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differentiate between a file and a device

 
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# 1  
Old 05-29-2008
differentiate between a file and a device
sorry probably a beginner question but i was just wondering how unix does this as device are treated as files?
# 2  
Old 05-29-2008
As far as I know, they may be files, but they aren't *regular* files.

But in any case, do you want to understand the inner workings of the operating system just to satisfy your curiosity, or do you actually have a practical problem to which the understanding of this may come in handy?
# 3  
Old 05-29-2008
well i have a operating systems module at uni and i noticed this question in an old exam paper and cant find an answer to it anywhere. i thought it might have something to do with the arguments that open the file/device maybe.
# 4  
Old 05-30-2008
The very first thing to understand is that these files are NOT the drivers for the devices. Drivers are in the kernel itself (/unix or /xenix or /stand/unix), and the files in /dev do not actually contain anything at all: they are just pointers to where the driver code can be found in the kernel. There is nothing more to it than that. These aren't programs, they aren't drivers, they are just pointers.

That also means that if the device file points at code that isn't in the kernel, it obviously is not going to work. Existence of a device file does not necessarily mean that the device code is in the kernel, and creating a device file (with mknod) does NOT create kernel code.
# 5  
Old 06-01-2008
well i found a multiple choice question for this.

Which one of the following allows the Unix version 6 system to differentiate between a file and a device?

a) the arguements to the system call that opens the file or device
b) the mode bits within the inode indetified by the system call
c) the directory entry for the file or device
d) the pathname for the file or device

any thoughts?
# 6  
Old 06-01-2008
Version 6?!? That is a very old exam you have there. I'm guessing '85 or so.

The answer is b, the mode bits. For a complete explanation see: https://www.unix.com/tips-tutorials/1...rmissions.html

But in that link, I use the term "block special" and "character special" for what you are collectively calling "device file".
# 7  
Old 06-01-2008
Well its basic OS stuff so i guess they just chose whatever they thought would be easiest to teach with, who knows!
 
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