toddpw@best.com said:
> cvs diff -D "1999-05-15 07:00" -D "1999-05-15 08:00" .
> This appears to be the culprit. Files changed: 
> [...]

This was the change which removed the timeout driven
"glue code" which connected keyboards to displays.
Since that day it is important that the "console"ness
of the devices is properly kept track of.
How does your `dmesg` look like? It should contain
lines like:
wsdisplay0 at vga1: console (80x25, sun emulation)
[...]
wskbd0 at pckbd0: console keyboard, using wsdisplay0

The "using" means that console keyboard and display
have found each other.

> it occurred to
> me that perhaps the lack of updated etc files was my problem

The console should work without any /etc stuff.

best regards
Matthias