Configuring Floppy Disk Drive Device Files

If you are adding a floppy disk drive to a system that does not have one, the software configuration is taken care of automatically when the system boots. When the system boots, if hinv indicates that a floppy disk drive is installed, but there is no link to it through the /dev special device files, the MAKEDEV program is automatically invoked to add the proper device files. For more information on the MAKEDEV program, refer to IRIX Admin: Disks and Filesystems.

If you are installing a floppy disk drive after your initial system installation, perform the following steps:

1. Install the hardware.

2. Log in as root (the superuser) and enter these commands:

   cd /dev

   ./MAKEDEV floppy

   The MAKEDEV program creates the appropriate device nodes.

1. Install the hardware.

2. Log in as the superuser and enter these commands:

   cd /dev/rdsk
rm fds*
./MAKEDEV floppy

   The MAKEDEV program creates the appropriate device nodes according the SCSI controller, and floppy disk drive number, and type of floppy disk drive. For example, a 3.5-inch floppy disk drive configured as drive 2 on SCSI controller 0 has the device node:

   /dev/rdsk/fds0d2.3.5

   There are various options for the different kinds of floppy disk drives that are supported. For example, your device node could use any of the following options, depending on which option suits the hardware you are installing:

   3.5

   (720Kb 3.5" floppy)

   3.5hi

   (1.44Mb 3.5" floppy)

   3.5.20m

   (20.1Mb floptical)

   48

   (360Kb 5.25" floppy)

   96

   (720Kb 5.25" floppy)

   96hi

   (1.2Mb 5.25" floppy)

3. Use the following command to link your floppy disk drive device node with a convenient filename for access, typically /dev/floppy. Substitute the device node information for your type of floppy disk drive for the node name used here:

   ln -s /dev/rdsk/fds0d2.3.5 /dev/floppy