Linux in a Nutshell, Fourth Edition

Name

mknod

Synopsis

                  mknod [options] name type [major minor]

Create a special file (a file that can send or receive data). Special files can be character files (read one character at a time), block files (read several characters at a time), or FIFO pipes (see mkfifo).

To choose which type of device to create, use one of the arguments:

p

Create a FIFO file (named pipe). You do not need to specify the major and minor device numbers.

b

Create a block file. You must specify the major and minor device numbers the file represents.

c or u

Create a character file. You must specify the major and minor device numbers the file represents.

Linux’s /dev/MAKEDEV utility is useful for creating one or more devices of a given type in a single command.

Options

--help

Print usage information and exit.

-m mode, --mode= mode

Set the file mode of the device, as with chmod. The default mode is a=rw unless you have chosen other settings via umask.

--version

Print version information and exit.