getdev(1M)                                                getdev(1M)


       NAME
             getdev - list devices defined in the Device Database based on
             criteria

       SYNOPSIS
             getdev [-ae] [criteria [. . .]] [device [. . .]]

       DESCRIPTION
             getdev generates a list of devices that match certain
             criteria.  These criteria include a list of attributes (given
             in expressions) and a list of devices.  If no criteria are
             given, all devices are included in the generated list.

          Options
             The options for getdev are:

             -a    Specifies that the list of devices that follows on the
                   command line must match all criteria to be included in
                   the list generated by this command.  The flag has no
                   effect if no criteria are defined.

             -e    Specifies that the list of devices following on the
                   command line should be excluded from the list generated
                   by this command.  The flag has no effect if no devices
                   are defined.

             criteria
                   Defines the criteria that a device must match to be
                   included in the generated list.  The criteria should be
                   given in expressions.

             device
                   Defines the devices that should be included or excluded
                   (based on the command options) in the generated list.
                   This can be the pathname of the device or the device
                   alias.

             The criteria argument may be specified with any of the
             following four expression types:

             attribute=value
                   Select all devices for which attribute is defined and is
                   equal to value.





                           Copyright 1994 Novell, Inc.               Page 1

      getdev(1M)                                                getdev(1M)


            attribute!=value
                  Select all devices for which attribute is defined and
                  does not equal value.

            attribute:*
                  Select all devices for which attribute is defined.

            attribute!:*
                  Select all devices that do not have attribute defined.

            See the putdev(1M) manual page for a complete listing and
            description of available attributes.

         Files
            /etc/device.tab

         Return Values
            If successful, getdev exits with a code of 0.  If there are
            errors, the command exits with one of the following values and
            prints the corresponding error message:

            1     usage:getdev [-ae] [criterion[...]] [device[...]]

            2     Device Database in inconsistent state - notify
                  administrator

            2     Device Database could not be opened for reading

      USAGE
            Devices must satisfy at least one of the criteria in the list
            unless the -a option is used.  Then, only those devices that
            match all the criteria in a list will be included in the
            generated list.

            Devices that are defined on the command line and that match
            the criteria are included in the generated list.  However, if
            the -e flag is used, the list of devices defined on the
            command line becomes a set of devices to be excluded from the
            list.

      REFERENCES
            devattr(1M), getdgrp(1M), putdev(1M), putdgrp(1M)






                          Copyright 1994 Novell, Inc.               Page 2