1 .\" $Id: MAKEDEV.man,v 3.0 2002/05/17 22:47 toff Exp $
2 .TH MAKEDEV 8 "May 17 2002" Linux "Make Linux Devices"
4 MAKEDEV \- create devices
6 .B "cd /dev; ./MAKEDEV [ -n ] [ -v ] [ update ]"
8 .B "cd /dev; ./MAKEDEV [ -n ] [ -v ] [ generic ] [ local ] [ group-keyword ... device ... ]"
10 .BI "cd /dev; ./MAKEDEV [ -n ] [ -v ] [ -d ]" " device ..."
13 is a script that will create the devices in
16 with drivers in the kernel.
18 Note that programs giving the error ``ENOENT: No such file or
19 directory'' normally means that the device file is missing, whereas
20 ``ENODEV: No such device'' normally means the kernel does not have the
21 driver configured or loaded.
25 Do not actually update the devices, just print the actions that would be
29 Delete the devices. The main use for this flag is by
34 Be verbose. Print out the actions as they are performed. This is the
35 same output as produced by
38 Since there is currently no standardisation in what names are used for
39 system users and groups, it is possible that you may need to modify
41 to reflect your site's settings. Near the top of the file is a mapping
42 from device type to user, group and permissions (e.g. all CD-ROM devices
43 are set from the \fC$cdrom\fP variable). If you wish to change the
44 defaults, this is the section to edit.
48 This only works on kernels which have \fC/proc/interrupts\fP (introduced
49 during 1.1.x). This file is scanned to see what devices are currently
50 configured into the kernel, and this is compared with the previous
51 settings stored in the file called \fCDEVICES\fP.
52 Devices which are new since then or have a different major number are
53 created, and those which are no longer configured are deleted.
56 Create a generic subset of devices. This subset consists of the
57 standard devices, plus floppy drives, various hard drives, CD-ROM
58 drives, pseudo-terminals, console devices, basic serial devices,
59 busmice, audio devices, video framebuffers, printer ports, and some
60 specialized devices. The generic subset varies somewhat according to
63 script itself for details.
68 This is a script that can create any local devices.
71 creates groups of devices when passed keywords for the group.
72 Each listing below shows the
74 keyword and then lists the devices which will be created. Many
75 devices can also be specified individually.
79 Creates this group of standard devices:
81 for access to physical memory,
83 for access to kernel virtual memory,
85 the null device (infinite sink),
87 for access to I/O ports,
89 the null byte source (infinite source),
91 a symlink to /proc/kcore (for kernel debugging),
93 which always returns ENOSPACE on write,
94 .BR random " and " urandom
95 random byte generators, and
97 to access the controlling tty of a process. The
102 are also created in the
104 group. These allow you to use a regular file as a
105 block device. A filesystem image can be mounted,
106 and used as though it were a filesystem on a partition or other
109 may also be used as a separate keyword to create the 8 loop devices. Finally, the
111 group of memory devices is also created by the
117 This is the keyword used to generate the ramdisk devices
121 symlink. This group does not include
125 Ramdisk which has been pre-initialized by a bootloader.
127 is not created in the
129 group; it must be specifically included
130 in the command line if you want it to be created.
132 .IR cpu " or " microcode
133 Creates the CPU microcode update interface in the
139 each containing devices
140 .BR msr " and " cpuid .
144 .BI rom {0..7} " rrom" {0..7} " flaxh" {0..7}
147 flash memory card devices.
148 .BR rrom " and " rflash
149 devices are read-only.
153 This keyword creates virtual consoles;
155 devices, the corresponding
159 devices which are used to generate screen-dumps, and the
161 device itself plus appropriate symlinks.
162 To create the console device alone, use
166 is the currently active virtual console. The
168 device serves the same function.
172 This keyword creates the Pseudo-TTY masters
178 Each possible argument will create a bank of 16 master and slave pairs.
179 The master pseudo-terminals are
180 .BR pty{p..s}{0..9a..f} ,
182 .BR tty{p..s}{0..9a..f} .
186 Standard serial ports. There is no group keyword, you must
187 specify these individually. However
189 are created under the
191 option for most architectures.
193 .BR cyclades " or " ttyC
194 Creates Cyclades ports
195 .BI ttyC {0..31} \fR.
198 Creates Digiboard serial card ports
199 .BI ttyD {0..15} \fR.
201 .BR stallion " or " ttyE
202 Creates Stallion devices
205 .BI staliomem {0..3} \fR.
207 .BR computone " or " ttyF
208 Creates CompuTone serial card ports
213 .BR ip2stat{1,5,9,13} \fR.
215 .BR chase " or " ttyH
216 Creates Chase serial card ports
217 .BI ttyH {0..15} \fR.
219 .BR isdnmodem " or " ttyI
220 Creates isdn4linux virtual modem ports
221 .BI ttyI {0..63} \fR.
224 Also creates isdn4linux virtual modem ports
228 Creates ISDN BRI driver devices
229 .B isdn{0..63} isdnctrl{0..63} ippp{0..63}
234 Also creates ISDN BRI driver devices
235 .B isdn{0..7} isdnctrl{0..7} ippp{0..7}
240 keyword can be used separately to create only the
245 Creates a device independent PPP interface.
248 Creates Spellcaster DataComm/BRI ISDN card devices
251 .BR riscom " or " ttyL
252 Creates Riscom serial card ports
253 .BI ttyL {0..15} \fR.
256 Creates PAM multimodem (or ISI serial card) ports
257 .BI ttyM {0..15} \fR.
263 .BR rocketport " or " ttyR
264 Creates Rocketport devices
265 .BI ttyR {0..63} \fR.
268 Creates Comtrol VS-1000 serial controller ports
269 .BI ttyV {0..15} \fR.
271 .BR specialixIO8 " or " ttyW
272 Creates Specialix IO8+ ports
273 .BI ttyW {0..15} \fR.
275 .BR specialix " or " ttyX
276 Creates Specialix ports
277 .BI ttyX {0..15} \fR.
282 devices for the I2C bus interface.
285 Philips SAA5249 Teletext signal decoder {2.6} ports
290 Creates the standard parallel ports
295 normally used for printers.
296 These correspond to ports at 0x3bc, 0x378 and 0x278.
297 Hence, on some machines, the first printer port may actually be
303 The same ports are created, but are named
309 Creates raw parallel ports
316 Creates the Atari SLM ACSI laser printer (68k/Atari) ports
320 Parallel port generic ATAPI interface (devices
324 Parallel port IDE disk devices
326 with 15 partitions on each. Also creates
327 .BR pcd{0..3} " and " pf{0..3} .
330 .BR netlink " or " tap
331 Creates NetLink devices
332 .B route skip fwmonitor
338 virtual ethernet device was designed as low level kernel support for
339 Ethernet tunneling. Userland application can write Ethernet frame to
341 and the kernel will receive this frame from tapX interface.
342 Every frame the kernel writes to a
344 interface can be read by a userland application from the corresponding
349 ENskip kernel encryption package.
352 ComScire Quantum Noise Generator.
355 The Free S/WAN implementation of IPSEC.
360 for the Apple Data Bus and
364 creates the ACSI disk device
383 Creates IrCOMM devices (IrDA serial/parallel emulation)
384 .B ircomm0 ircomm1 irlpt0
389 Control and Measurement devices
390 .BI comedi {0..3} \fR.
394 This keyword creates the following devices:
396 (Logitech bus mouse),
400 (Microsoft Inport bus mouse) and
402 (ATI XL bus mouse) and
407 Creates mouse devices for the m68k architecture, including:
415 On powerpc, this keyword creates the
417 folder which groups input devices
419 .BI mouse {0..3} \fR,
420 .BI event {0..3} \fR,
423 (joystick), and creates these devices inside.
433 Digital joystick. Creates
440 USB is a general purpose I/O bus which can serve many purposes. The
444 folder, and devices in the folder:
448 (USB connected mice),
452 (scanner interfaces),
459 the Diamond Rio 500 device.
463 Floppy disk devices. The device
465 is the device which autodetects the format,
466 and the additional devices are
467 fixed format (whose size is indicated in the name).
468 The other devices are named as
475 signifies the type of drive: 5.25" Double Density (d),
476 5.25" Quad Density (q), 5.25" High Density (h) or 3.5"
477 (any model, u). The number
479 represents the capacity of that format in K.
480 Thus the standard formats are
488 For more information see Alain Knaff's fdutils package.
494 are floppy disks on the first controller, and devices
498 are floppy disks on the second controller.
501 Creates just the autodetecting floppy device specified, without the fixed
505 AT (ide) hard disks. The device
507 provides access to the whole disk, with the partitions being
509 For i386, the four primary partitions are
513 with the logical partitions being numbered from
517 (A primary partition can be made into an extended partition, which can
518 hold 4 logical partitions). Other architectures may not differentiate
519 partition types. By default, devices for 20 logical partitions are
520 made. The kernel supports up to 63 partitions per device.
526 are the two on the primary controller
531 drives on the secondary controller. These devices can also be used to
532 access IDE CDROMs. Additional devices
537 XT hard disks. Partitions are the same as IDE disks, except only 8
538 partitions are created.
541 SCSI hard disks. The partitions are similar to the IDE disks, but there
542 is a limit of 11 logical partitions
546 to allow there to be 8 SCSI disks on a system
547 (addresses 0 through 7).
552 The kernel (and MAKEDEV) can handle up to 128 SCSI disks (up to
554 15 partition devices are created for each.
557 MCA ESDI hard disk. Partitions are handled the same as hd.
560 Direct Access Storage Devices for the s390 architecture. Currently
561 only one device partition is created (for example,
565 ACSI disk (68k/Atari). 15 partitions are created for each.
568 Mylex DAC960 PCI RAID controller. For this device, an
570 directory is created. 32 logical devices
572 are created for each unit
574 specified, each with 7 partitions
575 .BI c x d {0..31} p {1..7} \fR.
578 keyword will create all 7 units at once.
581 Adaptec I2O RAID and DPT SmartRAID V I2O controllers. Creates
582 7 devices for handling up to 7 controllers.
585 Obsolete, device not in current devices.txt. For this device, an
587 directory is created.
589 is created for each unit
591 specified, and 15 partitions
592 .BI d x p {1..15} \fR.
595 keyword will create all 7 units at once.
597 .BI i2o.hd{a..d}{a..z}
598 I2O based harddisk drives. Device nodes are located in the
600 directory. The filename is followed by a number that specifies the partition on
601 each disk. The numbers are handled the same as hd.
604 Compaq Intelligent Drive Array. For this device, an
606 directory is created. 16 logical devices
608 are created for each unit
610 specified, each with 15 partitions
611 .BI c x d {0..15} p {1..15} \fR.
614 keyword will create the first three units.
617 Compaq Next Generation Drive Array. For this device, a
619 directory is created. 16 logical devices
621 are created for each unit
623 specified, each with 15 partitions
624 .BI c x d {0..15} p {1..15} \fR.
627 keyword will create the first three units.
630 Creates Metadisk (RAID) disk array with 16 devices.
634 SCSI tape devices. This creates the rewinding tape device
636 and the non-rewinding tape device
638 for each of modes 0 through 3.
641 QIC-11, -24, -120, and -150 tapes. The devices created are
642 .B ntpqic11 tpqic11 ntpqic24 tpqic24 ntpqic120 tpqic120 ntpqic150
645 tape devices, along with
653 Floppy driver tapes (QIC-117). There are 4 methods of access depending on
654 the floppy tape drive. For each of access methods 0, 1, 2 and 3, the
664 (non-rewinding) are created. For compatibility, devices
675 Creates IDE tape devices
681 Creates parallel port ATAPI tape devices
687 .BR sr " or " scd " or " scd-all
692 symlinks for these devices.
694 is a symlink which can be created by the user to the active CD device.
699 Provides packet writing devices
704 Parallel port ATAPI CD-ROM devices
713 Obsolete, device not in current devices.txt.
719 Philips LMS CM-205 CD-ROM. The newer name for this device is
721 but MAKEDEV creates only lmscd at this time.
724 Philips LMS CM-206 CD-ROM
727 MicroSolutions BackPack parallel port CD-ROM (Obsolete - use pcd)
730 Matsushita (Panasonic/SoundBlaster) CD-ROM. Units {0..3} are created with the keyword
734 Aztech/Orchid/Okano/Wearnes CD-ROM
740 Optics Storage CD-ROM
750 Logitech ScanMan32 & ScanMan 256.
753 Mustek M105 Handscanner.
756 A4Tek Color Handscanner.
760 This creates the audio devices used by the sound driver. These include
768 (Sound card status information),
770 (SPARC audio control device)
773 (Sun-compatible digital audio). MIDI devices are
778 .BI rmidi {0..3} \fR,
779 .BI smpte {0..3} \fR.
787 Devices for the PC Speaker sound driver. These are
795 Creates framebuffer devices
797 .BI fb {0..7} current \fR,
798 .BI fb {0..7} autodetect \fR.
801 If the framebuffer number
803 is specifed, a group of
808 is the 3Dfx Voodoo Graphics device.
811 AGP Graphics Address Remapping Table
813 .I "video video4linux v4l radio"
814 Each of these keywords produces the same result:
815 Video capture/overlay devices
816 .BI video {0..63} \fR,
818 .BI radio {0..63} \fR,
821 and Vertical blank interrupt devices
824 .BR winradio0 " and " winradio1 " devices,"
826 .BR vtx " and " vttuner " devices,"
828 .BR "radio video" " and " vbi
832 miroMEDIA Surround board devices
833 .BR srnd0 " and " srnd1 .
836 Matrox Meteor frame grabber {2.6}. Creates
846 .SH MISCELLANEOUS DEVICES
849 Generic SCSI devices. The devices created are
853 These allow arbitary commands to be sent to any SCSI device, to query
854 information or control SCSI devices that are not disk, tape or CDROM
855 (for example, scanner or writeable CDROM).
858 To allow an arbitary program to be fed input from file descriptor
862 as the file name. This also creates
867 (Note, these are just symlinks into /proc/self/fd).
874 needed by the IBCS2 emulation.
878 Advanced Power Management BIOS device.
881 Driver for DCF-77 radio clock.
884 Kernel modules demonstration device. See the modules source.
887 Arla XFS network file system.
890 CAPI 2.0 interface ports
891 .BI capi20 {01..20} \fR.
894 User-mode block devices
895 .BI ubd {0..255} \fR.
898 Network block devices.
901 Creates the raw block device interface
909 IEEE 1394 (Firewire).
912 This keyword creates all the following devices. You may find the
913 device explanations in other categories in this man page, many
914 under OTHER DEVICES below.
947 Linux used to have devices in /dev for controlling network devices, but
948 that is no longer the case. To see what network devices are known by the
949 kernel, look at /proc/net/dev.
952 Many of these devices are architecture-specific.
955 Z8530 HDLC driver (HAM radio)
958 Baycom radio modem (HAM radio)
960 .IR cfs0 " or " cfs " or " coda
961 Coda network file system
967 Simple serial mouse driver
970 IBM PC-110 digitizer pad
973 Vr41xx embedded touch panel
976 Connectix Virtual PC Mouse
982 Kernel module load request {2.6}
988 Machine internal temperature
1006 Berkshire Products Octal relay card
1009 Berkshire Products ISO-16 relay card
1012 x86 model-specific registers {2.6}
1015 PCI configuration space
1018 Non-volatile configuration RAM
1021 Soundcard shortwave modem control {2.6}
1024 Linux/SGI graphics device
1027 Linux/SGI OpenGL pipe
1030 Linux/SGI graphics effects device
1033 Front panel LCD display
1042 Macintosh PowerBook power manager
1045 MultiTech ISICom serial control
1048 Applicom Intl Profibus card
1051 Netwinder external button
1054 Netwinder debug interface
1057 Netwinder flash memory
1060 User-space DMA access
1063 System Management Bus
1066 Logitech Internet Keyboard
1069 Intel Intelligent Platform Management
1072 VMWare virtual machine monitor
1075 Technology Concepts serial control
1078 Specialix serial control
1081 Specialix RIO serial control
1083 .IR smapi " or " thinkpad
1086 device, and a symlink
1090 QNX4 API IPC manager
1093 Semaphore clone device
1095 .IR ipmi " or " ipmikcs
1096 Intelligent Platform Management
1099 SPARCbook 3 microcontroller
1102 Gorgy Timing radio clock
1108 JavaStation OS flash SIMM
1111 High-speed shared-mem/semaphore service
1114 Vr41xx button input device
1117 Toshiba laptop SMM support
1120 Performance-monitoring counters
1123 Intel i8x0 random number generator
1126 Atomic shapshot of process state data
1135 User space serial port control
1138 Mission Critical Linux crash dump facility
1141 NAS xbus LCD/buttons access
1144 SPARC 7-segment display
1147 Zero-Knowledge network shim control
1150 Signed executable interface
1153 Inter-process chuid control
1156 Message passing technology (MPT) control
1159 Transmeta GULP-B buttons
1162 Compaq PCI Hot Plug Controller
1165 Compaq Remote InsightDriver
1167 .I elographics/e2201
1168 Elographics touchscreen E271-2201
1171 Fujitsu/Siemens application panel
1174 I2O configuration manager
1177 IMPI coprocessor block transfer
1180 IMPI coprocessor stream interface
1183 Linux/SGI Irix emulation mouse
1186 Linux/SGI Irix emulation keyboard
1189 MWave modem firmware upload
1192 Montavista PICMG hot swap system driver
1195 Montavista PICMG high availability
1198 TAP/TUN network device
1201 National Instruments Motion
1204 :CueCat barcode scanner
1206 .I touchscreen/ucb1x00
1207 UCB 1x00 touchscreen
1209 .I touchscreen/mk712
1213 EM8300 DVD decoder control
1216 EM8300 DVD decoder video
1219 EM8300 DVD decoder audio
1222 EM8300 DVD decoder subpicture
1225 Watchdog devices 0 through 3
1228 Linux Allocated Devices, maintained by H.\ Peter Anvin,
1229 <Peter.Anvin@linux.org>, and devices.txt in the Linux
1232 Nick Holloway, rewritten and updated by Chris Tillman