NAME

putdev − edits device table

SYNOPSIS

putdev −a alias [attribute=value [...]]
putdev −m device attribute=value [attribute=value [...]]
putdev −d device [attribute [...]]

DESCRIPTION

putdev can add a new device to the device table, modify an existing device description or remove a device entry from the table.  The first synopsis is used to add a device.  The second synopsis is used to modify existing entries by adding or changing attributes.  If a specified attribute is not defined, this option adds that attribute to the device definition.  If it is already defined, it modifies the attribute definition.  The third synopsis is used to delete either an entire device entry or, if the attribute argument is used, to delete an attribute assignment for a device. 

The options and arguments for this command are:

-a Adds a device to the device table using the specified attributes.  The device must be referenced by its alias. 

-m Modifies a device entry in the device table.  If an entry already exists, it adds any specified attributes that are not defined.  It also modifies any attributes which already have a value with the value specified with this command. 

-d Removes a device from the device table, when executed without the attributes argument.  Used with the attribute argument, it deletes the given attribute specification for device from the table. 

alias Designates the alias of the device to be added. 

device Designates the pathname or alias of the device whose attribute is to be added, modified, or removed. 

attribute Designates a device attribute to be added or modified.  Can be any of the device attributes described under NOTES except alias.  This prevents an accidental modification or deletion of a device’s alias from the table. 

value Designates the value to be assigned to a device’s attribute. 

NOTES

The following list shows all of the attributes which can be defined for a device:

alias The unique name by which a device is known.  No two devices in the database may share the same alias name.  The name is limited in length to 14 characters and should contain only alphanumeric characters and also the following special characters if they are escaped with a backslash:  underscore (_), dollar sign ($), hyphen (-), and period (.). 

bdevice The pathname to the block special device node associated with the device, if any.  The associated major/minor combination should be unique within the database and should match that associated with the cdevice field, if any.  (It is the administrator’s responsibility to ensure that these major/minor numbers are unique in the database.) 

capacity The capacity of the device or of the typical volume, if removable. 

cdevice The pathname to the character special device node associated with the device, if any.  The associated major/minor combination should be unique within the database and should match that associated with the bdevice field, if any.  (It is the administrator’s responsibility to ensure that these major/minor numbers are unique in the database.) 

cyl Used by the command specified in the mkfscmd attribute. 

desc A description of any instance of a volume associated with this device (such as floppy diskette). 

dpartlist The list of disk slices associated with this device.  Used only if type=disk.  The list should contain device aliases, each of which must have type=dpart. 

dparttype
The type of disk slice represented by this device. Used only if type=dpart.  It should be either fs (for filesystem) or dp (for data slice). 

erasecmd
The command string that, when executed, erases the device.

fmtcmd The command string that, when executed, formats the device. 

fsname The filesystem name on the file system administered on this slice, as supplied to the /usr/sbin/labelit command.  This attribute is specified only if type=dpart and dparttype=fs. 

gap Used by the command specified in the mkfscmd attribute. 

mkfscmd
The command string that, when executed, places a file system on a previously formatted device.

mountpt The default mount point to use for the device.  Used only if the device is mountable.  For disk slices where type=dpart and dparttype=fs, this attribute should specify the location where the slice is normally mounted. 

nblocks The number of blocks in the filesystem administered on this slice.  Used only if type=dpart and dparttype=fs. 

ninodes The number of inodes in the filesystem administered on this slice.  Used only if type=dpart and dparttype=fs. 

norewind
The name of the character special device node that allows access to the serial device without rewinding when the device is closed.

pathname
Defines the pathname to an i-node describing the device (used for non-block or character device pathnames, such as directories).

type A token that represents inherent qualities of the device.  Standard types include: 9-track, ctape, disk, directory, diskette, dpart, and qtape. 

volname The volume name on the filesystem administered on this slice, as supplied to the /usr/sbin/labelit command.  Used only if type=dpart and dparttype=fs. 

volume A text string used to describe any instance of a volume associated with this device.  This attribute should not be defined for devices which are not removable. 

ERRORS

The command will exit with one of the following values:

0 = successful completion of the task. 

1 = command syntax incorrect, invalid option used, or internal error occurred. 

2 = device table could not be opened for reading or new device table could not be created. 

3 = if executed with the -a option, indicates that an entry in the device table with the alias alias already exits.  If executed with the -m or -d options, indicates that no entry exists for device device. 

4 = indicates that -d was requested and one or more of the specified attributes were not defined for the device. 

FILES

/etc/device.tab

SEE ALSO

devattr(1), putdgrp(1M)

  —  Essential Utilities