Pseudo-TTY Streams

Drivers and modules can make the Stream head act as a terminal Stream by sending an M_SETOPTS message with the SO_ISTTY flag set upstream. This state may be changed by sending an M_SETOPTS message with the SO_ISNTTY flag set upstream.

Controlling terminals are allocated with the open(2) interface. The device must tell the Stream head that it is acting as a terminal.

The TOSTOP flag is set on reception of an M_SETOPTS message with the SO_TOSTOP flag set in the so_flags field. It is cleared on reception of an M_SETOPTS message with the SO_TONSTOP flag set.

Stream head processing is isolated from modules and drivers by using several message types, such as M_ERROR, M_HANGUP and M_SETOPS, which only affect the Stream in which they are sent.