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mknod(2)

NAME

mknod - Create a FIFO or special file

SYNOPSIS

#include <sys/stat.h> int mknod( const char *path, mode_t mode, dev_t device );

STANDARDS

Interfaces documented on this reference page conform to industry standards as follows: mknod(): POSIX.1, XSH4.2, XSH5.0 Refer to the standards(5) reference page for more information about industry standards and associated tags. Standards: standards(5)

PARAMETERS

path Names the new file. If the final component of the path parameter names a symbolic link, the link will be traversed and pathname resolution will continue. mode Specifies the file type, attributes, and access permissions. This parameter is constructed with a logical OR operation on values described in the <sys/mode.h> header file. device Depends upon the configuration and is used only if the mode parameter specifies a block or character special file. If the file you specify is a remote file, the value of the device parameter must be meaningful on the node where the file resides.

DESCRIPTION

The mknod() function creates a special file or FIFO. Using the mknod() function to create file types other than FIFO special requires superuser privilege. For the mknod() function to complete successfully, a process must have search permission and write permission in the parent directory of the path parameter. The new file has the following characteristics: · File type as specified by the mode parameter · Owner ID set to the process effective user ID · Group ID set to the group ID of the file's parent directory · Permission and attribute bits set according to the value of the mode parameter All bits set in the process file mode creation mask are cleared. See the umask(2) function.

RETURN VALUES

Upon successful completion of the mknod() function a value of 0 (zero) is returned. Otherwise, a value of -1 is returned and errno is set to indicate the error.

ERRORS

If the mknod() function fails, the new file is not created and errno may be set to one of the following values: [EACCES] A component of the path prefix denies search permission, or write permission is denied on the parent directory of the FIFO to be created. [EDQUOT] The directory in which the entry for the new link is being placed cannot be extended because the user's quota of disk blocks or inodes on the file system is exhausted. [EEXIST] The named file exists. [EIO] While accessing the file system, an I/O error occurred. [EINVAL] An invalid argument has been specified. [ENAMETOOLONG] The length of the path parameter exceeds PATH_MAX or a pathname component is longer than NAME_MAX. [ENOENT] A component of the path prefix does not exist or the path parameter points to an empty string. [ENOSPC] The directory that would contain the new file cannot be extended or the file system is out of file allocation resources. [ENOTDIR] A component of the path prefix is not a directory. [EPERM] The mode parameter specifies a file type other than FIFO and the calling process does not have the sufficient privilege. [EROFS] The directory in which the file is to be created is located on a read- only file system.

SEE ALSO

Functions: chmod(2), mkdir(2), open(2), umask(2), stat(2) Commands: chmod(1), mkdir(1) Others: standards(5)

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