mknod

PURPOSE

     Creates a special file.

SYNOPSIS
     /etc/mknod name b major minor
     /etc/mknod name c major minor
     /etc/mknod name p


DESCRIPTION

     The  mknod command  makes  a directory  entry and  corre-
     sponding i-node for a  special file.  The first parameter
     is the name  of the entry device.  Select a  name that is
     descriptive of the device.

     The mknod command has two  forms.  In the first case, the
     second argument is b or  c.  b indicates that the special
     file is  a block-oriented device (disk,  diskette, tape).
     c indicates that it is a character-oriented device (other
     devices).  The last two parameters 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  assignment of  major device  numbers is  specific to
     each system.  Device numbers  are determined by examining
     the system source file conf.c.

     Note:   If you  change the  contents of  conf.c to  add a
     device  driver, you  must rebuild  the operating  system.
     See  the discussion  of device  drivers in  AIX Operating
     System Programming Tools and  Interfaces and in AIX Oper-
     ating System Technical Reference.

     The second form  of mknod is used to  create FIFOs (named
     pipes).  The p  flag after device indicates  that you are
     creating  a named  pipe.   See the  AIX Operating  System
     Technical Reference for an explanation of FIFOs and named
     pipes.

EXAMPLE

     To create the special file for a new diskette drive:

       mknod  /dev/fd2  b  1  2

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

RELATED INFORMATION

     The mknod file and device driver description in AIX Oper-
     ating System Technical Reference.

     The discussion of device  drivers in AIX Operating System
     Programming Tools and Interfaces.