Creating Device-special Files

Synopsis

mknod filename class major# minor#

filename

The pathname of the device-special filename. The directory the file commonly resides in /dev.

class

Specifies the class type of the device--block or character--to which the device-special file refers.

b specifies a block device. A block device, such as a magnetic tape or disk drive, transfers data in blocks through the buf structure.

c specifies a character device. A character device, such as a terminal or printer, transfers data character-by-character, perhaps assembling the stream into blocks as needed by the underlying hardware.

major#

The major number of the device.

minor#

The minor number of the device.