRouter(config)# state-machine function 0 0 255 transmitRelated Commands
Defines a character that causes a packet to be sent.
Specifies an identifier for a TCP packet dispatch state machine on a particular line.
Sets the character dispatch timer.
stopbits
To set the number of the stop bits transmitted per byte, use the stopbits line configuration command. To restore the default value, use the no form of this command.
stopbits {1 | 1.5 | 2}
no stopbits
Syntax Description
Defaults
2 stop bits per byte
Command Modes
Line configuration
Command History
Usage Guidelines
Communication protocols provided by devices such as terminals and modems often require a specific stop-bit setting.
Examples
In the following example, the stop bits transmitted per byte are changed from the default of two stop bits to one stop bit as a performance enhancement for line 4:
Router(config)# line 4Router(config-line)# stopbits 1Related Commands
Changes the number of stop bits sent per byte by the current terminal line during an active session.
terminal databits
To change the number of data bits per character for the current terminal line for this session, use the terminal databits EXEC command.
terminal databits {5 | 6 | 7 | 8}
Syntax Description
5
Five data bits per character.
6
Six data bits per character.
7
Seven data bits per character.
8
Eight data bits per character. This is the default.
Defaults
8 data bits per character
Command Modes
EXEC
Command History
Usage Guidelines
Communication protocols provided by devices such as terminals and modems often require a specific data bit setting. The terminal databits command can be used to mask the high bit on input from devices that generate 7 data bits with parity. If parity is being generated, specify 7 data bits per character. If no parity generation is in effect, specify 8 data bits per character. The other keywords (5 and 6) are supplied for compatibility with older devices and are generally not used.
Examples
In the following example, the databits per character is changed to seven for the current session:
Router# terminal databits 7Related Commands
terminal data-character-bits
To set the number of data bits per character that are interpreted and generated by the Cisco IOS software for the current line and session, use the terminal data-character-bits EXEC command.
terminal data-character-bits {7 | 8}
Syntax Description
Defaults
8 data bits per character
Command Modes
EXEC
Command History
Usage Guidelines
This command is used primarily to strip parity from X.25 connections on routers with the protocol translation software option. The terminal data-character-bits command does not work on hard-wired lines.
Examples
The following example sets the data bits per character to seven on the current line:
Router# terminal data-character-bits 7Related Commands
Sets the number of data bits per character that are interpreted and generated by the Cisco IOS software.
terminal dispatch-character
To define a character that causes a packet to be sent for the current session, use the terminal dispatch-character EXEC command.
terminal dispatch-character ascii-number [ascii-number2 . . . ascii-number]
Syntax Description
Command Modes
EXEC
Command History
Usage Guidelines
At times, you might want to queue up a string of characters until they fill a complete packet and then transmit the packet to a remote host. This can make more efficient use of a line, because the access server or router normally dispatches each character as it is entered.
Examples
The following example defines the characters Ctrl-D (ASCII decimal character 4) and Ctrl-Y (ASCII decimal character 25) as the dispatch characters:
Router# terminal dispatch-character 4 25Related Commands
terminal dispatch-timeout
To set the character dispatch timer for the current terminal line for the current session, use the terminal dispatch-timeout EXEC command.
terminal dispatch-timeout milliseconds
Syntax Description
Command Modes
EXEC
Command History
Usage Guidelines
Use this command to increase the processing efficiency of the remote host.
The dispatch-timeout line configuration command causes the software to buffer characters into packets for transmission to the remote host. The Cisco IOS software sends a packet a specified amount of time after the first character is put into the buffer. You can use the terminal dispatch-timeout and terminal dispatch-character line configuration commands together. In this case, the software dispatches a packet each time the dispatch character is entered, or after the specified dispatch timeout interval, depending on which condition is met first.
Note
Examples
In the following example, the dispatch timeout timer is set to 80 milliseconds:
Router# terminal dispatch-timeout 80Related Commands
terminal download
To temporarily set the ability of a line to act as a transparent pipe for file transfers for the current session, use the terminal download EXEC command.
terminal download
Syntax Description
This command has no arguments or keywords.
Defaults
Disabled
Command Modes
EXEC
Command History
Usage Guidelines
You can use this feature to run a program such as KERMIT, XMODEM, or CrossTalk that downloads a file across an access server or router line. This command configures the terminal line to send data and is equivalent to entering all the following commands:
•
•
•
•
•
Examples
The following example configures a line to act as a transparent pipe:
Router# terminal downloadterminal escape-character
To set the escape character for the current terminal line for the current session, use the terminal escape-character EXEC command.
terminal escape-character ascii-number
Syntax Description
ascii-number
ASCII decimal representation of the escape character or control sequence (for example, Ctrl-P ).
Defaults
Ctrl-^ (Ctrl-Shift-6)
Command Modes
EXEC
Command History
Usage Guidelines
See the "ASCII Character Set and Hex Values" appendix for a list of ASCII characters and their numerical representation.
This command is useful, for example, if you have the default escape character defined for a different purpose in your keyboard file. Entering the escape character followed by the X key returns you to EXEC mode when you are connected to another computer.
Note
Examples
In the following example the escape character to Ctrl-P (ASCII decimal character 16) for the current session:
Router# terminal escape-character 16Related Commands
terminal exec-character-bits
To locally change the ASCII character set used in EXEC and configuration command characters for the current session, use the terminal exec-character-bits EXEC command.
terminal exec-character-bits {7 | 8}
Syntax Description
7
Selects the 7-bit ASCII character set. This is the default.
8
Selects the full 8-bit character set.
Defaults
7-bit ASCII character set (unless set otherwise in global configuration mode)
Command Modes
EXEC
Command History
Usage Guidelines
This EXEC command overrides the default-value exec-character-bits global configuration command. Configuring the EXEC character width to 8 bits enables you to view special graphical and international characters in banners, prompts, and so on.
When the user exits the session, the character width is reset to the default value established by the exec-character-bits global configuration command. However, setting the EXEC character width to 8 bits can also cause failures. For example, if a user on a terminal that is sending parity enters the help command, an "unrecognized command" message appears because the system is reading all 8 bits, and the eighth bit is not needed for the help command.
Examples
The following example temporarily configures the system to use a full 8-bit user interface for system banners and prompts, allowing the use of additional graphical and international characters:
Router# terminal exec-character-bits 8Related Commands
terminal flowcontrol
To set flow control for the current terminal line for the current session, use the terminal flowcontrol EXEC command.
terminal flowcontrol {none | software [in | out] | hardware}
Syntax Description
Command Modes
EXEC
Command History
Usage Guidelines
Flow control enables you to regulate the rate at which data can be transmitted from one point so that it is equal to the rate at which it can be received at another point. Flow control protects against loss of data because the terminal is not capable of receiving data at the rate it is being sent. You can set up data flow control for the current terminal line in one of two ways: software flow control, which you do with control key sequences, and hardware flow control, which you do at the device level.
For software flow control, the default stop and start characters are Ctrl-S and Ctrl-Q (XOFF and XON). You can change them with the terminal stop-character and terminal start-character EXEC commands.
Examples
In the following example incoming software flow control is set for the current session:
Router# terminal flowcontrol software inRelated Commands
flowcontrol
Sets the method of data flow control between the terminal or other serial device and the router.
terminal hold-character
To define the hold character for the current session, use the terminal hold-character EXEC command. To return the hold character definition to the default, use the terminal no hold-character command.
terminal hold-character ascii-number
terminal no hold-character
Syntax Description
Defaults
The default hold character is defined by the hold-character global configuration command.
Command Modes
EXEC
Command History
Usage Guidelines
You can define a local hold character that temporarily suspends the flow of output on the terminal. When information is scrolling too quickly, you can enter the hold character to pause the screen output, then enter any other character to resume the flow of output.
You cannot suspend output on the console terminal. To send the hold character to the host, precede it with the escape character.
Examples
In the following example the hold character for the current (local) session is set to Ctrl-P. The show terminal output is included to show the verification of the setting (the value for the hold character is shown in the "Special Characters" listing).
Router# terminal hold-character 16"^P" is the local hold characterRouter# show terminalLine 50, Location: "", Type: "VT220"Length: 24 lines, Width: 80 columnsBaud rate (TX/RX) is 9600/9600Status: PSI Enabled, Ready, Active, No Exit Banner, Automore OnCapabilities: noneModem state: ReadyGroup codes: 0Special Chars: Escape Hold Stop Start Disconnect Activation^^x ^P - - noneTimeouts: Idle EXEC Idle Session Modem Answer Session Dispatch00:10:00 never none not setIdle Session Disconnect WarningneverLogin-sequence User Response00:00:30Autoselect Initial Waitnot setModem type is unknown.Session limit is not set.Time since activation: 00:04:13Editing is enabled.History is enabled, history size is 10....Related Commands
Defines the local hold character used to pause output to the terminal screen.
show terminal
Displays settings for terminal operating characteristics.
terminal keymap-type
To specify the current keyboard type for the current session, use the terminal keymap-type EXEC command.
terminal keymap-type keymap-name
Syntax Description
Defaults
VT100
Command Modes
EXEC
Command History
Usage Guidelines
You must use this command when you are using a keyboard other than the default of VT100.
Examples
The following example specifies a VT220 keyboard as the current keyboard type:
Router# terminal keymap-type vt220Related Commands
terminal length
To set the number of lines on the current terminal screen for the current session, use the terminal length EXEC command.
terminal length screen-length
Syntax Description
screen-length
Number of lines on the screen. A value of zero disables pausing between screens of output.
Defaults
24 lines
Command Modes
EXEC
Command History
Usage Guidelines
The system uses the length value to determine when to pause during multiple-screen output. A value of zero prevents the router from pausing between screens of output.
Some types of terminal sessions do not require you to specify the screen length because the screen length specified can be learned by some remote hosts. For example, the rlogin protocol uses the screen length to set up terminal parameters on a remote UNIX host.
Examples
In the following example the system is configured to prevent output from pausing if it exceeds the length of the screen:
Router# terminal length 0Related Commands
terminal monitor
To display debug command output and system error messages for the current terminal and session, use the terminal monitor EXEC command.
terminal monitor
Syntax Description
This command has no arguments or keywords.
Defaults
Disabled
Command Modes
EXEC
Command History
Usage Guidelines
Remember that all terminal parameter-setting commands are set locally and do not remain in effect after a session is ended.
Examples
In the following example the system is configured to display debug command output and error messages during the current terminal session:
Router# terminal monitorterminal notify
To enable terminal notification about pending output from other Telnet connections for the current session, use the terminal notify EXEC command. To disable notifications for the current session, use the no form of this command.
terminal notify
terminal no notify
Syntax Description
This command has no arguments or keywords.
Command Modes
EXEC
Command History
Usage Guidelines
Enabling notifications may be useful if, for example, you want to know when another connection receives mail, or when a process has been completed.
This command enables or disables notifications for only the current session. To globally set these notifications, use the notify line configuration command.
Examples
In the following example notifications will be displayed to inform the user when output is pending on another connection:
Router# terminal notifyRelated Commands
Enables terminal notification about pending output from other Telnet connections.
terminal padding
To change the character padding on a specific output character for the current session, use the terminal padding EXEC command.
terminal padding ascii-number count
Syntax Description
ascii-number
ACII decimal representation of the character.
count
Number of NULL bytes sent after the specified character, up to 255 padding characters in length.
Defaults
No padding
Command Modes
EXEC
Command History
Usage Guidelines
Character padding adds a number of null bytes to the end of the string and can be used to make a string an expected length for conformity.
Use this command when the attached device is an old terminal that requires padding after certain characters (such as ones that scrolled or moved the carriage). See the "ASCII Character Set and Hex Values" appendix for a list of ASCII characters.
Examples
The following example pads Ctrl-D (ASCII decimal character 4) with 164 NULL bytes:
Router# terminal padding 4 164Related Commands
terminal parity
To define the generation of the parity bit for the current terminal line and session, use the terminal parity EXEC command.
terminal parity {none | even | odd | space | mark}
Syntax Description
none
No parity. This is the default.
even
Even parity.
odd
Odd parity.
space
Space parity.
mark
Mark parity.
Defaults
No parity.
Command Modes
EXEC
Command History
Usage Guidelines
Communication protocols provided by devices such as terminals and modems will sometimes require a specific parity bit setting. Refer to the documentation for your device to determine required parity settings.
Examples
In the following example odd parity checking is enabled for the current session:
Router# terminal parity oddRelated Commands
Defines generation of a parity bit for connections on a specified line or lines.
terminal-queue entry-retry-interval
To change the retry interval for a terminal port queue, use the terminal-queue global configuration command. To restore the default terminal port queue interval, use the no form of this command.
terminal-queue entry-retry-interval interval
no terminal-queue entry-retry-interval
Syntax Description
Defaults
60 seconds
Command Modes
Global configuration
Command History
Usage Guidelines
If a remote device (such as a printer) is busy, the connection attempt is placed in a terminal port queue. If you want to decrease the waiting period between subsequent connection attempts, decrease the default of 60 to an interval of 10 seconds. Decrease the time between subsequent connection attempts when, for example, a printer queue stalls for long periods.
Examples
The following example changes the terminal port queue retry interval from the default of 60 seconds to 10 seconds:
Router# terminal-queue entry-retry-interval 10terminal rxspeed
To set the terminal receive speed (how fast information is sent to the terminal) for the current line and session, use the terminal rxspeed EXEC command.
terminal rxspeed bps
Syntax Description
Defaults
9600 bps
Command Modes
EXEC
Command History
Usage Guidelines
Set the speed to match the baud rate of whatever device you have connected to the port. Some baud rates available on devices connected to the port might not be supported on the system. The system will indicate if the speed you select is not supported.
Examples
The following example sets the current auxiliary line receive speed to 115200 bps:
Router# terminal rxspeed 115200Related Commands
terminal special-character-bits
To change the ASCII character widths to accept special characters for the current terminal line and session, use the terminal special-character-bits EXEC command.
terminal special-character-bits {7 | 8}
Syntax Description
7
Selects the 7-bit ASCII character set. This is the default.
8
Selects the full 8-bit ASCII character set.
Defaults
7-bit ASCII character set
Command Modes
EXEC
Command History
Usage Guidelines
Configuring the width to 8 bits enables you to use twice as many special characters as with the 7-bit setting. This selection enables you to add special graphical and international characters in banners, prompts, and so on.
This command is useful, for example, if you want the router to provide temporary support for international character sets. It overrides the default-value special-character-bits global configuration command and is used to compare character sets typed by the user with the special character available during a data connection, which includes software flow control and escape characters.
When you exit the session, character width is reset to the width established by the default-value exec-character-bits global configuration command.
Note that setting the EXEC character width to eight bits can cause failures. For example, if a user on a terminal that is sending parity enters the help command, an "unrecognized command" message appears because the Cisco IOS software is reading all eight bits, and the eighth bit is not needed for the help command.
Examples
The following example temporarily configures a router to use a full 8-bit user interface for system banners and prompts.
Router# terminal special-character-bits 8Related Commands
terminal speed
To set the transmit and receive speeds of the current terminal line for the current session, use the terminal speed EXEC command.
terminal speed bps
Syntax Description
Defaults
9600 bps
Command Modes
EXEC
Command History
Usage Guidelines
Set the speed to match the transmission rate of whatever device you have connected to the port. Some baud rates available on devices connected to the port might not be supported on the router. The router indicates whether the speed you selected is not supported.
Examples
The following example restores the transmit and receive speed on the current line to 9600 bps:
Router# terminal speed 9600Related Commands
terminal start-character
To change the flow control start character for the current session, use the terminal start-character EXEC command.
terminal start-character ascii-number
Syntax Description
Defaults
Ctrl-Q (ASCII decimal character 17)
Command Modes
EXEC
Command History
Usage Guidelines
The flow control start character signals the start of data transmission when software flow control is in effect.
Examples
The following example changes the start character to Ctrl-O (ASCII decimal character 15):
Router# terminal start-character 15Related Commands
terminal stopbits
To change the number of stop bits sent per byte by the current terminal line during an active session, use the terminal stopbits EXEC command.
terminal stopbits {1 | 1.5 | 2}
Syntax Description
Defaults
2 stop bits
Command Modes
EXEC
Command History
Usage Guidelines
Communication protocols provided by devices such as terminals and modems often require a specific stop-bit setting.
Examples
In the following example the setting for stop bits is changed to one for the current session:
Router# terminal stopbits 1Related Commands
terminal stop-character
To change the flow control stop character for the current session, use the terminal stop-character EXEC command.
terminal stop-character ascii-number
Syntax Description
Defaults
Ctrl-S (ASCII character decimal 19)
Command Modes
EXEC
Command History
Usage Guidelines
The flow control stop character signals the end of data transmission when software flow control is in effect.
See the "ASCII Character Set and Hex Values" appendix for a list of ASCII characters.
Examples
In the following example the stop character is configured as Ctrl-E (ASCII character decimal 5) for the current session:
Router# terminal stop-character 5Related Commands
terminal telnet break-on-ip
To cause an access server to generate a hardware Break signal when an interrupt-process (ip) command is received, use the terminal telnet break-on-ip EXEC command.
terminal telnet break-on-ip
Syntax Description
This command has no arguments or keywords.
Defaults
Disabled
Command Modes
EXEC
Command History
Usage Guidelines
The hardware Break signal occurs when a Telnet interrupt-process (ip) command is received on that connection. The terminal telnet break-on-ip command can be used to control the translation of Telnet interrupt-process commands into X.25 Break indications.
Note
This command is also a useful workaround in the following situations:
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•
Some EIA/TIA-232 hardware devices use a hardware Break signal for various purposes. A hardware Break signal is generated when a Telnet Break command is received.
You can verify if this command is enabled with the show terminal EXEC command. If enabled the following line will appear in the output: Capabilities: Send BREAK on IP.
Examples
In the following example, a Break signal is generated for the current connection when an interrupt-process command is issued:
Router# terminal telnet break-on-ipRelated Commands
terminal telnet ip-on-break
Configures the system to send an interrupt-process (ip) signal when the Break command is issued.
terminal telnet refuse-negotiations
To configure the current session to refuse to negotiate full-duplex, remote echo options on incoming connections, use the terminal telnet refuse-negotiations EXEC command.
terminal telnet refuse-negotiations
Syntax Description
This command has no arguments or keywords.
Defaults
Disabled
Command Modes
EXEC
Command History
Usage Guidelines
You can set the line to allow access server to refuse full-duplex, remote echo connection requests from the other end. This command suppresses negotiation of the Telnet Remote Echo and Suppress Go Ahead options.
Examples
In the following example the current session is configured to refuse full-duplex, remote echo requests:
Router# terminal telnet refuse-negotiationsterminal telnet speed
To allow an access server to negotiate transmission speed for the current terminal line and session, use the terminal telnet speed EXEC command.
terminal telnet speed default-speed maximum-speed
Syntax Description
Defaults
9600 bps (unless otherwise set using the speed, txspeed or rxspeed line configuration commands)
Command Modes
EXEC
Command History
Usage Guidelines
You can match line speeds on remote systems in reverse Telnet, on host machines connected to an access server to access the network, or on a group of console lines connected to the access server when disparate line speeds are in use at the local and remote ends of the connections listed above. Line speed negotiation adheres to the Remote Flow Control option, defined in RFC 1080.
Note
Examples
The following example enables the access server to negotiate a bit rate on the line using the Telnet option. If no speed is negotiated, the line will run at 2400 bps. If the remote host requests a speed greater than 9600 bps, then 9600 bps will be used.
Router# terminal telnet speed 2400 9600terminal telnet sync-on-break
To cause the access server to send a Telnet Synchronize signal when it receives a Telnet Break signal on the current line and session, use the terminal telnet sync-on-break EXEC command.
terminal telnet sync-on-break
Syntax Description
This command has no arguments or keywords.
Defaults
Disabled
Command Modes
EXEC
Command History
Usage Guidelines
You can configure the session to cause a reverse Telnet line to send a Telnet Synchronize signal when it receives a Telnet Break signal. The TCP Synchronize signal clears the data path, but still interprets incoming commands.
Note
Examples
The following example sets an asynchronous line to cause the access server to send a Telnet Synchronize signal:
Router# terminal telnet sync-on-breakterminal telnet transparent
To cause the current terminal line to send a Return character (CR) as a CR followed by a NULL instead of a CR followed by a Line Feed (LF) for the current session, use the terminal telnet transparent EXEC command.
terminal telnet transparent
Syntax Description
This command has no arguments or keywords.
Defaults
CR followed by an LF
Command Modes
EXEC
Command History
Usage Guidelines
The end of each line typed at the terminal is ended with a Return (CR). This command permits interoperability with different interpretations of end-of-line demarcation in the Telnet protocol specification.
Note
Examples
In the following example the session is configured to send a CR signal as a CR followed by a NULL:
Router# terminal telnet transparentterminal terminal-type
To specify the type of terminal connected to the current line for the current session, use the terminal terminal-type EXEC command.
terminal terminal-type terminal-type
Syntax Description
terminal-type
Defines the terminal name and type, and permits terminal negotiation by hosts that provide that type of service.
Defaults
VT100
Command Modes
EXEC
Command History
Usage Guidelines
Indicate the terminal type if it is different from the default of VT100.
The terminal type name is used by TN3270s for display management and by Telnet and rlogin to inform the remote host of the terminal type.
Examples
In the following example the terminal type is defined as VT220 for the current session:
Router# terminal terminal-type VT220Related Commands
Specifies the current keyboard type for the current session.
Specifies the type of terminal connected to a line.
terminal txspeed
To set the terminal transmit speed (how fast the terminal can send information) for the current line and session, use the terminal txspeed EXEC command.
terminal txspeed bps
Syntax Description
Defaults
9600 bps
Command Modes
EXEC
Command History
Examples
In the following example the line transmit speed is set to 2400 bps for the current session:
Router# terminal txspeed 2400Related Commands
terminal-type
To specify the type of terminal connected to a line, use the terminal-type line configuration command. To remove any information about the type of terminal and reset the line to the default terminal emulation, use the no form of this command.
terminal-type {terminal-name | terminal-type}
no terminal-type
Syntax Description
Defaults
VT100
Command Modes
Line configuration
Command History
Usage Guidelines
This command records the type of terminal connected to the line. The terminal-name argument provides a record of the terminal type and allows terminal negotiation of display management by hosts that provide that type of service.
For TN3270 applications, this command must follow the corresponding ttycap entry in the configuration file.
Examples
The following example defines the terminal on line 7 as a VT220:
Router(config)# line 7Router(config-line)# terminal-type VT220terminal width
To set the number of character columns on the terminal screen for the current line for a session, use the terminal width EXEC command.
terminal width characters
Syntax Description
Defaults
80 characters
Command Modes
EXEC
Command History
Usage Guidelines
By default, the route provides a screen display width of 80 characters. You can reset this value for the current session if it does not meet the needs of your terminal.
The rlogin protocol uses the value of the characters argument to set up terminal parameters on a remote host.
Examples
The following example sets the terminal character columns to 132:
Router# terminal width 132Related Commands
Sets the terminal screen width (the number of character columns displayed on the attached terminal).
where
To list the open sessions, use the where EXEC command.
where
Syntax Description
This command has no arguments or keywords.
Command Modes
EXEC
Command History
Usage Guidelines
The where command displays all open sessions associated with the current terminal line.
The break (Ctrl-Shift-6, x), where, and resume commands are available with all supported connection protocols.
Examples
The following is sample output from the where command:
Router# whereConn Host Address Byte Idle Conn Name1 MATHOM 192.31.7.21 0 0 MATHOM* 2 CHAFF 131.108.12.19 0 0 CHAFFThe asterisk (*) indicates the current terminal session.
Table 8 describes the significant fields shown in the display.
Related Commands
show line
Displays information about all lines on the system or the specified line.
show sessions
Displays information about open LAT, Telnet, or rlogin connections.
width
To set the terminal screen width, use the width line configuration command. To return to the default screen width, use the no form of this command.
width characters
no width
Syntax Description
Defaults
80 character columns
Command Modes
Line configuration
Command History
Usage Guidelines
By default, the route provides a screen display width of 80 characters. You can reset this value for the current session if it does not meet the needs of your terminal.
The rlogin protocol uses the value of the characters argument to set up terminal parameters on a remote host.
Examples
In the following example the location for line 7 is defined as "console terminal" and the display is set to 132 columns wide:
Router(config)# line 7Router(config-line)# location console terminalRouter(config-line)# width 132Related Commands
Sets the number of character columns on the terminal screen for the current session.
