diff --git a/etc/etc.alpha/ttys b/etc/etc.alpha/ttys
index 4ec376e007b..169d40c4459 100644
--- a/etc/etc.alpha/ttys
+++ b/etc/etc.alpha/ttys
@@ -15,8 +15,10 @@
 #
 # type The initial terminal type for this port.  For hardwired
 #      terminal lines, this will contain the type of terminal used.
-#      For virtual consoles, the correct type is cons25.  Other
-#      common values include network for network connections on
+#      For virtual consoles, the correct type is typically cons25, but
+#      vt220 will work better if you need interoperability with other
+#      systems like Solaris or GNU/Linux.
+#      Other common values include network for network connections on
 #      pseudo-terminals, dialup for incoming modem ports, and unknown
 #      when the terminal type cannot be predetermined.
 #
diff --git a/etc/etc.amd64/ttys b/etc/etc.amd64/ttys
index c38b0f0dc4b..1e63d4be944 100644
--- a/etc/etc.amd64/ttys
+++ b/etc/etc.amd64/ttys
@@ -15,8 +15,10 @@
 #
 # type The initial terminal type for this port.  For hardwired
 #      terminal lines, this will contain the type of terminal used.
-#      For virtual consoles, the correct type is cons25.  Other
-#      common values include network for network connections on
+#      For virtual consoles, the correct type is typically cons25, but
+#      vt220 will work better if you need interoperability with other
+#      systems like Solaris or GNU/Linux.
+#      Other common values include network for network connections on
 #      pseudo-terminals, dialup for incoming modem ports, and unknown
 #      when the terminal type cannot be predetermined.
 #
diff --git a/etc/etc.i386/ttys b/etc/etc.i386/ttys
index c38b0f0dc4b..1e63d4be944 100644
--- a/etc/etc.i386/ttys
+++ b/etc/etc.i386/ttys
@@ -15,8 +15,10 @@
 #
 # type The initial terminal type for this port.  For hardwired
 #      terminal lines, this will contain the type of terminal used.
-#      For virtual consoles, the correct type is cons25.  Other
-#      common values include network for network connections on
+#      For virtual consoles, the correct type is typically cons25, but
+#      vt220 will work better if you need interoperability with other
+#      systems like Solaris or GNU/Linux.
+#      Other common values include network for network connections on
 #      pseudo-terminals, dialup for incoming modem ports, and unknown
 #      when the terminal type cannot be predetermined.
 #
diff --git a/etc/etc.ia64/ttys b/etc/etc.ia64/ttys
index a574070734d..c9ae95cd41e 100644
--- a/etc/etc.ia64/ttys
+++ b/etc/etc.ia64/ttys
@@ -15,8 +15,10 @@
 #
 # type The initial terminal type for this port.  For hardwired
 #      terminal lines, this will contain the type of terminal used.
-#      For virtual consoles, the correct type is cons25.  Other
-#      common values include network for network connections on
+#      For virtual consoles, the correct type is typically cons25, but
+#      vt220 will work better if you need interoperability with other
+#      systems like Solaris or GNU/Linux.
+#      Other common values include network for network connections on
 #      pseudo-terminals, dialup for incoming modem ports, and unknown
 #      when the terminal type cannot be predetermined.
 #
diff --git a/etc/etc.sparc64/ttys b/etc/etc.sparc64/ttys
index 5031b45cf3c..36e18a08c80 100644
--- a/etc/etc.sparc64/ttys
+++ b/etc/etc.sparc64/ttys
@@ -15,8 +15,10 @@
 #
 # type The initial terminal type for this port.  For hardwired
 #      terminal lines, this will contain the type of terminal used.
-#      For virtual consoles, the correct type is cons25.  Other
-#      common values include network for network connections on
+#      For virtual consoles, the correct type is typically cons25, but
+#      vt220 will work better if you need interoperability with other
+#      systems like Solaris or GNU/Linux.
+#      Other common values include network for network connections on
 #      pseudo-terminals, dialup for incoming modem ports, and unknown
 #      when the terminal type cannot be predetermined.
 #