Difference between revisions of "Device"
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= Types = | = Types = | ||
| + | == Block devices == | ||
| + | Main article: [[block devices]] | ||
| − | + | A block device is a device organized in blocks, typically a [[hard disk]] or [[CD]]. It differs from a character device by the possibility of seeking forward and backward. Hard disks typically have a device file like /dev/sda or /dev/sdb. | |
== Character devices == | == Character devices == | ||
| + | A character device is a device that delivers characters, but you cannot seek on. Examples include the keyboard and /dev/random. | ||
== Network devices == | == Network devices == | ||
| + | A network device like your network card does not have a representation in the /dev folder. | ||
= What to do with a device = | = What to do with a device = | ||
| − | |||
== format == | == format == | ||
| + | Formatting means making a file system on a disk erasing all data. You can make different file systems under Linux, one of the most prominent ones being ext4. To make this, in this example on ''/dev/sdx1'', [[open a console]] and enter | ||
| + | mkfs.ext4 ''/dev/sdx1'' | ||
== mount == | == mount == | ||
| + | A hard disk with a file system on it can be mounted like this: | ||
| + | mount ''/dev/sdx1'' /mnt | ||
| + | This will use the partition /dev/sdx1 and mount it to /mnt | ||
Latest revision as of 14:03, 8 January 2012
A device is a hardware component with a distinct purpose. For example your mouse, keyboard and monitor are devices. Under Linux, devices are assigned a special file and listed under /dev.
Contents
Types
Block devices
Main article: block devices
A block device is a device organized in blocks, typically a hard disk or CD. It differs from a character device by the possibility of seeking forward and backward. Hard disks typically have a device file like /dev/sda or /dev/sdb.
Character devices
A character device is a device that delivers characters, but you cannot seek on. Examples include the keyboard and /dev/random.
Network devices
A network device like your network card does not have a representation in the /dev folder.
What to do with a device
format
Formatting means making a file system on a disk erasing all data. You can make different file systems under Linux, one of the most prominent ones being ext4. To make this, in this example on /dev/sdx1, open a console and enter
mkfs.ext4 /dev/sdx1
mount
A hard disk with a file system on it can be mounted like this:
mount /dev/sdx1 /mnt
This will use the partition /dev/sdx1 and mount it to /mnt
