Using the MSS
Interactive Connections
5-4
If your terminal does not have a Break key, you can configure a local break switch key. To specify an
escaped hex character, preceed it with a backslash (\xx). The example below sets Ctrl-B (ASCII character
0x02) as the local switch character.
Figure 5-5:
Defining a Local Switch
Backward, Forward, and Switches
The
Backward
and
Forward
commands, when entered at the Local> prompt, allow users to navigate through
current sessions.
You can think of a user’s open sessions as a list from the earliest to the most recently created. Forward refers
to a more recent connection, while Backward refers to a session started earlier. The list is also circular; going
forward from the most recently created session takes you to the earliest session, and going backward from
the earliest session resumes the most recent session. For example, user Bob connects to host Thor. He then
breaks to local mode and connects to host Duff. After working, he breaks and connects to host Conan. His
session list, shown with the Show Session command, would be:
Thor
Duff
Conan
Conan is the current session, meaning the session to which the user is currently connected (or the last
session the user was in before entering local mode). If Bob pressed the backward key while working in
Conan, he would resume his session on Duff. If he pressed the forward key while working in Conan, he
would move to his session on Thor.
The Change Port [Portlist] Backward Switch and Change Port [Portlist] Forward Switch commands
define keys used to switch sessions without returning to local mode. Backward and forward switch keys
must be explicitly defined. To specify a control character, use escaped hex (\xx). The example below sets
Ctrl-B (ASCII character 0x02) as the backward switch character and Ctrl-Z (ASCII character 0x1a) as the
forward switch character.
Figure 5-6:
Defining Switches
Note:
The MSS intercepts and processes switch keys; it does not pass them to the remote host.
Disconnect and Resume
Users need a method of controlling and disconnecting sessions from local mode. For example, if a session
on a remote host freezes or hangs while executing code, the user can exit the session using the Break key,
then terminate the connection by entering the
Disconnect
command at the Local> prompt. A user may
resume a session after returning to local mode by entering the
Resume
command. Both commands can affect
any active sessions, not just the current session.
Session Limits
The number of active sessions a user can have on the MSS is limited by three factors: available server
memory resources, a server-wide limit, and a port-specific limit. The absolute maximum number of sessions
for the MSS is eight. To reduce the limit further, enter the
Change Session Limit
command followed by a
number from one to seven.
Local>> CHANGE PORT 2 LOCAL SWITCH \02
Local>> CHANGE PORT 3 BACKWARD SWITCH \02
Local>> CHANGE PORT 3 FORWARD SWITCH \1a
