NAME

intro − introduction to special files and hardware support

DESCRIPTION

This section describes the special files, related driver functions, and networking support available in the system.  In this part of the manual, the SYNOPSIS section of each configurable device gives a sample specification for use in constructing a system description for the config(8) program. The DIAGNOSTICS section lists messages which may appear on the console and in the system error log /usr/adm/messages due to errors in device operation. 

This section contains both devices which may be configured into the system, “4” entries, and network related information, “4N”, “4P”, and “4F” entries; The networking support is introduced in intro(4N).

BALANCE 8000 DEVICE SUPPORT

This section describes the hardware supported on the Balance 8000.  Software support for these devices comes in two forms.  A hardware device may be supported with a character or block device driver, or it may be used within the networking subsystem and have a network interface driver. Block and character devices are accessed through files in the file system of a special type; c.f. mknod(8). Network interfaces are indirectly accessed through the interprocess communication facilities provided by the system; see socket(2).

A hardware device is identified to the system at configuration time and the appropriate device or network interface driver is then compiled into the system.  When the resultant system is booted, the autoconfiguration facilities in the system probe for the device.  The autoconfiguration system is described in autoconf(4). A list of the supported devices is given below.

SEE ALSO

intro(4), intro(4N), autoconf(4), config(8)

LIST OF DEVICES

The devices listed below are supported in this version of the system.  Devices are indicated by their functional interface.  If second vendor products provide functionally identical interfaces they should be usable with the supplied software.  (Beware however that we promise the software works ONLY with the hardware indicated on the appropriate manual page.)

lpSystech parallel line printer interface
sdSCSI disk controller
seBalance 8000 10 Mb/s Ethernet interface
stSystech MTI-800/1600 communications multiplexor
tsSCSI tape controller
xpXylogics 450 MULTIBUS disk interface
xtXylogics 472 MULTIBUS magtape interface
zdSequent dual-channel disk controller

4BSD/DYNIX