Understanding filesystems and devices
The UNIX system provides access to
information by mapping it within a notional name space. A name
space is simply an abstract space within which all entities
are identified by name; items existing in the system name space
are files of data (including directories), and special files (such as
devices) which provide access to hardware devices such as
tapes, terminals or hard disks. Given the name of an entity, the kernel
can retrieve it and read its associated data.
However, the fact that the entities can all be referred to
by the same method should not be confused with equivalence;
devices, although they look like files, are not files.
© 2004 The SCO Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
UnixWare 7 Release 7.1.4 - 22 April 2004