How do I use a Minitel terminal as a linux dumb terminal

Posted by Pawz on Server Fault See other posts from Server Fault or by Pawz
Published on 2010-09-01T07:05:16Z Indexed on 2011/03/08 8:11 UTC
Read the original article Hit count: 312

Filed under:

linux

|

serial

|

rs232

I recently purchased a US version of the Alcatel Minitel terminal. I think it's a 1B version. Pictures of it here:

I tried connecting a null modem to the 25 pin port on the back and plugging it into a linux box running agetty but I couldn't get it to show any signs of being connected. I used Google Translate to translate this document into English: http://mirabellug.org/wikini/upload/Documentations_minitel.pdf

As far as I can tell, you take it out of videotex mode by typing Fcnt-T A, then turn off local echo with Fcnt-T E, then set it to 4800 baud with Fcnt-P 4. I presume Fcnt refers to the "CTRL" key on my terminal. But I think I'm doing something wrong, because it doesn't look like it's recognising the keystrokes, because "Fcnt-T A" just prints the letter A to the screen, which is not what you'd expect a function key combo to do.

Has anyone used these minitel terminals as a linux terminal, and if so, please can you share how to configure the minitel to run as a terminal ? Is the 25 pin plug even the correct port to use ? I read something online that indicated you're supposed to use the 5 pin DIN plug instead, is that right ? If so, what's the 25 pin plug for ? If I am supposed to use the DIN plug, does anyone know the pinouts so I can make a cable ?

© Server Fault or respective owner

Related posts about linux

apt-get install and update fail

as seen on Ask Ubuntu - Search for 'Ask Ubuntu'
I've got a problem with apt-get update and apt-get install ... commands . every time update or installing fails and errors are : Get:1 http://dl.google.com stable Release.gpg [198B] Ign http://dl.google.com/linux/chrome/deb/ stable/main Translation-en_US Get:2 http://dl… >>> More
kernel module compiling error

as seen on Ask Ubuntu - Search for 'Ask Ubuntu'
sh@ubuntu:/home/ccpp/helloworld$ make gcc-4.6 -O2 -DMODULE -D_KERNEL_ -W -Wall -Wstrict-prototypes -Wmissing-prototypes -isystem /lib/modules/`uname -r`/build/include -c -o hello-1.o hello-1.c hello-1.c:4:0: warning: "MODULE" redefined [enabled by default] <command-line>:0:0: note: this is… >>> More
Build-Essentials installation failing

as seen on Ask Ubuntu - Search for 'Ask Ubuntu'
I am having trouble accessing the several critical header files that show to be a part of the build process. The "Ubuntu Software Center" shows "Build Essentials" as installed: Next I did the following two commands, which did not improve the problem: ~$ sudo apt-get install build-essential [sudo]… >>> More
Updating Debian kernel

as seen on Super User - Search for 'Super User'
I'm trying to update my Debian machine to 2.6.32-46 (which is the new stable). However, after doing apt-get update my apt-cache search linux-image shows me: linux-headers-2.6.32-5-486 - Header files for Linux 2.6.32-5-486 linux-headers-2.6.32-5-686-bigmem - Header files for Linux 2.6.32-5-686-bigmem linux-headers-2… >>> More
Serial connection over a single USB cable (Windows to linux, or linux to linux)

as seen on Server Fault - Search for 'Server Fault'
I'm helping out with a project for an embedded device that only has USB and no serial. This device is running Linux. These days, when we need to connect to a serial port on a device we typically use a USB to serial adapter (on something like a phone system or a load balancing device, etc). I would… >>> More

Related posts about serial

Error in installing ZTE AC2738 on ubuntu 3.0.0-12-generic

as seen on Ask Ubuntu - Search for 'Ask Ubuntu'
I am getting this error ,struct usb_serial_driver has no member named shutdown. I am installing on 64bit ubuntu 3.0.0-12-generic ... Beginning Verify CD ... ... Verify CD Succeed! ... Beginning Copy Install Package Files ... ... will take a long time, waiting 5 seconds, please ... Copy Install… >>> More
Windows with putty via USB serial cable to Linux serial port - output ok, input isn't

as seen on Super User - Search for 'Super User'
I am trying to get two way serial communications going between a Windows XP system and a Linux system (RHEL 5). I have /sbin/agetty -L 9600 ttyS0 in /etc/inittab. I am using a generic USB to serial adaptor on Windows (Unitek) and a null modem cable. I have putty configured for 9600 baud, 8… >>> More
java serial I/O: handling USB serial connection/disconnection in a robust manner

as seen on Stack Overflow - Search for 'Stack Overflow'
I'm using rxtx for serial I/O handling in Java with an FTDI2232H that provides a USB comm port. It works great, with one exception: if I unplug the USB cable, so that the COM port disappears at runtime, it spews exceptions left and right: java.io.IOException: No error in nativeavailable at gnu.io… >>> More
Reading a Serial Port - Ignore portion of data written to serial port for certain time

as seen on Stack Overflow - Search for 'Stack Overflow'
I would like to read data coming and Arduino on a serial port on intervals. So essentially something like Take a reading Wait Take a reading Wait Take ... etc. The problem I am facing is that the port will buffer its information so as soon as I call a wait function the data on the serial port… >>> More
C# serial port driver wrapper class code and concept quality

as seen on Stack Overflow - Search for 'Stack Overflow'
Hi folks, Would like to know from all you guys what you think about my Serial Wrapper class. Had be a while I've beem working with serial port but never shared the code what somekind make closed to my very own vision. Would like to know if it's a good/bad approach, if the interface is enough and… >>> More