[comp.unix.xenix] Siamese Terminals

neal@clkwrka.UUCP (12/03/89)

To avoid flames I will preface this and all my postings here remotely relating 
to PC-Dos with the statement that I am a muchly pro-unix sort of guy who still
realizes the service Dos has performed in providing software for the mentally
impaired of the world.  

One of really nifty things to come out of Dos is remote support packages like
pc Anywhere and Carbon Copy.   While uucp is usually the way to go for me, I 
can see one thing they do which is really handy:  You can call another system,
login, and logically bind yerself to the other terminal.   Both you and the
callee can see what each other types AND what the software you/they are running
does.  This is a real boon to doing remote training and support.  (eg; OK bozo,
show me what you did before it "just went crazy!"...)   I suppose someone will
have to say "yeah, but the Dos guys didn't think that up... we were doing it
on the DEC-System-20 in 1974..."   

I would like to be able to do this in xenix as well supporting some 4GL products
that absolutely insist on talking with a tty device.  (If the stat() of stdin
and stdout is not a tty, they will refuse to run)   And I don't mind having to
use the exactly same terminal type as my callee.  We can both use the console.

So is anyone aware of a hack to the console device to support such a joining 
of the minds?  Or even a hack product?  Or another way to skin the cat?  Possibly some powerful drugs which would simulate the same effect?  If I could 
redirect stdin and stdout I could cook something up, but that is out unless 
I can get something to lie about itself on the stat call.  

As always we thank you for your comments...