> OK, thanks. After some searching based on this info and some messing > around, it looks like 'export TERM=ansi' and setting t_Co=8 will get me > limited colors in vim without screwing anything up.
Further to the excellent write-up by miod@ simply put if you're on x86 PC console any of these enables colors: $ export TERM=wsvt25 $ export TERM=pccon To confirm: $ echo $TERM ; tput colors $ tmux These are defined in /etc/termcap Hint: in the file search for (open|net)bsd|colou?r and Co#8|Co#256 for a broader range of TERM capabilities. You can also reference for an understanding what do the definitions in /etc/termcap mean $ man 5 terminfo $ man 5 termcap If you get sick of console colors and your eyes start hurting from dark blue fg on black bg and other high-low contrast issue just set it back to vt220: $ export TERM=vt220 Or even better, use xterm. In X you can use $ export TERM=xterm-256color $ export TERM=screen-256color # slant instead of reverse highlight $ export TERM=tmux-256color You could also set TERM in .profile testing whether you're on the PC console or in X, and whether you're running an interactive shell and/or a tmux session.
