Function Keys¶

The AT keyboard has a number of function keys. They are numbered as follows and can be associated with strings by the kbdcontrol(1) command. You can use a keyboard map file (see kbdmap(5)) to map them to arbitrary keys, particularly the functions in the range from 65 to 96 which are not used by default.

Function Key number

Function Key

1, 2,...12

F1, F2,... F12

13, 14,...24

Shift+F1, Shift+F2,... Shift+F12

25, 26,...36

Ctl+F1, Ctl+F2,... Ctl+F12

37, 38,...48

Shift+Ctl+F1, Shift+Ctl+F2,... Shift+Ctl+F12

49

Home and Numpad 7 (without NumLock)

50

Up Arrow and Numpad 8 (without NumLock)

51

Page Up and Numpad 9 (without NumLock)

52

Numpad -

53

Left Arrow and Numpad 4 (without NumLock)

54

Numpad 5 (without NumLock)

55

Right Arrow and Numpad 6 (without NumLock)

56

Numpad +

57

End and Numpad 1 (without NumLock)

58

Down Arrow and Numpad 2 (without NumLock)

59

Page Down and Numpad 3 (without NumLock)

60

Ins and Numpad 0 (without NumLock)

61

Del

62

Left GUI Key

63

Right GUI Key

64

Menu

65, 66,...96

free (not used by default)

See the man page for the kbdcontrol(1) command for how to assign a string to the function key.

Kernel Configuration Options¶

The following kernel configuration options control the atkbd driver.

ATKBD_DFLT_KEYMAP

This option sets the default, built-in keymap of the atkbd driver to the named keymap. See EXAMPLES below.

KBD_DISABLE_KEYMAP_LOAD

The keymap can be modified by the kbdcontrol(1) command. This option will disable this feature and prevent the user from changing key assignment.

Driver Flags¶

The atkbd driver accepts the following driver flags. They can be set either in /boot/device.hints, or else from within the boot loader (see loader(8)).

bit 0 (FAIL_IF_NO_KBD)

By default the atkbd driver will install even if a keyboard is not actually connected to the system. This option prevents the driver from being installed in this situation.

bit 1 (NO_RESET)

When this option is given, the atkbd driver will not reset the keyboard when initializing it. It may be useful for laptop computers whose function keys have special functions and these functions are forgotten when the keyboard is reset.

bit 2 (ALT_SCANCODESET)

Certain keyboards, such as those on some ThinkPad models, behave like the old XT keyboard and require this option.

bit 3 (NO_PROBE_TEST)

When this option is given, the atkbd driver will not test the keyboard port during the probe routine. Some machines hang during boot when this test is performed.