NAME

mknod − build special file

SYNOPSIS

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

DESCRIPTION

mknod makes a directory entry and corresponding i-node for a special file. 

The first argument is the name of the entry.  The UNIX convention is to keep such files in the /dev directory. 

In the first case, the second argument is b if the special file is block-type (disks, tape) or c if it is character-type (other devices).  The last two arguments are numbers specifying the major device type and the minor device (e.g., unit, drive, or line number).  They may be either decimal or octal.  The assignment of major device numbers is specific to each system.  The information is contained in the system source file master.c.  You must be the super-user to use this form of the command. 

The second case is the form of the mknod that is used to create FIFO’s (a.k.a named pipes). 

SEE ALSO

mknod(2)

September 02, 1992