MKNOD(8) System Manager's Manual MKNOD(8)NAME
mknod - create a special file
SYNOPSIS
mknod file [b] [c] major minor
mknod file p
EXAMPLES
mknod /dev/plotter c 7 0
# Create special file for a plotter
mknod /dev/fd3 b 2 3
# Create a device for diskette drive 3
mknod /tmp/stream p # Create a named pipe
DESCRIPTION
Mknod creates a special file named file , with the indicated major and minor device numbers. The second argument specifies a block spe-
cial, a character special, or a named pipe. Named pipes do not have device numbers so they are omitted.
SEE ALSO mkfifo(1), mknod(2).
MKNOD(8)
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mknod(8) System Manager's Manual mknod(8)NAME
mknod - Creates a special file
SYNOPSIS
/usr/sbin/mknod special_file [ b major_device# minor_device# | c major_device# minor_device#]
/usr/sbin/mknod filename p
DESCRIPTION
The mknod command makes a directory entry. The first argument is the name of the special device file. Select a name that is descriptive
of the device.
The mknod command has two forms. In the first form, the second argument is the b or c flag. The last two arguments are numbers specifying
the major_device, which helps the operating system find the device driver code, and the minor_device, the unit drive, or line number, which
may be either decimal or octal.
The assignment of major device numbers is specific to each system. You can determine the device numbers by examining the conf.c system
source file. If you change the contents of the conf.c file to add a device driver, you must rebuild the kernel.
In the second form of mknod, you use the p flag to create named pipes (FIFOs).
Only the superuser can create a character or device special file.
FLAGS
Indicates that the special file corresponds to a block-oriented device (disk or tape) Indicates that the special file corresponds to a
character-oriented device Creates named pipes (FIFOs)
EXAMPLES
To create the special file for a new drive, /dev/disk/dsk20, with a major device number of 1 and a minor device number of 2, enter: mknod
/dev/disk/dsk20 b 1 2 This command creates the special file, /dev/disk/dsk20, which is a block special file with major device number 1
and minor device number 2. To create a pipe named fifo, enter: mknod fifo p This command creates the pipe fifo, which is not necessarily
in the current directory.
FILES
Specifies the command path Specifies the system device numbers specification file delim off
mknod(8)
Can someone please tell me what the command mknod does and what it's syntax is? I can't find it in my "Unix for dummies" book or "Unix in s nutshell". I found it in an existing script that I want to copy, but I want to understand what I am doing. The script is going to do a full export of an... (3 Replies)
I'm trying to use the "mknod" call in C to create a clone of /dev/null. I am stumped as to the final parameter I should provide to "mknod()". I am supposed to give it a type dev_t, which specifies a major & minor number. I want to specify major 3, minor 1, but how can I do this?
dev_t seems to... (2 Replies)
this is existing issue for this nfs client, which mounts windows exported
file system, and this is only one UNIX box has this problem, other boxes are
fine.
Here is from messages file.
Jan 24 03:11:10 venus nfs: NFS mknod failed for
server arc: error 2 (RPC: Can't decode result)
Jan... (0 Replies)
Hello All,
Friends i know mknod with -p option is used to create FIFO special file.:p
But i want to know some circumstance/scenario where these are used.:wall:
Actually i want to know where i can use it in real time.
Please advise.:) (3 Replies)
Hi Guys,
On my AIX server , I have this file "mknod" present in the /etc/ directory. When i try opening it , I dont find
any ascii characters. It shows some encryption/binary format which is not readable. Is it any executable ? what is the
purpose of having this file in etc folder? what if... (2 Replies)
I need to backup my database but the files are very large and the TAR command will not let me. I searched aids and found that I could do something with the mknod, COMPRESS and TAR command using them together. I appreciate your help. (10 Replies)