INTRO(4) NetBSD Programmer's Manual (TAHOE Architecture) INTRO(4) NNAAMMEE iinnttrroo - introduction to special files and hardware support DDEESSCCRRIIPPTTIIOONN This section describes the special files, related driver functions, and networking support available in the system. In this part of the manual, the SYNOPSIS section of each configurable device gives a sample specifi- cation for use in constructing a system description for the config(8) program. The DIAGNOSTICS section lists messages which may appear on the console and in the system error log _/_v_a_r_/_l_o_g_/_m_e_s_s_a_g_e_s due to errors in device operation. CCCCII DDEEVVIICCEE SSUUPPPPOORRTT Software support for these devices comes in two forms. A hardware device may be supported with a character or block _d_e_v_i_c_e _d_r_i_v_e_r, or it may be used within the networking subsystem and have a _n_e_t_w_o_r_k _i_n_t_e_r_f_a_c_e _d_r_i_v_e_r. Block and character devices are accessed through files in the file system of a special type; see physio(4) and mknod(8). Network interfaces are indirectly accessed through the interprocess communication facilities provided by the system; see socket(2). A hardware device is identified to the system at configuration time and the appropriate device or network interface driver is then compiled into the system. When the resultant system is booted, the autoconfiguration facilities in the system probe for the device on the VERSAbus and, if found, enable the software support for it. If a VERSAbus device does not respond at autoconfiguration time it is not accessible at any time after- wards. To enable a VERSAbus device which did not autoconfigure, the sys- tem will have to be rebooted. The autoconfiguration system is described in autoconf(4). SSEEEE AALLSSOO autoconf(4), netintro(4), config(8) LLIISSTT OOFF DDEEVVIICCEESS The devices listed below are supported in this incarnation of the system. Devices are indicated by their functional interface. If second vendor products provide functionally identical interfaces they should be usable with the supplied software. ((BBeewwaarree hhoowweevveerr tthhaatt wwee pprroommiissee tthhee ssooffttwwaarree wwoorrkkss OONNLLYY wwiitthh tthhee hhaarrddwwaarree iinnddiiccaatteedd oonn tthhee aapppprroopprriiaattee mmaannuuaall ppaaggee..)) ace ACC 10 Mb/s Ethernet controller cons Tahoe console interface cy Cypher tape drive interface dr Ikon DR-11W controller enp 3Com 10 Mb/s Ethernet controller ik Evans and Sutherland PS300 interface through an Ikon DR-11W controller vd CCI vd mass storage disk controller vx CCI vioc terminal multiplexor HHIISSTTOORRYY The section 4 iinnttrroo appeared in 4.2BSD. BSD Experimental December 18, 1995 1