mkdev

mkdev Command



Purpose

Adds a device to the system.

Syntax

mkdev { -c Class -s Subclass -t Type } [ -l Name ] [ -a Attribute=Value
] ... [ -d | -S | -R ] [ -f File ] [ -h ] [ -p ParentName
] [ -q ] [ -w ConnectionLocation ]

mkdev -l Name [ -h ] [ -q ] [ -S ]

Description

Attention: To protect the Configuration Database, the mkdev command
is not interruptible. Stopping this command before execution is complete
could result in a corrupted database.

The mkdev command either defines and makes available a device with
the given device class (-c Class flag), type (-t Type flag), subclass
(-s Subclass flag), connection location (-w ConnectionLocation flag),
and the device logical name of the parent (-p ParentName flag), or
makes available the previously defined device specified by the given
device logical name (-l Name flag). You can use any combination of
the -c, -s, and -t flags needed to uniquely identify the predefined
device.

If you specify the -d flag, the mkdev command only defines the device.
If you specify the -S flag, the mkdev command brings the device to
the Stopped state, if this state is supported, and does not make the
device available. If you do not specify either the -d flag or the
-S flag, the mkdev command makes the device available.

If you specify the -R flag, the mkdev command configures any parents
of the specified device that are not already configured. Parents must
be previously defined. The -R flag is not compatible with the -d and
-S flags.

By using the -l flag with the -c, -s, and -t flags, you can specify
the name you want the device to be known by. If you do not use the
-l flag, a name will be automatically generated and assigned. Not
all devices support user-supplied names.

Note:	Queue device names must begin with an alphabetic character.

When using the mkdev command, you can supply the flags either on the
command line or from the specified File parameter.

You can use the System Management Interface Tool (SMIT) fast path
to run this command for certain devices. To use the SMIT fast path,
enter:

smit mkdev

Flags

-a Attribute=Value	Specifies the device attribute value pairs to be
used instead of the defaults. The Attribute=Value variable can be
used to specify one attribute value pair or multiple attribute value
pairs for one -a flag. If you use an -a flag with multiple attribute
value pairs, the list of pairs must be enclosed in quotation marks
with a blank space between the pairs. For example, entering -a Attribute=Value
lists one attribute value pair per flag, while entering -a 'Attribute1=Value1
Attribute2=Value2' lists more than one attribute value pair. This
flag cannot be used with the -l flag unless the -c, -s, and -t flags
are also used.

-c Class	Specifies the device class.

-d	Defines the device in the Customized Devices object class. If you
specify the -d flag, the mkdev command does not make the device available.
This flag cannot be used with the -S flag.

-f File	Reads the needed flags from the File parameter.

-h	Displays the command usage message.

-l Name	Specifies the already defined device, indicated by the Name
variable, in the Customized Devices object class when not used with
the -c, -s, and -t flags. The -a, -p, and -w flags cannot be used
in this case. Queue device names must begin with an alphabetic character.

-p ParentName 	Specifies the device name, indicated by the ParentName
variable, that you want assigned to the device when used with the
-c, -s, and -t flags. Not all devices support this feature. This flag
cannot be used with the -l flag unless the -c, -s, and -t flags are
also used.

-q	Suppresses the command output messages from standard output and
standard error.

-R	Configures any parents of the device that are not already configured.
This flag is not compatible with the -d and -S flags.

-S	Prevents the device from being set to the Available state. This
flag is only meaningful for those devices that support the Stopped
state. This flag cannot be used with the -d flag.

-s Subclass	Specifies the subclass, indicated by the Subclass variable,
of the device.

-t Type	Specifies the device type from the Predefined Devices object
class.

-w ConnectionLocation	Specifies the connection location, indicated
by the ConnectionLocation variable, on the parent. This flag cannot
be used with the -l flag unless the -c, -s, and -t flags are also
used.

Security

Privilege Control: Only the root user and members of the system group
should have execute (x) access to this command.

Auditing Events:

Event	Information

DEV_Create	Method name, parameters

DEV_Configure	Errors

DEV_Start	Device name

DEV_Change	Parameters

Examples

1.	To define (but not configure) a 150MB, .25-inch Small Computer
System Interface (SCSI) tape drive connected to the SCSI adapter scsi0
and using SCSI ID 4 and LUN of 0, enter:

mkdev -d -c tape -t 150mb \
> -s scsi -p scsi0 -w 40

The system displays a message similar to the following:

rmt0 defined

2.	To make an already defined tape device available to use, enter:

mkdev -l rmt0

The system displays a message similar to the following:

rmt0 available

3.	To define and configure an rs-232 tty device connected to port
0 on the 8-port sa3 asynchronous adapter with the speed attribute
set to 19200, and other attributes set from the foo file, enter:

mkdev -t tty -s rs232 -p sa3 -w 0 \
> -a speed=19200 -f foo

The system displays a message similar to the following:

tty0 available

Files

/usr/lpp/msg/En_US/cmdcfg.cat	Contains the message catalog file.

/usr/sbin/mkdev	Contains the mkdev command.

Related Information

The chdev command, lsattr command, lsconn command, lsdev command,
lsparent command, rmdev command.

Device Overview for System Management in AIX Version 4 System Management
Guide: Operating System and Devices.

System Management Interface Tool (SMIT): Overview in AIX Version 4
System Management Guide: Operating System and Devices.