Date: Tue, 8 Oct 2013 03:46:11 +0200 From: Polytropon <freebsd@edvax.de> To: Frank Leonhardt <frank2@fjl.co.uk> Cc: "freebsd-questions@freebsd.org" <freebsd-questions@freebsd.org> Subject: Re: How do I ring a bell? Message-ID: <20131008034611.6ff7d5c5.freebsd@edvax.de> In-Reply-To: <52531508.7090206@fjl.co.uk> References: <52529CFF.9030105@fjl.co.uk> <20131007143637.653304bd.freebsd@edvax.de> <52531508.7090206@fjl.co.uk>
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On Mon, 07 Oct 2013 21:09:44 +0100, Frank Leonhardt wrote: > On 07/10/2013 13:36, Polytropon wrote: > > > Is there any way to make a noise through the built in "bell" speaker > > > found on an IBM PC compatible server box? Writing 007 to the BIOS cout > > > routine might do it, but I've realised I haven't got a clue how to > > do that. > > Making it audible is part of the local terminal emulator, > > either the TTY (text mode) driver or via xterm (or the > > preferred alternative terminal emulator in X). > > Yers, but I'm not running X. Or a character terminal come to that :-) In that case, something line printf "\a" > /dev/console should work - I've just tried it. You can do that from a shell script or maybe even via fprintf() from your own code. > > See the following shell script as an example of what you > > can do: <snip> > > Overkill. I have proper work to do rather than working out how to play > appropriate bit silly little tunes for every eventuality. Actually > spkr.c has some useful comments in it - apparently it works the same as > IBM PC BASIC. Now how do I make it polyphonic... By adding more computers. This is the established solution to _every_ IT-related problem. :-) The code in /usr/src/sys/dev/speaker/spkr.c provides a more streamlined interface to sound generation. It's even more "bare metal" than what I remember from Borland Turbo-C: sound(1000); delay(2500); nosound(); It was important not to miss the 3rd line or the "fun" would never end. :-) > > Always make sure that the system actually _has_ got an > > internal speaker! I assume that modern PC hardware could > > have it removed along with floppy drive connector, parallel > > port or power switch. > > Remains to be seen, but most still seem to have one so the BIOS ROM can > make "beep" diagnostic codes if it can't do anything else. This proves that it is present, even if it's not an attached speaker anymore. Many mainboards contain a little piezo speaker directly mounted (my ultracheap home PC does, for example). > >> P.S. "cdcontrol -f /dev/mycdrom eject" is the best I've come up with so > >> far for getting attention. > > That's a really clever idea, never heared of that. It has > > the advantage of being permanent because the drive will > > stay open when the sound of its motor has finished. :-) > > I use it all the time, especially when directing a tech to the > appropriate server in a rack. "It's the one I just popped the CD drive > on". These days servers have the spring-loaded notebook drives instead > of the motorised trays, which is a pity. You could keep winding the > motorised ones in and out until someone spotted it. This seems to be better than those "slot-in" drives I had in one server: no moving parts to the outside. > I suppose if you did > it energetically enough it might catch fire and set off the smoke alarm > (audible). This procedure has been part of an independent quality test of CD recorders, performed by a PC maganzine many years ago. Interesting result: the cheapest drive would last longer than the most expensive one in which the gears automatically had disassembled. :-) > Or leave it wound out with a tin can balanced on it; to make > a noise wind it back in and hear it clatter to the floor. Interesting use for the "4X cup holder". :-) -- Polytropon Magdeburg, Germany Happy FreeBSD user since 4.0 Andra moi ennepe, Mousa, ...
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