How to add more virtual consoles to Minix

Matej Kosik emailed me a neat tip today, showing how to add more virtual consoles to Minix. The virtual consoles can be accessed by pressing ALT+F1, ALT+F2, etc. By default there are four consoles available. As an example, here's how Matej described adding four more:

In /etc/ttytab add these lines:

       ttyc4   minix   getty
       ttyc5   minix   getty
       ttyc6   minix   getty
       ttyc7   minix   getty

In directory '/dev' perform:

       mknod ttyc4 c 4 4
       mknod ttyc5 c 4 5
       mknod ttyc6 c 4 6
       mknod ttyc7 c 4 7

In file '/usr/src/include/minix/config.h' change line:

#define NR_CONS            4

To:

#define NR_CONS            8

Go to '/usr/src/tools' and perform:

make hdboot

Reboot Minix and in boot menu:

       1. Start Minix 3
       2. Start Small Minix 3
       3. Start Custom Minix 3

choose option 3.

Categories: minix, admin