Virtual terminal

This article is about the term standardized by Open system. For other uses, see virtual console and virtual terminal (payment processing).

In open systems, a virtual terminal (VT) is an application service that:

1. Allows host terminals on a multi-user network to interact with other hosts regardless of terminal type and characteristics, ^[1]
2. Allows remote log-on by local area network managers for the purpose of management, ^[2]
3. Allows users to access information from another host processor for transaction processing,
4. Serves as a backup facility.

PuTTY is an example of a virtual terminal.

ITU-T defines a virtual terminal protocol based on the OSI application layer protocols. However, the virtual terminal protocol is not widely used on the Internet.

ISO Standards

Virtual terminal services are defined under ISO 9040 ^[3] and virtual terminal protocols are defined under ISO 9041. ^[4]

See also

• Pseudo terminal for the software interface that provides access to virtual terminals
• Secure Shell
• Telnet
• Terminal emulator for an application program that provides access to virtual terminals
• Virtual console for an analogous concept that provides several local consoles

Sources

•  This article incorporates public domain material from Federal Standard 1037C. General Services Administration. Archived from the original on 2022-01-22.

1. Schicker, P.; Duenki, A. (1976-10-01). "Virtual terminal definition and protocol". SIGCOMM Comput. Commun. Rev. 6 (4): 1–2. doi:10.1145/1015842.1015843. ISSN   0146-4833.
2. "Information on RFC 0407 » RFC Editor". doi:10.17487/rfc0407 . Retrieved 2025-12-07.
3. "ISO/IEC 9040:1997". ISO. Retrieved 2025-12-07.
4. "ISO/IEC 9041-1:1997". ISO. Retrieved 2025-12-07.