What does the SysRq key do?
On my keyboard, the key the functions as the Print Screen key when the F-lock is on has "SysRq" below it (presumably to be used when F-lock is off). What is it and what does it do?
keyboard function-keys
edited Jun 14 '11 at 14:15
Tom Wijsman
50.3k23164247
asked Jul 16 '09 at 2:44
RCIXRCIX
3,180134882
add a comment |
On my keyboard, the key the functions as the Print Screen key when the F-lock is on has "SysRq" below it (presumably to be used when F-lock is off). What is it and what does it do?
keyboard function-keys
edited Jun 14 '11 at 14:15
Tom Wijsman
50.3k23164247
asked Jul 16 '09 at 2:44
RCIXRCIX
3,180134882
2
There is a Wikipedia page for the System Request key.
– nik
Jul 16 '09 at 2:46
3
Any chance of choosing a correct answer? The question is almost 4 1/2 years old and answer pending for over 2 years. Thanks
– Dominic Zukiewicz
Oct 9 '14 at 7:55
add a comment |
On my keyboard, the key the functions as the Print Screen key when the F-lock is on has "SysRq" below it (presumably to be used when F-lock is off). What is it and what does it do?
keyboard function-keys
edited Jun 14 '11 at 14:15
Tom Wijsman
50.3k23164247
asked Jul 16 '09 at 2:44
RCIXRCIX
3,180134882
On my keyboard, the key the functions as the Print Screen key when the F-lock is on has "SysRq" below it (presumably to be used when F-lock is off). What is it and what does it do?
keyboard function-keys
keyboard function-keys
edited Jun 14 '11 at 14:15
Tom Wijsman
50.3k23164247
asked Jul 16 '09 at 2:44
RCIXRCIX
3,180134882
edited Jun 14 '11 at 14:15
Tom Wijsman
50.3k23164247
asked Jul 16 '09 at 2:44
RCIXRCIX
3,180134882
edited Jun 14 '11 at 14:15
Tom Wijsman
50.3k23164247
edited Jun 14 '11 at 14:15
Tom Wijsman
50.3k23164247
edited Jun 14 '11 at 14:15
Tom Wijsman
50.3k23164247
50.3k23164247
asked Jul 16 '09 at 2:44
RCIXRCIX
3,180134882
asked Jul 16 '09 at 2:44
RCIXRCIX
3,180134882
asked Jul 16 '09 at 2:44
RCIXRCIX
3,180134882
3,180134882
2
There is a Wikipedia page for the System Request key.
– nik
Jul 16 '09 at 2:46
3
Any chance of choosing a correct answer? The question is almost 4 1/2 years old and answer pending for over 2 years. Thanks
– Dominic Zukiewicz
Oct 9 '14 at 7:55
add a comment |
2
There is a Wikipedia page for the System Request key.
– nik
Jul 16 '09 at 2:46
3
Any chance of choosing a correct answer? The question is almost 4 1/2 years old and answer pending for over 2 years. Thanks
– Dominic Zukiewicz
Oct 9 '14 at 7:55
2
2
There is a Wikipedia page for the System Request key.
– nik
Jul 16 '09 at 2:46
There is a Wikipedia page for the System Request key.
– nik
Jul 16 '09 at 2:46
3
3
Any chance of choosing a correct answer? The question is almost 4 1/2 years old and answer pending for over 2 years. Thanks
– Dominic Zukiewicz
Oct 9 '14 at 7:55
Any chance of choosing a correct answer? The question is almost 4 1/2 years old and answer pending for over 2 years. Thanks
– Dominic Zukiewicz
Oct 9 '14 at 7:55
add a comment |
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
SysRq was introduced on IBM PC keyboards as a way to have a cross-platform way to initiate a low-level event. When typing the keys, they get put into a buffer and flushed periodically. If your machine locks up, the keyboard does not work.
The SysRq key was basically to force a command to be sent to the computer, bypassing the buffer, to trigger a low level call; usually a RESET event.
However, each OS ignores this key now, and uses a preferred combination keystroke to initiate some sort of 'Task Manager' like interface enabling the OS to remain running, rather than a reset the computer.
Its much more common to run applications from the host OS, rather than from the BIOS. It wasn't like that in the 1980's :-)
answered Feb 11 '14 at 16:13
Dominic ZukiewiczDominic Zukiewicz
22125
add a comment |
It is a programmable key which can be made to do a variety of things, depends.
I remember it having some uses on old ibm terminals, and some DOS programs used it for a form of soft resetting.
answered Jul 16 '09 at 2:47
RookRook
16.8k28108179
add a comment |
On linux it still serves a very useful function:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic_SysRq_key
answered Jan 29 at 19:00
pgoetzpgoetz
1214
add a comment |
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3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
SysRq was introduced on IBM PC keyboards as a way to have a cross-platform way to initiate a low-level event. When typing the keys, they get put into a buffer and flushed periodically. If your machine locks up, the keyboard does not work.
The SysRq key was basically to force a command to be sent to the computer, bypassing the buffer, to trigger a low level call; usually a RESET event.
However, each OS ignores this key now, and uses a preferred combination keystroke to initiate some sort of 'Task Manager' like interface enabling the OS to remain running, rather than a reset the computer.
Its much more common to run applications from the host OS, rather than from the BIOS. It wasn't like that in the 1980's :-)
answered Feb 11 '14 at 16:13
Dominic ZukiewiczDominic Zukiewicz
22125
add a comment |
SysRq was introduced on IBM PC keyboards as a way to have a cross-platform way to initiate a low-level event. When typing the keys, they get put into a buffer and flushed periodically. If your machine locks up, the keyboard does not work.
The SysRq key was basically to force a command to be sent to the computer, bypassing the buffer, to trigger a low level call; usually a RESET event.
However, each OS ignores this key now, and uses a preferred combination keystroke to initiate some sort of 'Task Manager' like interface enabling the OS to remain running, rather than a reset the computer.
Its much more common to run applications from the host OS, rather than from the BIOS. It wasn't like that in the 1980's :-)
answered Feb 11 '14 at 16:13
Dominic ZukiewiczDominic Zukiewicz
22125
add a comment |
SysRq was introduced on IBM PC keyboards as a way to have a cross-platform way to initiate a low-level event. When typing the keys, they get put into a buffer and flushed periodically. If your machine locks up, the keyboard does not work.
The SysRq key was basically to force a command to be sent to the computer, bypassing the buffer, to trigger a low level call; usually a RESET event.
However, each OS ignores this key now, and uses a preferred combination keystroke to initiate some sort of 'Task Manager' like interface enabling the OS to remain running, rather than a reset the computer.
Its much more common to run applications from the host OS, rather than from the BIOS. It wasn't like that in the 1980's :-)
answered Feb 11 '14 at 16:13
Dominic ZukiewiczDominic Zukiewicz
22125
SysRq was introduced on IBM PC keyboards as a way to have a cross-platform way to initiate a low-level event. When typing the keys, they get put into a buffer and flushed periodically. If your machine locks up, the keyboard does not work.
The SysRq key was basically to force a command to be sent to the computer, bypassing the buffer, to trigger a low level call; usually a RESET event.
However, each OS ignores this key now, and uses a preferred combination keystroke to initiate some sort of 'Task Manager' like interface enabling the OS to remain running, rather than a reset the computer.
Its much more common to run applications from the host OS, rather than from the BIOS. It wasn't like that in the 1980's :-)
answered Feb 11 '14 at 16:13
Dominic ZukiewiczDominic Zukiewicz
22125
answered Feb 11 '14 at 16:13
Dominic ZukiewiczDominic Zukiewicz
22125
answered Feb 11 '14 at 16:13
Dominic ZukiewiczDominic Zukiewicz
22125
answered Feb 11 '14 at 16:13
Dominic ZukiewiczDominic Zukiewicz
22125
22125
add a comment |
add a comment |
It is a programmable key which can be made to do a variety of things, depends.
I remember it having some uses on old ibm terminals, and some DOS programs used it for a form of soft resetting.
answered Jul 16 '09 at 2:47
RookRook
16.8k28108179
add a comment |
It is a programmable key which can be made to do a variety of things, depends.
I remember it having some uses on old ibm terminals, and some DOS programs used it for a form of soft resetting.
answered Jul 16 '09 at 2:47
RookRook
16.8k28108179
add a comment |
It is a programmable key which can be made to do a variety of things, depends.
I remember it having some uses on old ibm terminals, and some DOS programs used it for a form of soft resetting.
answered Jul 16 '09 at 2:47
RookRook
16.8k28108179
It is a programmable key which can be made to do a variety of things, depends.
I remember it having some uses on old ibm terminals, and some DOS programs used it for a form of soft resetting.
answered Jul 16 '09 at 2:47
RookRook
16.8k28108179
answered Jul 16 '09 at 2:47
RookRook
16.8k28108179
answered Jul 16 '09 at 2:47
RookRook
16.8k28108179
answered Jul 16 '09 at 2:47
RookRook
16.8k28108179
16.8k28108179
add a comment |
add a comment |
On linux it still serves a very useful function:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic_SysRq_key
answered Jan 29 at 19:00
pgoetzpgoetz
1214
add a comment |
On linux it still serves a very useful function:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic_SysRq_key
answered Jan 29 at 19:00
pgoetzpgoetz
1214
add a comment |
On linux it still serves a very useful function:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic_SysRq_key
answered Jan 29 at 19:00
pgoetzpgoetz
1214
On linux it still serves a very useful function:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic_SysRq_key
answered Jan 29 at 19:00
pgoetzpgoetz
1214
answered Jan 29 at 19:00
pgoetzpgoetz
1214
answered Jan 29 at 19:00
pgoetzpgoetz
1214
answered Jan 29 at 19:00
pgoetzpgoetz
1214
1214
add a comment |
add a comment |
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2
There is a Wikipedia page for the System Request key.
– nik
Jul 16 '09 at 2:46
3
Any chance of choosing a correct answer? The question is almost 4 1/2 years old and answer pending for over 2 years. Thanks
– Dominic Zukiewicz
Oct 9 '14 at 7:55