ULTRIX Reference Pages Section 4: Special Files

This document is "Section 4: Special Files" of the ULTRIX Reference Pages, published in June 1990 for ULTRIX Version 4.0 or higher.

Purpose and Scope: The manual serves as a comprehensive reference for special files, related device driver functions, databases, and network support within the ULTRIX operating system. It provides information relevant to both RISC and VAX platforms, explicitly noting platform-specific details where applicable.

Organization and Content Structure: Each entry in this section follows a standardized format, including:

• Name: The name of the special file, device, or function.
• Syntax: Command or configuration line syntax, often for use with the config(8) program.
• Description: Detailed explanation of the entity's purpose, functionality, and interaction with the system or hardware.
• Restrictions: Limitations or specific requirements for use.
• Diagnostics: A list of potential error messages and their meanings.
• Files: Associated file paths, typically in the /dev directory.
• See Also: Cross-references to related reference pages or other documentation.

Key Areas Covered:

1. Device Interfaces: Detailed descriptions of drivers for a wide range of hardware components, including:

   • Console and Serial Lines: Interfaces for terminal connections, modems, and various serial line multiplexers (e.g., cfb, console, ctu, cxa, dhb, dz, fc, sh, ss).
   • Video Subsystems: Drivers for color and monochrome bitmap graphics, supporting keyboards, mice, and video monitors (e.g., fg, pm, qd, qv, sg, sm).
   • Disk and Tape Drives: Interfaces for various disk types (e.g., MASSBUS, SCSI, Winchester, floppy) and magnetic tape drives, including their partition layouts and I/O characteristics (dkio, hp, mtio, mu, ra, rb, rd, rk, rl, rx, rz, scs, SCSI, sdc, stc, tms, ts, tu, tz).
   • Data Communications: Support for BISYNC and other data communication interfaces (dpv, dup).

2. Memory Interfaces: Special files providing access to different views of system memory, including virtual main memory (kmem), UNIBUS/Q-bus virtual memory (kUmem), and physical main memory (mem).

3. System Utilities Interfaces: Character devices that provide interfaces to system services like audit logging (audit), error logging (errlog), and system call tracing (trace).

4. Networking Support: Comprehensive information on network facilities, covering:

   • Protocols: Descriptions of protocol families (e.g., Internet Protocol (IP), Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), User Datagram Protocol (UDP)) and the Address Resolution Protocol (ARP).
   • Network Interfaces: Details on Ethernet (DEUNA/DELUA, Lance, DEBNI/DEMNA) and loopback interfaces (de, ln, lo, ni, xna).
   • Packet Filtering: A raw interface to Ethernet data link layers, allowing user-level applications to filter and transmit network packets (packetfilter).
   • Socket-level operations and addressing formats for network communication.

5. Terminal and I/O Control: In-depth coverage of terminal interfaces (Berkeley, System V termio, POSIX termios), including input/output processing modes (cooked, raw, cbreak), special characters, line disciplines, modem control, and N-buffered I/O (nbuf, pty, tty).

The document is a fundamental technical resource for understanding and configuring the low-level aspects of the ULTRIX operating system.