mknodman

mknod Command



Purpose

Creates a special file.

Syntax



Only executed by root or system group memeber

mknod Name { b | c } Major Minor

Creates FIFOs  named(pipelines)

mknod Name { p }

Description

The mknod command makes a directory entry and corresponding i-node
for a special file. The first parameter is the name of the Name entry
device. Select a name that is descriptive of the device. The mknod
command has two forms that have different flags.

The first form of the mknod command can only be executed by root or
a member of the system group. In the first form, the b or c flag is
used. The b flag indicates the special file is a block-oriented device
(disk, diskette, or tape). The c flag indicates the special file is
a character-oriented device (other devices).

The last two parameters of the first form are numbers specifying the
Major device, which helps the operating system find the device driver
code, and the Minor device, that is the unit drive or line number,
which may be either decimal or octal. The major and minor numbers
for a device are assigned by the device's configure method and are
kept in the CuDvDr class in ODM. It is important that major and minor
numbers be defined in this object class to insure consistency of device
definitions through the system.

In the second form of the mknod command, the p flag is used to create
FIFOs  named(pipelines).

Flags

b	Indicates the special file is a block-oriented device (disk, diskette,
or tape).

c	Indicates the special file is a character-oriented device (other
devices).

p	Creates FIFOs  named(pipelines).

Examples

To create the special file for a new diskette drive, enter:

mknod /dev/fd2 b 1 2

This creates the /dev/fd2 special file that is a special block file
with the major device number 1 and the minor device number 2.

Files

/usr/sbin/mknod	Contains the mknod command.

Related Information

The mknod subroutine.

The List of Device Configuration Subroutines in AIX Version 4 Kernel
Extensions and Device Support Programming Concepts.