mksf(1M) mksf(1M)
NAME
mksf - make a special (device) file
SYNOPSIS
class | driver) | instance | hw_path} directory] [driver-options] [special-file]
class | driver) | instance | hw_path} directory] minor special-file
DESCRIPTION
The command makes a special file in the devices directory, normally for an existing device, a device that has already been assigned an
instance number by the system. The device is specified by supplying some combination of the and options. If the options specified match a
unique device in the system, creates a special file for that device; otherwise, prints an error message and exits. If required, creates
any subdirectories relative to the device installation directory that are defined for the resulting special file.
For most drivers, has a set of built-in driver options, driver-options, and special file naming conventions. By supplying some subset of
the driver options, as in the first form above, the user can create a special file with a particular set of characteristics. If a spe-
cial-file name is specified, creates the special file with that special file name; otherwise, the default naming convention for the driver
is used.
In the second form, the minor number and special-file name are explicitly specified. When is not used, the special file must be specified
with the absolute path. In this case, if any other path other than the absolute path is specified, the path is treated relative to the
default devices directory. This form is used to make a special file for a driver without using the built-in driver options in The option
specifies that should make a character (raw) device file instead of the default block device file for drivers that support both.
Options
recognizes the following options:
Match a device that belongs to a given device class,
class. Device classes can be listed with the command (see lsdev(1M)). This option is not valid for pseudo devices.
This option cannot be used with
Match a device that is controlled by the specified device driver,
driver. Device drivers can be listed with the command (see lsdev(1M)). This option cannot be used with
Override the default device installation directory
and install the special files in directory instead. directory must exist; otherwise, displays an error message and
exits. See
Match a device at a given hardware path,
hw-path. Hardware paths can be listed with the command (see ioscan(1M)). A hardware path specifies the addresses of
the hardware components leading to a device. It consists of a string of numbers separated by periods such as (a
card), (a target address), and (a device). If a hardware component is a bus converter, the following period, if any,
is replaced by a slash as in and This option is not valid for pseudo devices.
Match a device with the specified
instance number. Instances can be listed with the option of the command (see ioscan(1M)). This option is not valid
for pseudo devices. This option must be used with the or option.
Create the special file with the specified minor number
minor. The format of minor is the same as that given in mknod(1M) and mknod(5). This option cannot be used to cre-
ate persistent special files.
Quiet option. Normally, displays a message as each driver is processed. This option suppresses the driver message, but not error
messages. See the option.
Create a character (raw) special file instead of a block special file.
Verbose option.
In addition to the normal processing message, display the name of each special file as it is created. See the
option.
Naming Conventions
Some persistent special files follow a naming convention, where class is the driver class, and instance is the instance number assigned by
the operating system to the device (see ioscan(1M)).
Some legacy special files are named using the naming convention. These variables have the following meaning wherever they are used.
card The unique interface card identification number from (see ioscan(1M)). It is represented as a decimal number.
target The device target number, for example the address on a HP-FL or SCSI bus. It is represented as a decimal number with a
typical range of 0 to 15.
device A address unit within a device, for example, the unit in a HP-FL device or the LUN in a SCSI device. It is represented as
a decimal number with a typical range of 0 to 15.
Special Files
The driver-specific options (driver-options) and default special file names (special-file) are listed below.
Port access mode (0-2).
The default access mode is 0 (Direct connect). The access-mode meanings are:
+------------+----------------+
|access-mode | Port Operation |
+------------+----------------+
| 0 | Direct connect |
| 1 | Dial out modem |
| 2 | Dial in modem |
+------------+----------------+
CCITT.
Hardware flow control (RTS/CTS).
Modem dialer. Cannot be used with
Line printer. Cannot be used with
Multiplexer port number (0 for
0-1 for The default port number is 0.
fifo-trigger should have a value between 0 and 3. The following table shows the corresponding FIFO trigger level for a given
fifo-trigger value.
+-------------+----------------------------+
|fifo-trigger | Receive FIFO Trigger Level |
+-------------+----------------------------+
| 0 | 1 |
| 1 | 4 |
| 2 | 8 |
| 3 | 14 |
+-------------+----------------------------+
Transparent mode (normally used by diagnostics).
xmit-limit should have a value between 0 and 3. The following table shows the corresponding transmit limit for a given xmit-
limit value.
+-----------+----------------+
|xmit-limit | Transmit Limit |
+-----------+----------------+
| 0 | 1 |
| 1 | 4 |
| 2 | 8 |
| 3 | 12 |
+-----------+----------------+
special-file The default special file name depends on the access-mode and whether the and options are used.
+------------+-----+-----+-------------------+
|access-mode | -i | -l | Special File Name |
+------------+-----+-----+-------------------+
| -- | no | yes | ccardp0_lp |
| 2 | no | no | ttydcardp0 |
| 1 | no | no | culcardp0 |
| 0 | yes | no | cuacardp0 |
| 0 | no | no | ttycardp0 |
+------------+-----+-----+-------------------+
Audio format (0-3).
The format meanings are:
+-------+---------------------------+--------------------+
| | | File Name Modifier |
|format | Audio Format | format-mod |
+-------+---------------------------+--------------------+
| 0 | No change in audio format | |
| 1 | 8-bit Mu-law | U |
| 2 | 8-bit A-law | A |
| 3 | 16-bit linear | L |
+-------+---------------------------+--------------------+
Output destination (0-4).
The output-dest should have a value between 0 and 4. The following table shows the corresponding output destinations
for a given output-dest value.
+------------+---------------------+--------------------+
| | | File Name Modifier |
|output-dest | Output Destinations | output-mod |
+------------+---------------------+--------------------+
| 0 | All outputs | B |
| 1 | Headphone | E |
| 2 | Internal Speaker | I |
| 3 | No output | N |
| 4 | Line output | L |
+------------+---------------------+--------------------+
Raw, control access.
This option cannot be used with either the or options.
special-file The default special file name depends on the options specified.
+-----------+--------------------------------+
| Options | Special File Name |
+-----------+--------------------------------+
|-r | audioCtl_card |
|-f 0 | audio_card |
|all others | audiooutput-modformat-mod_card |
+-----------+--------------------------------+
The optional output-mod and format-mod values are given in the tables above. Note the underscore before card in each
special file name. Also note that for card each file will be linked to a simpler name without the trailing
Handshake mode.
Valid values range from 1 to 6:
+---------------+--------------------------------------------+
|handshake-mode | Handshake operation |
+---------------+--------------------------------------------+
| 1 | Automatic NACK/BUSY handshaking |
| 2 | Automatic BUSY only handshaking |
| 3 | Bidirectional read/write |
| 4 | Stream mode (NSTROBE only, no handshaking) |
| 5 | Automatic NACK/BUSY with pulsed NSTROBE |
| 6 | Automatic BUSY with pulsed NSTROBE |
+---------------+--------------------------------------------+
special-file The default special file name is for handshake-mode and for all others. For SCentIf, the only valid handshake value
is 2 (Automatic BUSY only handshaking).
fifo-trigger should have a value between 0 and 3. The following table shows the corresponding FIFO trigger level for a given
fifo-trigger value.
+-------------+----------------------------+
|fifo-trigger | Receive FIFO Trigger Level |
+-------------+----------------------------+
| 0 | 1 |
| 1 | 4 |
| 2 | 8 |
| 3 | 14 |
+-------------+----------------------------+
Transparent mode (normally used by diagnostics).
xmit-limit should have a value between 0 and 3. The following table shows the corresponding transmit limit for a given xmit-
limit value.
+-----------+----------------+
|xmit-limit | Transmit Limit |
+-----------+----------------+
| 0 | 1 |
| 1 | 4 |
| 2 | 8 |
| 3 | 12 |
+-----------+----------------+
special-file The default special file name is as follows:
+------------------+
|Special File Name |
+------------------+
| ttycardp0 |
+------------------+
Floppy.
Raw; create character, not block, special file.
The section number.
special-file The default special file name depends on whether the and options are used:
+----+-----+----------------------------------+
|-r | -s | Special File Name |
+----+-----+----------------------------------+
|yes | no | rdsk/ccardttargetddevice and |
| | | rfloppy/ccardttargetddevice |
|yes | yes | rdsk/ccardttargetddevicessection |
|no | no | dsk/ccardttargetddevice and |
| | | floppy/ccardttargetddevice |
|no | yes | dsk/ccardttargetddevicessection |
+----+-----+----------------------------------+
Raw; create character, not block, special file.
special-file The default special file name is
Raw; create character, not block, special file.
Create a pass through special file.
special-file The default special file name is
The default pass through special file name for autochanger is
Raw; create character, not block, special file.
The section number.
Create a pass through special file.
special-file The default special file name depends on whether the and options are used:
+----+-----+-----------------------------+
|-r | -s | Special File Name |
+----+-----+-----------------------------+
|yes | no | rdisk/diskinstance |
|yes | yes | rdisk/diskinstance_psection |
|no | no | disk/diskinstance |
|no | yes | disk/diskinstance_psection |
+----+-----+-----------------------------+
The default pass through special file name for disk is
All the driver specific options can be used with this driver also.
Create a pass through special file.
special-file Put all tape special files in the directory. This is required for proper maintenance of the Tape Property Table.
Device files located outside the directory may not provide consistent behavior across system reboots. The default
special file names are dependent on the tape drive being accessed and the options specified. All default special
files begin with See intro(7) for a complete description of the default persistent special file naming scheme. The
default pass through special file name for tape is
Note that only one of or is allowed.
The link address (1-7).
Cooked keyboard.
The hil controller device.
special-file The default special file name depends on the and options:
+-------+-------------------+
|Option | Special File Name |
+-------+-------------------+
| -a | hil_card.address |
| -k | hilkbd_card |
| -r | rhil_card |
+-------+-------------------+
Note the underscore before card. Also note that for card each file will be linked to a simpler name without either
or
Note that only one of or is allowed.
Ethernet protocol.
IEEE 802.3 protocol.
Transparent mode (normally used by diagnostics).
special-file The default special file name depends on the and options:
+-------+-----+-------------------+
|Option | -t | Special File Name |
+-------+-----+-------------------+
| -e | no | ethercard |
| -e | yes | diag/ethercard |
| -i | no | lancard |
| -i | yes | diag/lancard |
+-------+-----+-------------------+
Exclusive access.
special-file The default special file name depends on whether the option is used:
+----+-------------------+
|-e | Special File Name |
+----+-------------------+
|no | lanttycard |
|yes | diag/lanttycard |
+----+-------------------+
Capital letters.
Convert all output to uppercase.
Eject page after paper-out recovery.
No form-feed.
Old paper-out behavior (abort job).
Raw.
Transparent mode (normally used by diagnostics).
No wait. Don't retry errors on open.
special-file The default special file name depends on whether the option is used:
+----+-------------------------+
|-r | Special File Name |
+----+-------------------------+
|no | ccardttargetddevice_lp |
|yes | ccardttargetddevice_rlp |
+----+-------------------------+
Port access mode (0-2).
The default access mode is 0 (Direct connect). The access-mode meanings are:
+------------+----------------+
|access-mode | Port Operation |
+------------+----------------+
| 0 | Direct connect |
| 1 | Dial out modem |
| 2 | Dial in modem |
+------------+----------------+
CCITT.
Hardware flow control (RTS/CTS).
Modem dialer. Cannot be used with
Line printer. Cannot be used with
Multiplexer port number
for and for and so on, for the or Some MUX cards controlled by a particular driver have fewer than the maximum sup-
ported ports.
Transparent mode (normally used by diagnostics).
special-file The default special file name depends on the access-mode and whether the and options are used. The term "card" below
refers to the Instance number of the mux card.
+------------+-----+-----+-------------------+
|access-mode | -i | -l | Special File Name |
+------------+-----+-----+-------------------+
| -- | no | yes | ccardpport_lp |
| 2 | no | no | ttydcardpport |
| 1 | no | no | culcardpport |
| 0 | yes | no | cuacardpport |
| 0 | no | no | ttycardpport |
+------------+-----+-----+-------------------+
Note that only one of or is allowed.
Autosearch device.
An auto_device value of 0 means first mouse; a value of 1 means first keyboard.
PS2 port number.
special-file The default special file name depends on the and options:
+-------+-------------------+
|Option | Special File Name |
+-------+-------------------+
|-a 0 | ps2mouse |
|-a 1 | ps2kbd |
|-p | ps2_port |
+-------+-------------------+
Note the underscore before port.
See
See
Port access mode (0-2).
The default access mode is 0. The access-mode meanings are:
+------------+----------------+
|access-mode | Port Operation |
+------------+----------------+
| 0 | Direct connect |
| 1 | Dial out modem |
| 2 | Dial in modem |
+------------+----------------+
Port B.
CCITT.
Modem dialer. Cannot be used with
Line printer. Cannot be used with
special-file The default special file name depends on the access-mode and whether the and options are used.
+------------+-----+-----+-------------------+
|access-mode | -i | -l | Special File Name |
+------------+-----+-----+-------------------+
| -- | no | yes | ccardpport_lp |
| 2 | no | no | ttydcardpport |
| 1 | no | no | culcardpport |
| 0 | yes | no | cuacardpport |
| 0 | no | no | ttycardpport |
+------------+-----+-----+-------------------+
Note that cannot be used with
Ioctl; create picker control special file.
Raw; create character, not block, special file.
special-file The default special file name will be
Raw; create character, not block, special file.
special-file The default special file name will be
Raw; create character, not block, special file.
The section number.
special-file The default special file name depends on whether the and options are used:
+----+-----+----------------------------------+
|-r | -s | Special File Name |
+----+-----+----------------------------------+
|yes | no | rdsk/ccardttargetddevice |
|yes | yes | rdsk/ccardttargetddevicessection |
|no | no | dsk/ccardttargetddevice |
|no | yes | dsk/ccardttargetddevicessection |
+----+-----+----------------------------------+
AT&T-style rewind/close.
Bits per inch or tape density.
The recognized values for bpi are:
or a decimal number density code.
Compression with optional compression code.
The optional decimal code is used to select a particular compression algorithm on drives that support more than one
compression algorithm. This option must be specified at the end of an option string. See mt(7) for more details.
Exhaustive mode.
This option allows the driver to experiment with multiple configuration values in an attempt to access the media.
The default behavior is to use only the configuration specified.
No rewind on close.
Partition one.
Fixed block size mode.
If a numeric block-size is given, it is used for a fixed block size. If the option is used alone, a device-specific
default fixed block size is used. This option must be specified at the end of an option string.
UC Berkeley-style rewind/close.
Wait (disable immediate reporting).
Use the index value to access the tape device driver property table entry. Recognized values for index are decimal values in
the range 0 to 30.
special-file Put all tape special files in the directory. This is required for proper maintenance of the Tape Property Table (see
mt(7)). Device files located outside the directory may not provide consistent behavior across system reboots. The
default special file names are dependent on the tape drive being accessed and the options specified. All default
special files begin with See mt(7) for a complete description of the default special file naming scheme for tapes.
AT&T-style rewind/close.
Bits per inch or tape density.
The recognized values for bpi are:
or a decimal number density code between the range of 0 to 255.
Compression with optional compression code.
The optional decimal code is used to select a particular compression algorithm on drives that support more than one
compression algorithm. This option must be specified at the end of an option string. See mt(7) for more details.
No rewind on close.
Console messages disabled.
Transparent mode, normally used by diagnostics.
UC Berkeley-style rewind/close.
Wait (disable immediate reporting).
Use the index value to access the tape device driver property table entry.
The recognized values for index are decimal values in the range 0 to 30.
RTE compatible close.
special-file Put all tape special files in the directory. This is required for proper maintenance of the Tape Property Table (see
mt(7)). Device files located outside the directory may not provide consistent behavior across system reboots. The
default special file names are dependent on the tape drive being accessed and the options specified. All default
special files begin with See mt(7) for a complete description of the default special file naming scheme for tapes.
Note
For the following drivers, persistent device special files are made: and
Other than these drivers, for all other drivers, legacy device special files are made.
For interface drivers like and the default persistent special files are made in the directory. These special files follow a driverinstance
naming convention, where driver is the driver name and instance is the instance number assigned by the operating system to the device (see
ioscan(1M)).
RETURN VALUE
exits with one of the following values:
Successful completion.
Failure.
An error occurred.
DIAGNOSTICS
Most of the diagnostic messages from are self-explanatory. Listed below are some messages deserving further clarification. Errors cause
to abort immediately.
Errors
Matched more than one device in the system.
Use some combination of the and options to specify a unique device.
No device in the system matched the options specified.
Use to list the devices in the system (see ioscan(1M)).
The indicated device driver or device class is not present in the kernel.
Add the appropriate device driver and/or device class to the kernel using
The specified device has not been assigned an instance number.
Use to assign an instance to the device.
The
directory argument of the option doesn't exist. Use to create the directory (see mkdir(1)).
The specified device could not find the driver that matches the
arguments passed.
EXAMPLES
Make a special file named for the line printer device associated with instance number 2.
Make a special file, using the default naming convention, for the tape device at hardware path 8.4.1. The driver-specific options specify
1600 bits per inch and no rewind on close.
Make a persistent special file, using the default naming convention, for the disk device with instance number 7. The driver-specific
options specify the character device file.
Make a pass through device special file, using the default naming convention, for the disk device with instance number 17
Make a pass through device special file named for the controller with instance number 4.
Make a persistent special file, using the default naming convention, for the interface driver with instance number 6
WARNINGS
Many commands and subsystems assume their device files are in therefore, the use of the option is discouraged.
AUTHOR
was developed by HP.
FILES
I/O system special file
Tape driver property table database
SEE ALSO
mkdir(1), insf(1M), ioscan(1M), kcmodule(1M), lsdev(1M), mknod(1M), rmsf(1M), mknod(2), ioconfig(4), mknod(5), intro(7), mt(7).
mksf(1M)