User Guide

Ampex 1308911-02 B-1
Device Special Files Introduction
Appendix B
Device Special Files
B.1 Introduction
An application or utility accesses the DST/DIS or IRIX tpsc tape device driver by opening a
device special file. Each file has a name and unique default interface parameter settings that
control the actions taken on open, while open, and on close.
On all platforms except IRIX, you can change the default interface parameter settings for a
device special file by editing the configuration file. Follow the instructions in your
platform-specific software installation guide (see paragraph 1.5). Be aware that entering an
invalid value will cause the device special file to ignore the change and retain the default
interface parameter settings.
Note: Device special files are located in a platform-specific directory and have
platform-specific names, so the names for your system may be different from those
listed in this section. See your platform-specific documentation for details on your
system’s device special files.
Tables B-1 through B-3 list default interface parameter settings for each device special file:
• Table B-1 AIX
• Table B-2 DEC, HP-UX and Solaris
• Table B-3 IRIX
Tables B-4 through B-6 describe the default actions taken by each device special file on open,
during the session, and on close:
• Table B-4 AIX
• Table B-5 DEC, HP-UX and Solaris
• Table B-6 IRIX
Tables B-7 and B-8 provide information on the device special file interface parameters:
• Table B-7 summarizes the actions controlled by each interface parameter on open, while
open, or on close.
• Table B-8 provides a detailed description of each interface parameter.