[Simh] EXT : LK461 keyboard

[Hittner, David T (IS)]

Have a look at this article under "Keyboard Mapping".
http://support.hoffmanlabs.com/node/134

Dave

From: simh-bounces at trailing-edge.com [mailto:simh-bounces at trailing-edge.com] On Behalf Of Peter Allan
Sent: Tuesday, May 22, 2012 3:28 PM
To: simh at trailing-edge.com
Subject: EXT :[Simh] LK461 keyboard

I am trying to set up a system that gives me the "VAXstation experience" using simh on a computer running Linux. Everything works fine except the keyboard, which is an LK461 - essential to have the proper keypad and function keys!

What I have is:
- A computer with an LK461 keyboard connected via a PS/2 style connector, Dell flat screen monitor and a three button Compaq/Logitech mouse.
- I am running CentOS 5.7 (a free rebuilt version of RedHat 5).

I am using simh 3.8 to emulate a microVAX 3900 running VMS 7.3 and 5.5-2.

I boot Linux in console mode, start up simh and boot VMS, then connect to the emulated microVAX with the command

   X -query <name_of_emulated_computer> -from <name_of_real_computer>

This starts X and brings up an xdmcp login screen which lets me log into the emulated microVAX and have the full DECwindows experience - session manager, DECterm and anything else I care to start up.

The only problem is that the keypad and function keys on the LK461 keyboard do not work. Does anyone know how to make them work just like a proper VAXstation running VMS?

I have been reading around the Linux setxkbmap command and associated fiiles, but it looks like a lot of work to set things up from scratch. I know about the existence of the digital_vndr/lk files, but my attempt to use these have only made the keyboard unusable. No doubt this is me getting things wrong, but I am rather stuck at present. I have googled things like "lk461 linux vms" which gives some interesting results, but nothing that has answered my question of how to make the LK461 keyboard work properly with VMS when connected via X. I have also seen statements along the lines of "recent versions of Fedora will recognise an LK keyboard". However, I have tried them and, with my setup at least, they don't.

Has anyone else done this or feels they can point me in the right direction?

All help gratefully received.

Peter Allan
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