Clearing locked terminals

Periodically, a terminal will error out and become unresponsive. This is happening more lately, generally when the user exits PartExpert cataloging to go back to the invoice screen. They are left with a blank screen, and a flashing cursor in the upper left. Sometimes, they will be at "Welcome to J-Con>" but there is no response to the keyboard.

To Clear it up, you must kill the processes on that port. You can do it from any other terminal on the system, even from another store location.

Step 1 - Determine the KB number by asking the user. You may have a chart listing KB #s and locations within each store. Normally, the user will know it.

Step 2 - Determine the tty number: From your terminal, exit the main OPTION menu, to "Welcome to J-CON>". Type "kb kb##" using the proper kb number for the down terminal.

>Welcome To J-CON(tm)

>kb kb32

Keyboard KB32 is device /dev/ttya13

Step 3 - List the PIDs, using the command "ps -t tty# ".

>Welcome To J-CON(tm)

>ps -t a13

PID TTY TIME CMD

8620 ttya13 00:00:00 login

8623 ttya13 00:00:00 csh

The PID numbers here are 8620 & 8623. These are the programs running on the offending port. Also listed are the run-times and the program names.

Step 4 - Kill the PIDs, using the command "kill -9 PID# "

>Welcome To J-CON(tm)

>kill -9 8620

>Welcome To J-CON(tm)

>kill -9 8623

Step 5 - Check your work. List the PIDs again. You should show only "getty", which produces the login: prompt on their screen.

>Welcome To J-CON(tm)

>ps -t a13

PID TTY TIME CMD

9123 ttya13 00:00:00 getty

Ask the user if he sees login: on his screen. If so, have him log in using "menu". If there are still problems, try the steps listed in the October 1 Connect! to reset the terminal.