mdevice(4) mdevice(4)
NAME
mdevice - file format
SYNOPSIS
mdevice
DESCRIPTION
The mdevice file is included in the directory /etc/conf/cf.d. It
includes a one-line description of each device driver and configurable
software module in the system to be built [except for file system
types, see mfsys(4)]. Each line in mdevice represents the Master file
component from a Driver Software Package (DSP) either delivered with
the base system or installed later via idinstall.
Each line contains several whitespace-separated fields; they are
described below. Each field must be supplied with a value or a "-"
(dash).
1. Device name: This field is the internal name of the device or
module, and may be up to 8 characters long. The first character of
the name must be an alphabetic character; the others may be
letters, digits, or underscores.
2. Function list: This field is a string of characters that identify
driver functions that are present. Using one of the characters
below requires the driver to have an entry point (function) of the
type indicated. If no functions in the following list are supplied,
the field should contain a dash.
o - open routine
c - close routine
r - read routine
w - write routine
i - ioctl routine
s - startup routine
x - exit routine
f - fork routine
e - exec routine
I - init routine
h - halt routine
p - poll routine
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mdevice(4) mdevice(4)
L - chpoll routine
A - supports specaio async interface
B - specaio breakup routine
l - latency routine
d - dump routine
F - flush routine
C - errcnt routine
M - character mmap function exists
S - character segmap function exists
z - size function exists
P - panic function exists
Note that if the device is a "block" type device (see field 3.
below), a strategy routine and a print routine are required by
default.
3. Characteristics of driver: This field contains a set of characters
that indicate the characteristics of the driver. If none of the
characters below apply, the field should contain a dash. The legal
characters for this field are:
i - The device driver is installable.
c - The device is a "character" device.
n - The device driver is not installable.
a - The device driver is automatically installed.
s - Suppress the device count field.
e - Software exec module.
m - STREAMS module type.
N - No driver.o and space.c.
R - Driver has a reset routine.
d - Dispatcher class.
f - 4.0 based new driver.
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mdevice(4) mdevice(4)
b - The device is a "block" device.
t - The device is a tty.
o - This device may have only one sdevice entry.
r - This device is required in all configurations of the Ker-
nel. This option is intended for drivers delivered with
the base system only.
S - This is a STREAMS module or driver.
M - This option indicates that the device requires multiple
major numbers.
4. Handler prefix: This field contains the character string prepended
to all the externally-known handler routines associated with this
driver. The string may be up to 4 characters long.
5. Block Major number: If the device is a "block" type device, then
this field should be set to the major number associated with the
device. Otherwise, this field is ignored. For devices having multi-
ple major numbers this field is used to specify the "range" of
major numbers. (e.g. range 3-6 is interpreted as four major numbers
between 3-6 inclusive).
6. Character Major number: If the device is a "character" type device
or "STREAMS" type device, then this field should be set to the
major number associated with this device. Otherwise, this field is
ignored. For devices having multiple major numbers this field is
used to specify the "range" of major numbers. (e.g. range 3-6 is
interpreted as four major numbers between 3-6 inclusive).
7. Minimum units: This field is an integer specifying the minimum
number of these devices that can be specified in the sdevice file.
8. Maximum units: This field specifies the maximum number of these
devices that may be specified in the sdevice file. It contains an
integer.
9. This field is not used in Reliant UNIX.
SPECIFYING STREAMS DEVICES AND MODULES
STREAMS modules and drivers are treated in a slightly different way
from other drivers in all Reliant UNIX systems, and their configura-
tion reflects this difference. To specify a STREAMS device driver, its
mdevice entry should contain both an "S" and a "c" in the characteris-
tics field (see 3. above). This indicates that it is a STREAMS driver
and that it requires an entry in the Reliant UNIX kernel's cdevsw
table, where STREAMS drivers are normally configured into the system.
A STREAMS module that is not a device driver, such as a line
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mdevice(4) mdevice(4)
discipline module, requires an "S" and an "m" in the characteristics
field of its mdevice file entry.
SEE ALSO
idinstall(1M), mfsys(4), sdevice(4).
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