[ILUG] Re: Telnet

[Vincent Murphy]

= Matthew Sammon <sammonm at tcd.ie> [20000211 1514]:
> alf2.tcd.ie
>  environ define TERM vt220

 this works because a vt220 is fairly low down the list of terminals in terms
of functionality, and whatever terminal you're using can handle it.  IOW the
terminal you're using can probly handle vt220 codes as a *subset* of it's
real functionality.  this means that apps on the remote host are not actually
using your terminal fully, though you mightn't care that much either if you're
happy with b&w or whatever.

 of course you could be using an actual vt220, but let's just say it's an
xterm or whatever for a minute.  :)

 if you're running a virtual terminal, you can have programs on the remote
host use features such as colour, beeping etc by having the remote host use
your terminal properly.  this means having a decent terminal-handling library
and an up to date terminal database to go with it.  the only trouble is you
end up re-building half the userspace programs on the system to use your
spiffy new terminal-handling library.

 most people do just mangle their TERM though because it's quick (and dirty).

-vinny
.